6 Times Iron Man Messed Up So Bad We Wonder Why He’s Still a Hero

Before Robert Downey Jr. brought him to life on screen, Iron Man wasn’t always a fan favorite in the comics. He’s a hero who’s made a lot of questionable choices and mistakes, leading many to wonder why anyone still sees him as a good guy, or why he even *has* friends. Marvel has recently tried to show Tony Stark seeking redemption, portraying him as a hero who regrets his past actions and wants to be better. But this only begins to address the many problems caused by his long history as an Avenger and a key defender of Earth.

Iron Man hasn’t always been a perfect hero. From acting like a villain to battling other heroes for his own gain, here’s a look at the times his actions nearly cost him his heroic status.

6) Crossing

In the 1990s, Marvel’s ‘Crossing’ storyline for the Avengers sparked a lot of debate among fans. It shockingly revealed that Iron Man, Tony Stark, had secretly been working for Kang the Conqueror for years, rather than being a true hero. The story began with a huge twist: Iron Man killing both Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara) and Luna Maximoff’s nanny, Marilla, an Inhuman.

Kang’s plan to invade Earth involved killing Gilgamesh, a powerful hero. To stop him, the Avengers brought a younger Tony Stark into the mix, but this teenage Iron Man wasn’t well-received by fans. Marvel later revised the storyline with ‘Heroes Reborn.’ Despite the original Iron Man eventually returning as a hero, the event was poorly received and significantly damaged the character’s reputation.

5) Armor Wars

The “Armor Wars” storyline presented a challenge for Iron Man fans. While Tony Stark was justified in his anger, his methods were deeply flawed – a common trait for the character. The story began when Tony discovered that criminals, like Beetle and Crimson Dynamo, were using armor built with his stolen designs. He then embarked on a mission to reclaim his technology and stop them.

The conflict escalated to include the U.S. government, and Iron Man even fought other heroes, like Stingray, whose armor wasn’t based on his technology. This created a rift between him and both the government and Steve Rogers, then Captain America. As a result, he was kicked out of the Avengers and became a target for the U.S. military, all because he decided to act independently instead of following established procedures.

4) Started the Civil War Storyline

The Marvel Comics event *Civil War* remains highly debated among fans. It was a period where Marvel chose to have its heroes clash with each other, instead of focusing on traditional villains. While the story had its intriguing moments, it alienated some readers and, surprisingly, led many to view Iron Man as the antagonist, despite the U.S. government’s portrayal of him as a hero within the comic books. This storyline dramatically shifted Iron Man’s character in a new and unexpected direction.

In “Armor Wars,” Iron Man battled to prevent his technology from falling into government control. But now, he was actively working to give the government total authority over all superheroes. By the time he assisted in building a superhero prison in the Negative Zone, imprisoned his former friends, created a Thor clone that killed Bill Foster, and unintentionally led to Aunt May being shot, he had completely abandoned his heroic principles.

3) Ran The Initiative

During the Civil War storyline, Iron Man came across as unsympathetic while supporting the government’s position. But after the conflict ended, Tony Stark didn’t show any regret and actually became more problematic. He launched the Initiative, attempting to control all heroes and punish those who didn’t comply. His position as head of SHIELD gave him the power to do so, making him even less popular with fans. When Thor returned, Iron Man tried to force him to sign the Registration Act, but Thor easily defeated him. Thor was justified in doing so, as Iron Man had secretly used Thor’s DNA to create a monster that killed a mutual friend. This confrontation became a hugely popular moment for Marvel fans, demonstrating how much readers had turned against Iron Man.

2) Exiled Hulk to Sakaar

The Illuminati believed they were acting for the benefit of humanity, but their plan to exile the Hulk from Earth had disastrous consequences. They deceived him into boarding a spaceship, intending to send him to a remote, uninhabited planet where he could live in isolation. Instead, the Hulk overshot his destination and landed on Sakaar, where he was forced to fight as a gladiator. He eventually led a rebellion, freeing the planet’s enslaved population and finding love. Tragedy struck when his ship exploded, killing his pregnant wife, which fueled his rage and led to a full-scale attack on Earth known as *World War Hulk*. Hulk returned seeking vengeance, defeating heroes like Iron Man, Black Bolt, and Reed Richards, and surprisingly, many people on Earth actually supported his actions.

1) Ordered Doctor Strange to Erase Captain America’s Memory

I was absolutely floored when I learned what Iron Man did with the Illuminati. Apparently, when they found out about the Incursions – these events where universes were colliding – they made the horrifying decision to destroy another Earth just to save their own. Captain America was understandably furious and warned them not to ever do something like that again. But then Iron Man just told Doctor Strange to wipe Cap’s memory of the whole thing! When Captain America eventually remembered his memories being altered, it sparked a huge fight between him and Iron Man, all while another world was being destroyed by the Incursion. It just goes to show, Iron Man always thinks he knows best and refuses to compromise, even when it has devastating consequences.

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2025-09-24 23:43