Every MCU Character Who Has Worn An Iron Suit

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In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, various other characters have followed Tony Stark in wearing armor reminiscent of Iron Man. Although Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man wasn’t born with any superpowers, his strength came from his advanced armor technology. Over the past 17 years since Iron Man (2008), many characters have attempted to mimic or obtain this tech, resulting in multiple armored heroes donning iron suits in the MCU.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), many characters possess either inherent or chemically-enhanced abilities. However, there are others who require aid to function effectively as superheroes alongside these naturally gifted individuals. Armored suits, such as those designed by Tony Stark or inspired by Iron Man’s suit, have elevated 11 MCU characters into formidable heroes and fearsome villains, including Iron Monger, War Machine, and the Iron Spider-Man. The development of Riri Williams’ Ironheart suit in her 2025 Disney+ series marks a significant evolution in this trend.

At present, it hasn’t been confirmed if any armored heroes will reappear in “Avengers: Doomsday” or “Avengers: Secret Wars,” leaving us uncertain about the continuation of Iron Man’s legacy. However, following the end of “Ironheart,” there’s a strong chance Riri Williams will make another appearance. Additionally, Robert Downey Jr.’s potential portrayal of Doctor Doom, who is expected to wear armor, might pave the way for other characters similar to Iron Man to appear as well. Several previous Iron Man-like characters could potentially return in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

11) Tony Stark’s Iron Man

In 2008, the film “Iron Man” kicked off with Tony Stark getting ambushed and imprisoned by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan. They demanded that he build weapons for them, but Stark, along with his fellow captive, Ho Yinsen (Shaun Toub), devised a compact arc reactor and the initial Iron Man armor instead. This enabled Stark to break free. The Iron Man suit has since undergone numerous transformations, each iteration becoming stronger and more remarkable, solidifying Tony Stark as a significant figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one of its most resilient and devoted heroes.

In the climactic scene of Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man – Tony Stark’s creation – showcased its final appearance. This suit was engineered to withstand the combined power of all six Infinity Stones, a feat that required remarkable skill from Stark. While this may be his last hurrah in the current storyline, future movies like Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars could introduce new versions of Tony Stark donning even more potent suits. These could potentially possess the ability to traverse the multiverse. Meanwhile, the animated series What If…? has showcased various Stark-designed suits, but it’s the live-action armors in the MCU that truly stand out as iconic.

10) Obadiah Stane’s Iron Monger

In a marvelous turn of events, I’d like to highlight that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s inaugural film not only introduced the armored crusader, Iron Man, but also unveiled his formidable adversary – Obadiah Stane’s Iron Monger, masterfully portrayed by Jeff Bridges. His captivating performance as Stane has been resurrected anew with the appearance of Alden Ehrenreich as Ezekiel Stane. To transform into Iron Monger, Stane repurposed remnants of Tony Stark’s armor discards, yet he fell short compared to the refined Iron Man suit that Stark had perfected. In the end, it was our titular hero who claimed victory over Iron Monger, as Stane failed to overcome the intricacies of the Iron Man armor.

9) James “Rhodey” Rhodes’ War Machine

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’ve always admired Rhodey, a character once brought to life by Terrence Howard and later, more significantly, by Don Cheadle. Initially, Rhodey was presented as Tony Stark’s closest friend and the link between Stark Industries and the United States Air Force’s Department of Acquisitions. In the 2010 blockbuster Iron Man 2, Rhodey seized an early Iron Man suit, which villainous Justin Hammer (portrayed by Sam Rockwell) equipped with an array of weapons, transforming him into War Machine. Since then, he’s been operating as War Machine, but his screen time has never quite matched the spotlight. Rumors suggest that he’ll star in the MCU’s Armor Wars film, but updates on this project have been scarce for years.

8) Pepper Potts

In 2013’s “Iron Man 3”, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), Tony Stark’s long-term love interest, was given an Iron Man suit to protect her during a raid on Stark’s Malibu mansion by Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). However, it wasn’t until “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019 that Potts had her own suit of armor. This blue armor enabled her to join the Avengers in battling Thanos and his armies as Rescue, a character straight from the Marvel Comics. Since Tony Stark’s death on the battlefield, Pepper hasn’t been seen for several years.

7) Eric Savin

In the movie “Iron Man 3,” Eric Savin, portrayed by James Badge Dale, served as Aldrich Killian’s trusted associate during his terroristic activities and development of the character known as the Mandarin. Enhanced by the experimental Extremis treatment, Savin experienced success with the enhancement but it proved to be erratic and destructive for other subjects. Additionally, he was bestowed with the Iron Patriot armor, which was previously War Machine. He pilfered the Iron Patriot armor and seized President Matthew Ellis (William Sadler) as a hostage. However, his actions led to his demise at the hands of Tony Stark. This occurred when Stark used a repulsor blast to pierce Savin’s chest, effectively annihilating his heart completely.

6) President Matthew Ellis

Among the few characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Matthew Ellis was one of the rare ones who donned a suit resembling Iron Man’s armor without ever employing it for heroic or villainous purposes. In the storyline, Ellis was abducted by Savin and taken to Killian’s oil tanker while wearing the Iron Patriot suit. There, he was set up to be executed in full view of a global audience, serving as the climactic attack of the fictional Mandarin. Fortunately, Rhodey intervened, rescued Ellis, and regained control of the Iron Patriot armor. This allowed him to assist Tony Stark’s Iron Man in defeating Aldrich Killian and his Extremis troops.

5) Peter Parker’s Spider-Man

In late 2017 during Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tom Holland’s character Peter Parker first donned the Iron Spider-Man costume in Avengers: Infinity War a year later. This armored suit, crafted from Tony Stark’s preferred nanotechnology, enhanced Spider-Man’s abilities, enabling him to breathe at high altitudes, shield himself against attacks, and even temporarily granting him extra limbs that helped him save Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and proved invaluable in the battle against Thanos. However, Peter Parker has since reverted to his original suit, which he will use again in 2026’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

4) Bruce Banner

Despite the Hulk choosing not to participate in the battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin) in “Avengers: Infinity War”, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) didn’t shy away from combat. To harness the Hulk’s power without transforming, Banner donned the Hulkbuster armor in Wakanda. This armor was initially seen in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, where Stark used it to fight the Hulk in Johannesburg. Banner’s use of the Hulkbuster armor was particularly impressive given his bond with Tony Stark, and a significant milestone in the character’s development.

3) Steve Rogers’ HYDRA Stomper

In the animated series “What If…?”, Tony Stark variants were indeed presented, yet another armored hero was introduced during the Multiverse Saga’s debut – Steve Rogers, voiced by Josh Keaton. During World War II, he donned the armor created by Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), a HYDRA-altered version of the original. This transformation occurred after Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) became a super-soldier. Adopting a narrative similar to Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier storyline, Rogers’ HYDRA Stomper armor resurfaced in Captain Carter’s timeline, where he served as a Red Room soldier. This creative twist offered a unique take on the usual Iron Man tale.

2) Justin Hammer’s Hulkbuster

In the third episode of Season 2 of “What If…?”, titled “What If… Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?”, actor Sam Rockwell reappeared in the Marvel Universe to voice Justin Hammer. In a plot reminiscent of “Die Hard”, Hammer attempted to seize a vial of Bruce Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood from Avengers Tower. However, it was Happy Hogan (portrayed by Jon Favreau) who received the blood, transforming him into a monster known as Freak. To combat this new threat, Hammer donned the Hulkbuster armor. There have been requests for Justin Hammer to return to the live-action MCU, and following his appearance in “What If…?” Season 2, this possibility is even more enticing.

1) Riri Williams’ Ironheart

In 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Dominique Thorne first appeared as Riri Williams, wearing two distinct versions of the Ironheart suit. One of these suits, crafted with vibranium, proved incredibly powerful but was kept by the Wakandans upon her return home. The 2025 “Ironheart” series introduced additional powers for Riri, leading her to try out multiple armor designs before settling on her final Ironheart suit. Enhanced by the magic of Zelma Stanton (Regan Aliyah), this suit was used to confront Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos). In the end, she seized the mystical Hood for herself.

In my humble opinion as a movie enthusiast, the climactic scenes of Marvel’s “Ironheart” series found Riri Williams striking a deal with the malevolent supervillain Mephisto, portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen. This transaction saw her upgrading her Ironheart armor with the infamous Hood, a move that has already shown signs of dark influence over Riri. The final episode, “The Past Is the Past,” introduced what might be the most potent suit of armor ever seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), yet one that carries significant risk. As for when or if we’ll see more of Riri Williams’ Ironheart in the MCU, only time will tell. However, I can’t help but feel a thrill at the thought of what extraordinary powers her future armor enhancements might possess now that she’s collaborating with Mephisto and wielding the Hood.

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2025-07-14 20:40