Marvel's Iron Man #1 Variant Covers Showcase Tony Stark's Improvised Iron Man Armor

As a longtime Iron Man fan who’s witnessed Stark’s evolution from genius inventor to invincible superhero, I’m genuinely thrilled about the new “Improvised Iron Man” series. The idea of Tony Stark, a man who prides himself on his cutting-edge technology, being forced to improvise with scraps is intriguing and promises a fresh perspective on the character.

Starting in October, Tony Stark will take on the role of the Improvisational Iron Man. After Gerry Duggan’s 20-issue run on Invincible Iron Man concludes in July, Marvel is planning to reintroduce the plain Iron Man in a new series titled Iron Man #1. The writer for this series will be Spencer Ackerman (known for DC’s Waller vs. Wildstorm), with art by Julius Ohta (of Marvel’s Hellverine). With his advanced arsenal in ruins, Stark resorts to a simplified suit of armor to battle against A.I.M., the Roxxon Corporation, and a colossal, hydraulic adversary: the latest Iron Monger

“From the beginning, Tony Stark (Iron Man) is in survival mode and this is evident in his armor,” Ackerman explained during an exclusive interview with ComicBook ahead of the first issue release on October 23rd. “The risks are substantial from the get-go and they only intensify. One of the main themes of this series is size, both the desire for it and the preservation of it, as well as the price that comes with it. We’ve witnessed Tony step over significant ethical boundaries in the past, but now we’re going to push those boundaries even further.”

In a twist of events, Tony Stark’s indestructible Iron Man suit is replaced with makeshift steampunk-inspired pieces, according to Ackerman. This new version, dubbed the Improvised Iron Man, portrays Tony’s vulnerability and desperation. It’s a creation born out of necessity when all else has failed, much like an improvised explosive device. The second issue introduces a unique visual and tactical element for this armor that is seldom, if ever, associated with Iron Man suits. Moreover, Tony will continually upgrade the improvised armor to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances

Apart from the artwork by Yasmine Putri for “Phoenix” and a special edition by Philip Tan for “Uncanny X-Men”, Marvel has also unveiled another design (shown below) of the makeshift Iron Man armor on new variant covers for “Iron Man” #1. This collection includes illustrations by Leinil Francis Yu, John Tyler Christopher, Mike Mckone, Sumit Kumar, Skottie Young, and Dave Bardin