Movies News Talk
Avengers: Twilight is set in a plausible future when popular opinion of superheroes has turned negative. The terrible H-Day, a violent struggle in which Ultron seized the Hulk and killed both heroes and citizens, tarnished the Avengers' standing and eliminated any encouragement of the concept of independent superheroes. Former heroes have withdrew to lead regular lives in the decades since, even as SHIELD has evolved into a fascistic organization that attacks the general population. Having adopted and nurtured Tony's son under the false name Kyle Jarvis, the alleged brother of Tony's beloved butler, this new status quo set the ideal environment for the Red Skull to covertly ascend to power.
James was among the most austere anti-hero voices of this new America since his fury over the death of his mother and father made him sensitive to the Red Skull's influence. James eventually turns sides, joining the heroes in destroying the Red Skull and the Hulk, then trying to sacrifice himself in the aftermath after seeing how terrible the Red Skull really is and being swayed by the Avengers' heroics. James's father gladly takes his son's place, but not before bringing back Janet van Dyne - James' mother and the founding Avenger known as the Wasp. James has been keeping Tony captive for years, churning his brain for fresh technological discoveries.
With an adult Ms. Marvel and a fresh Avengers recruit Hawkeye (a former Thunderbolt soldier who also turned against SHIELD) arrive to assist James relentlessly rebuilding Avengers Mansion, the comic closes. With Wasp and Captain America looking on and Thor momentarily returning to Asgard, where it turns out the dead Tony Stark and Bruce Banner have been granted an afterlife in Valhalla, the alliance of this new generation of heroes marks the beginning of a new age of Avengers.
James Stark was a clear villain for most of Avengers: Twilight, consumed by resentment and anger over his parents' "abandoning" him by choosing the hero life. Since he is just beginning his hero journey and has a lot of wicked actions to pay off, this places him in a fascinating position for future Avengers: Twilight sequels. For the Starks, though, that's not unusual. Stan Lee said in an interview packaged with some Iron Man movie DVD editions that his goal with Tony Stark was to start with the most unlikable character possible and then get readers to root for him, conceiving of a wealthy weapons manufacturer who decides to turn hero (an even more controversial character in the middle of the Vietnam War.) James Stark has basically followed the same route to heroism: someone who was first presented as a villain depicted fighting to bury the Avengers heritage dead and buried while leveraging his injured father. It now comes down to his heroic deeds to earn him some sort of atonement.
Tony named James in honor of his long-time friend and solo superhero War Machine James 'Rhodey' Rhodes. But since Rhodey is among the few persons Iron Man has asked to use the "Iron Man" identity in the past, the finale of Avengers: Twilight generates a fresh relationship between the two. Taking over from Tony when the inventor felt unable of functioning as a superhero, Rhodey became the new Iron Man in 1983. Marvel's new Iron Man in some important tales, most notably the 1984 storyline Secret Wars, was Rhodey; while Tony went on to recover the title finally, he later designed the War Machine armor for James to wield full-time.
Tony has had many protégés, but it's something very different to pass on his name. Tony's identity is entwined with the concept of "Iron Man," whose persona serves as both a symbol of his particular intellect and a means of expression for his promise to keep the planet safe from the weapons he sold. Tony has historically proclaimed several "Armor Wars" anytime he felt someone was utilizing any component of his tech, closing down even fellow heroes since he was unwilling to have his legacy appropriated by anyone. Tony passing on the "Iron Man" name is thus a significant event and loads a lot of responsibility on his son.
Alert: includes hints for Avengers: Twilight #6!Tony Stark has identified Marvel's next Iron Man in a historic torch passing. Tony gives his life in order to stop the booby-trapped body of the vanquished Red Skull from injuring his teammates and companions. Tony Stark has passed on his name very few times over his 62-year career as a hero; this time, it is more personal than ever before.
Tony Stark declares James, his son, the new Iron Man in Avengers: Twilight #6. A bomb built in his Armor manufactured by Ultron starts counting down once the Red Skull is vanquished. James decides to give his life to rescue innocent people from suffering; Tony stops him midair and accepts the Skull, effectively substituting himself in his son's place. Tony screams back as he flies away, "You're just getting started, Iron Man." James Stark possesses his own armor, but he has spent most of the miniseries battling Captain America's Avengers since he thinks the concept of superhuman defenders is intrinsically faulty. Now, he completes Avengers: Twilight not only as the nucleus of a fresh Avengers squad but also as the new Iron Man.
Although Avengers: Twilight recently finished, fans have embraced the narrative and it obviously points up sequel possibilities in its last issue. Red Skull has been vanquished and the Avengers are back, but they live in a society that has turned away superheroes for years and neglected to respond when Captain America tried to voice opposition to SHIELD. With a few original heroes left to educate fresh recruits who have grown up in a more harsh environment with a more cynical sense of heroism, the squad will most certainly be underdogs going forwards.
James had never really worn any armor until recently; he only built his own Iron Man outfit to combat Captain America's crew (though he did it in style, commanding an army of drones in a parody of his dad's MCU House Party Protocol.) James had never really followed in his father's footsteps. America just learned at the same moment that it has been misled for years; the Red Skull covered America releasing the Hulk against its foreign adversaries using false news stories, even building a hologram, government-owned Avengers team never seen. The nation is hurting from decades of deceit; the Avengers will be required not only to defend the planet but also to redefine its fractured concept of heroism.
The Avengers' history underwent a major turning point when Tony Stark passed the Iron Man mantle to his son James. Now resting on the shoulders of a new generation is Iron Man, a symbol of technological ingenuity and heroic sacrifice. The Avengers' future is unknown since they deal with the fallout from a society that has been deceived and lied to and loses faith in superheroes.
James Stark's path as the newest Iron Man is just starting. He has a lot to prove to himself as much as to the outside world. He has to go over his history, welcome his fresh direction, and create his own heroic road. James's capacity to rise to the challenge will determine the course of the Iron Man legacy as well as the Avengers. James Stark will have to face the expectations and legacy of the hero who came before him; Iron Man's weight is hefty one to bear. Though he has a long road ahead, the Avengers will help him to discover his own road to atonement and win his position among real heroes.