IRON MONGER
As an inventor dedicated to innovation through technology, Obadiah Stane became Tony Stark's dark reflection when he weaponized Iron Man’s technology as the Iron Monger. Although Stane's time in that armor ended with his death, his imposing legacy still haunts Iron Man and his allies to this day. Here's everything you need to know about the Iron Mongers, from Obadiah to Zeke to Justine Hammer.
Heart of Iron
In Iron Man (1968) #163
In his debut, Obadiah Stane launches a direct attack on Tony Stark with a gang of chess-themed villains. Subsequently, he takes a more psychological approach by targeting Tony's alcoholism, love life, company, and—ultimately—the invention that led him to become Iron Man.
In Iron Man (1968) #200
Stane finally gets his wish in this issue, where he dons the Iron Monger armor for the first time. However, his tenure as Iron Monger is short-lived, as Tony outsmarts him and his defeat turns deadly.
In Iron Man (1968) #212
When assassin Yiorgos Krallis dons the Iron Monger armor to kill Dominic Fortune, he comes face-to-face with Iron Man and soon discovers the suit's upgrades are no match for his foe.
In Captain America (1968) #354
Although John Walker never wears the armor himself, he does battle the armor as U.S. Agent during a surprise test by the U.S. government.
In Iron Man (1968) #253
Hired by a gangster named Desmond, Slagmire briefly wears a modified version of the Iron Monger armor and faces off against Iron Man himself.
In Captain America (1968) #419
When the Red Skull gets hold of the Iron Monger armor, he gives it to an assassin as part of a failed plot to kill his rival, Viper.
In The Order (2007) #8
Ezekiel "Zeke" Stane follows in his father Obadiah's footsteps as a weapons developer and an enemy of Tony Stark. In his debut issue, he uses his cybernetic upgrades to target the Order, a group of California-based celebrity heroes in Stark’s Fifty-State Initiative.
In Invincible Iron Man (2008) #1
Backed by other villains outfitted with lethal upgrades, Zeke Stane makes his move against Iron Man in their first direct confrontation.
In Invincible Iron Man (2008) #33
Zeke teams up with the Mandarin to take down Iron Man, but this partnership soon goes south for the young Stane, who finds himself in an unlikely alliance with his former nemesis.
In Iron Man (2024) #1
During their attempt to take over Stark Unlimited, A.I.M. and Roxxon Energy enlist Justine Hammer as their new Iron Monger. She unleashes a mystical virus on Stark’s armor, with devastating results.