WAR MACHINE
Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes is War Machine, a living symbol of cutting edge tech and mechanized warfare. When not in his armored suit, ‘Rhodey’ is a decorated Marine and Tony Stark’s closest confidant- he’s also been an Avenger and Iron Man for the United States Military. Read up on War Machine’s most varied turns yet!
Greatest Rounds
First Appearance
In Iron Man (1968) #118
Check out Rhodes in his first ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ appearance. An entertaining glimpse at the evolution of a beloved character.
Meeting Tony Stark
In Iron Man (1968) #144
Rhodey’s origin laid out in full. Before he was Stark’s Aviation specialist, James was a young pilot in Vietnam. A chance encounter with a billionaire industrialist would shape the direction of his life- and inspire a lifelong partnership.
Iron Man 2.0
In Iron Man (1968) #170
Spinning out of the acclaimed Demon in a Bottle storyline, Rhodey takes over as Iron Man when Stark’s alcoholism reaches its head. The issue that proved Jim’s mettle as a friend…and an Avenger.
Armored Avenging
In West Coast Avengers (1984) #1
Piloting the Iron Man armor, Rhodey takes up the mantle of full time Avenger with the West Coast team.
Becoming War Machine
In Iron Man (1968) #284
Rhodey wears his iconic armor for the first time! War Machine takes to the corporate battlefield in his first appearance, striving to maintain Stark Industries in the wake of Tony’s death.
Joining the Initiative
In Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #1
War Machine puts his military background to use as Field Commander of the Super Hero Initiative. The next generation of registered heroes assemble at Camp Hammond, prepared to take on a battery of threats in the fallout from Civil War.
A Soldier’s Duty
In War Machine (2008) #1
War Machine lends his expertise as a military liaison to the United States government. But when tragedy strikes on a foreign mission, a cybernetic War Machine rises from the rubble. The most shocking chapter in Rhodey’s life yet!
Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2008) #33
A Secret Invasion tie-in. Iron Man’s been stricken with an alien virus, and War Machine must answer the call against a worldwide Skrull invasion. Wait till you see War Machine’s space suit!
Dark Reign
In Invincible Iron Man (2008) #11
War Machine vs. Iron Man! During the Dark Reign event, Norman Osborn seized control of the Marvel Universe. Rhodey, along with his War Machine armor, aligns himself with Osborn- and is promptly hired to take out Tony Stark.
Secret Avenger
In Secret Avengers (2010) #1
War Machine joins the black ops crew of the Secret Avengers in missions of international scope and cosmic scale- the team’s first stop? Mars!
One-Man Army
In Iron Man 2.0 (2011) #1
Rhodey becomes Iron Man’s militaristic counterpoint in this spinoff series. But instead of taking orders from Stark, War Machine’s answering to the Pentagon! But what is the personal cost of being an Iron Man for your country?
An American Symbol
In Iron Patriot (2014) #1
After quitting the Secret Avengers, Rhodes starts anew as the Iron Patriot. But when a new villain emerges in a series of brutal attacks, America’s Favorite Hero could become America's Most Wanted!