MARVEL COMICS
Marvel Cinematic Universe MCU Relevant KeyAVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019)AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY (2026)
- First Actual True Death of Iron Man (Tony Stark)
- Iron Man revealed as a traitor
Historically, comic books "grew up" in the 1980's, due in part to their catering to an older and broader readership than they had in previous decades. Themes of a more mature nature entered the story-telling, with profanity, violence and sexual content all edging into the mainstream. Another more mature topic, death, was also more prominent in comics -- although, as most everyone knew about super-hero comics, super-heroes that die won't stay dead for too long. Still, the very first line-wide crossovers launched by "The Big Two" -- Marvel's Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars in 1984-85 and DC Comics' Crisis On Infinite Earths in 1985-1986 -- told an epic tale in dramatic broad strokes, with heroes facing universal threats beyond their abilities to overcome. Fan favorite heroes, like DC's Flash and Supergirl, were among the many casualties of comics' "pubescent" era.
Whereas the death of even prominent characters today doesn't shock or hit as hard as it did back in 1985, heroes didn't flirt with the afterlife nearly as much 40 years ago as they do now. But in 1992, with DC's blockbuster "Death of Superman" crossover event, comics proved that not even the world's first superhero was safe from being planted six feet under. If he could die -- and eventually return -- so could other prominent heroes. And in all due time, many would.
Published not long after Superman's demise, year-long absence, and eventual resurrection, AVENGERS #395 gave fans the DEATH of IRON MAN, TONY STARK, a team founder and a star of his own ongoing series. Moreover, Stark was revealed as a longtime plant in the Avengers in a plan orchestrated by Kang The Conqueror years earlier. Stark died, and he died a traitor.
Technically, Avengers #395 is the FIRST TIME Tony Stark truly died in Marvel continuity, Twice before, he had appeared to die, faking his death on two occasions to thwart villains or the US Government. And Iron Man had also perished in the Infinity Gauntlet limited series, although his death -- and that of many other Marvel heroes -- would be reversed before the end of the story. Unsurprisingly, Iron Man wouldn't remain dead after the events of Avengers #395, either --- although not because a resurrection had been planned. (We won't tell you why here, but feel free to Google!).
Avengers #395 may not be a great story, and the era of its publication wasn't among the Avengers most notable periods. But the importance of the book should not be overlooked. What happened in it marked a true First for Iron Man and Tony Stark while setting a precedent for every other Marvel super hero. For Tony, though, this was his first actual death. It was his first time being dead. It was also just the first of many.AVENGERS#395-A(VOL 1, FEB 1996)
