Tony Stark is a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and the one who saved the entire universe. No wonder he is one of the most popular and loved characters of the Marvel Universe, donning the technologically advanced suit of Iron Man. It’s safe to say that the ‘Iron Man‘ trilogy was the true start to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ was first released in 2019, there was only one phrase on everyone’s lips – “Love you 3000.” It was a homage to the sacrifice and legacy of Iron Man, who has been pioneering the Avengers since the formation of the team. But, there’s a comics storyline some fans might not know about Stark and Kang the Conqueror that blew minds.
The Marvel Crossover That Nearly Changed It All
Compared to the MCU, Marvel Comics does not shy away from creating bizarre storylines that may shock casual moviegoers. In the comics, Tony Stark’s portrayal is rather different. He is not the glorified Iron Man. Instead, he is a grey character who often commits grave mistakes.
Related: Why MCU’s Iron Man Has Evolved More Than His Comic Counterpart
Nevertheless, the general trope of Marvel Comics’ Tony Stark also aligns with the legacy of a hero. Although there was one storyline that completely shattered the readers with its dark and grim premise.
Enter Kang the Conqueror- a reality-altering villain who has threatened the Marvel Comics universe time and again. But in the 1990s, Marvel’s crossover event known as the ‘Crossing‘ completely remagined the story of one of their most significant heroes.
In this story, the Avengers were dealing with something far darker than their previous foes. One of the heroes was secretly a murderer. As it turns out, the beloved Iron Man was the wolf in sheep’s clothing, committing heinous crimes.
Kang The Conqueror’s Hand In Making Tony Stark A Killer
Well, Kang the Conqueror conquered Tony Stark’s brilliant mind in their very first encounter, turning him into his brainwashed slave. While the Avengers tried to deal with this new issue, another version of Stark arrived to help with the situation. It was a sharp change in the origin of Iron Man. After all, Tony may be arrogant and egoistic, but he would never turn to evil.
He was in a pitiful situation, mercilessly committing crimes and suffering from the guilt of his actions. But the Iron Man fans love tried to redeem himself by doing what he does best – defeating the enemy without caring about his own well-being.
Tony Stark went against Kang in a final battle to save the Earth and earn his redemption. He was able to defeat the big bad, but unfortunately, Iron Man lost his life to the Master Manipulator.
The Price Of Heroism: Two Different Sacrifices And Two Separate Legacies
While Iron Man is a decorated hero of the Infinity War in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in this timeline, he was nothing more than a criminal who finally did the right thing.
The story completely tainted the legacy of Iron Man, and the readers definitely hated it. The ‘Crossing‘ did not receive a reception amongst the hardcore Marvel Comics readers, who disliked the idea of changing the perception of Tony Stark.
Thankfully, Marvel decided to revert to the old stories of Tony Stark being the ultimate hero and did not pursue the evil-turned-hero storyline anymore.
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What do you think, are we going to witness something similar in the MCU this time as the audience gears up for ‘Avengers: Doomsday?’
