Tony Stark is one of the most prodigious minds of Marvel both in the comic books and the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU). His inventions range from the impossibly beneficial (like an infinite power source or a time travel GPS) to the impossibly dangerous (Ultron). However, his greatest creations will always be his suits of armor. Those are his life's work.
That's why they get plenty of screen time in all MCU films that involve Tony Stark. He didn't pick up the Iron Man nom de guerre just for coolness, after all. Since they're pretty much the best Tony has to offer, the way they're showcased in the MCU is nothing short of breathtaking. Here are 10 of those awesome Iron Man suit-up moments to remind you why we love Tony Stark 3000.
10 MARK XLII FIRST TEST (IRON MAN 3)
In Stark, er, stark contrast to how badass most of Stark's suit-ups are in his own MCU films, Tony's first attempt at a fully remote deployment system for the Iron Man armor was quite blunderous. He specifically made the Mark XLII armor for this purpose. It turns out the machine (or maybe it was Jarvis?) had other plans in mind.
It seems the artificial intelligence (A.I.) of the individual pieces of the armor needs plenty more work. They're as much a danger to Stark as to his enemies and even nearly rendered Tony infertile at (looking at you codpiece). Nevertheless, it was a great icebreaker moment that still somewhat shows Stark's genius and progress as an engineer. Kinda painful to watch, though.
9 MARK XLII TO THE RESCUE (IRON MAN 3)
It wasn't until later on in Iron Man 3 when the Mark XLII armor managed to do what it was supposed to... safely and correctly. Stark used it creatively well when he defended Pepper Potts during an attack in his house. What initially could have been a lethal moment for both characters was averted; all because of the remote portability of the Mark XLII.
Later on, near the ending of the film, Tony used the Mark XLII (which he religiously calls the Prodigal Son), to get himself out of a tight spot. Stark managed to call upon the armor before the Extremis, er, extremists could torture him. The pieces did arrive fashionably late, but still saved Tony's life in a pinch.
8 BLEEDING EDGE MARK L (AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR)
Nanites or nanotech was the pinnacle of Stark tech for Iron Man suits. It was first introduced in Avengers: Infinity War when the Ebony Maw and Obsidian Cull assaulted Earth to snag the Time Stone from Dr. Strange. Needless to say, the Mark L made all other portable Iron Man suits obsolete since Tony could suit-up with it just by pressing a button. It's similar to T'Challa's suit but more advanced and protective (sorry, Shuri).
Tony would later incorporate the same technology again for his Mark LXXXV but instead of the visor closing in with nanites, it closed into the helmet like a traditional Iron Man armor (with the iconic "clunk). Now, the nanites, despite being more practical and advanced, are less satisfying than a traditional plated Iron Man armor suit-up. That's why it's so low on this list, it's simply not hypnotic or entertaining enough as Iron Man suit-ups go.
7 FREE FALL WITH THE MARK VII (THE AVENGERS)
Before Tony even invented the Prodigal Son (Mark XLII), he already had remote armor capabilities. Albeit, it's a lot bulkier since the whole suit comes bolting towards him, knocking back everything along the way. This was first shown with the Mark VII which Stark wore on the first Avengers.
After Loki pushed Tony out of the Stark Tower (which would later become the Avengers tower) Stark had a contingency in the form of Mark VII. It went after him and suited him up amidst his precarious free fall from a New York skyscraper. Of course, it was successful (more so than the Mark XLII); Tony was able to continue fighting after managing to avoid turning into a red paste on the New York streets.
6 MARK XLVI IRON WRISTWATCH
Technically, this one's not a full-body suit-up but we can't help it; it's so Tony Stark. Just when you thought he couldn't surprise you more with gadgets and gizmos, out comes a fully functional Iron Man gauntlet stowed away from Tony's regular-sized wristwatch.
It's a testament to Stark's tactical genius which he combined with his engineering knowledge. With the portable gauntlet, he's able to hold off the Winter Soldier momentarily in Captain America: Civil War and has proven time and again that he doesn't really need the suit to be a superhero or to be brave. Having the best armor in the world can help, though.
5 JETPLANE ARMOR MARK XLVI (CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR)
That Iron Wristwatch Tony had? Of course, it's part of a bigger collection! The gauntlet belongs to the Mark XLVI which is Tony's iteration of the Iron Man armor for Captain America: Civil War. We do see him in the film many times already wearing the suit.
However, the Mark XLVI shone a lot brighter when Tony showed how convenient it was as an armor-to-go. He was able to store the armor in a specialized jet plane and deploy it with a simple press of the button. It's one of his sleekest and classiest suit-up moments and even made him resemble DC's Bruce Wayne for a bit. Then, there's also the fact that this armor was enough to defeat Captain America.
4 MARK I IN A CAVE... WITH A BUNCH OF SCRAPS! (IRON MAN)
Being rewarded after long and hard work is one of the best feelings ever at the end of the day. For Tony back in his Iron Man days, it was not only his life which he got as a reward; he also the very first Iron Man suit, the Mark I. As a proof of how special it is, Stark built it with a severe handicap and setback, in a cave too.
Given how limited his resources were during that time, such a feat is worthy of a Nobel Prize or something similar in the Marvel universe. It's not his smoothest suit-up to be exact but it's one of the most exciting. The Mark I suit up marked the moment when Tony officially became Iron Man.
3 HULKBUSTER'S SUIT IN A SUIT (AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON)
Just when you thought the Iron Man armors couldn't get more ridiculous and more protective, the Hulk had to happen. Stark does like to plan for any negative outcome and one of those was the Hulk snowballing out of control. Hence, in Avengers: Age of Ultron, he had to one-up the green monster with the Mark XLIV a.k.a. the Hulkbuster.
It's so huge and vital to the Avengers' operation, Stark had to store it in a satellite above Earth; it's to be called upon in the event that the Hulk became unplacatable. As you can imagine (or remember) it was one of the most epic suit-up moments ever. It's also the closest thing to a Gundam Stark will ever build.
2 MARK V SUITCASE (IRON MAN 2)
An Iron Man suit in a suitcase, how poetic. Stark really had to build this one just for that. He did get to use it in Iron Man 2 against a murderous Whiplash. It certainly has proven instrumental in Stark's victory in that encounter. The Mark V, as the name implies, is only the fifth suit Stark has built but it's already looking advanced as ever.
It's meant to be a portable Iron Man suit in a time when all the Iron Man armor took several minutes to install or deploy and had to be stored in a large garage. Simply watching Stark suit up with the Mark V is enough to want one... or five, in case you need one for every day of the week.
1 MARK III WORKING MODEL (IRON MAN)
Despite all the more advanced suit of armors Tony came up with from Iron Man 2 all the way up to Avengers: Endgame, none of them compared to the elation, satisfaction, and wonder we all felt upon seeing Stark suit-up for the first time with his first working Iron Man suit, the Mark III. It was introduced as his third iteration of the armor back in the first Iron Man movie.
All the armor pieces were stored underneath Tony's house where the garage unraveled and transformed into a machine armorer upon activation. The beauty in the first Mark III suit-up scene is the intricacy and attention to detail shown in how Tony was fitted with all the pieces. From the high-pitched whir of the automated screws to the distinct "clank" of the metal plates; it was the closest thing we had to an ASMR video from the MCU.
Now, if only they could give us a 10-hour (or 20, even) version of the first Mark III suit-up, that would be a nice consolation after Stark's death.