In the discussion of “weakest” movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2 often gets overlooked, but in some ways, forgettable is worse than bad. Through modern eyes, it looks very much like a relic from another era of superhero movies, the kind that simply cranked out sequels to increasingly diminishing returns until the public became so put-off by it they finally stopped coming. Released two years before the groundbreaking Avengers team-up, Iron Man 2 looked like it belonged firmly in that world: overstuffed, rushed into production and relying far too much on what made the first movie so special instead of finding its own, unique energy.
“Weak” is a relative term, of course, and the MCU has succeeded in part because even its “worst” movies are still comparatively decent. Iron Man 2’s battle with Whiplash at Monaco remains an undeniable highlight of the early MCU, demonstrating the kind of energy that much of the rest of the film struggled with. The highlight was Tony’s swift transformation into Iron Man via an “emergency suit” disguised as a briefcase. It’s easily his coolest suit, if for no other reason than the kinetic onscreen energy it provides. That it comes amid his weakest film – and that it’s likely his most underpowered suit in the entire saga – is something of an irony.
Iron Man 2's Briefcase Suit's Weird Origins, Explained
In the comics, Stark had a briefcase containing a version of his suit from almost the earliest days. It first arrived in Tales of Suspense #40, which was only Iron Man’s second appearance of all time. It was designed to discreetly house his armor so that he could turn into Iron Man on a moment’s notice no matter where in the world he happened to be. It also served as a safety measure – allowing him to recharge the device in his chest keeping the shrapnel away from his heart – as well as allowing him to protect his secret identity as Tony Stark.
Onscreen, Stark blew his secret identity at the very end of the first Iron Man in what has become one of the MCU’s most beloved moments. The Monaco scene in Iron Man 2 works in part as a demonstration of the consequences, as Whiplash attacks him while the race is in progress, threatening both bystanders and other racers in the process. At first, the disposal of Stark’s secret identity would seem to preclude an appearance by the briefcase suit, since he doesn’t need to hide who he is in this universe. The MCU found another way to slip it in by addressing it from a more logical perspective. In essence, the movie’s version of the armor attained portability at the cost of power.
The Weakest Iron Man 2 Suit's Powers and Weaknesses
In the comics, the briefcase simply held the armor, though it contained several security features as well. It was fingerprint encoded so that only Stark could open it, and would deploy knockout gas or even explode if someone else attempted to force it open. On top of that, it contained a portable computer that essentially acted as a portable headquarters, giving Tony the tools he needed to be Iron Man anywhere in the world.
The briefcase suit in the MCU is more formally known as the Mark V Armor. Stark designed it as a means of turning into Iron Man – and more specifically for protecting Pepper Potts – when he was away from his workshop or other suits. Accordingly, it’s not nearly as powerful as any of his earlier suits, since additional armor or weaponry would contribute too much to its weight. As a result, it possesses only the basic powers of Tony’s previous suits – improved strength and protection, repulsors in the palms and a beam capable of firing from the arc reactor in the chest – and those at lower levels than previous suits. It did the job, but struggled against Whiplash’s cobbled-together imitation tech, extending the battle longer than it would have with a different generation of armor in play.
Will We See Iron Man's Weird Portable Suit in the MCU Again?
The MCU’s technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since Iron Man 2, both with the introduction of alien technology and with Wakanda’s previously hidden nanotech. Tony’s outfit has evolved accordingly, leaving the briefcase suit in the obsolete pile along with most of the other earlier versions. The Mark V can be seen in Tony’s workshop in Iron Man 3, and presumably wound up at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean after the Mandarin attacked his home.
But outdated tech tends to find its way into unsavory hands in the MCU, with the Vulture’s raids in Spider-Man: Homecoming being just one example. Despite its comparative weakness, it’s still an amazing piece of technology, and in the wrong hands could spell disaster. Marvel’s upcoming Armor Wars may detail its fate in more explicit terms. But power levels aside, its clever appearance and slick visuals have aged exceedingly well. That may give it another lease on life in the MCU.