Thor Finally Explains Why Tony Stark Is Marvel’s Most Iconic Hero

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Immortal Thor #16! It’s no secret that Tony Stark aka Iron Man is one of the most iconic heroes in the Marvel Universe, but Thor just confirmed that he’s not just ‘one of’ the most iconic, he is the most iconic. The reason that’s the case is due to both the nature of Tony Stark’s superhero career and the nature of the Earth’s significance among the Ten Realms – and how the two are intrinsically related.

In a preview for The Immortal Thor #16 by Al Ewing and Jan Bazaldua, readers are given a brief history of Midgard, and the ‘gods’ those mortals managed to forge despite their lack of divinity. It’s revealed that the original Human Torch (Jim Hammond) was the first superhero created by man, and that he ushered in an age of mortal gods. The reason this is noteworthy is that, according to this comic, Midgard is forming a ‘new pantheon’, which evidently includes the likes of Radioactive Man.

Admittedly, this preview presents more questions than answers, and it doesn’t help that the narration boxes read like verses of an old poem. However, the overall plot of this comic isn’t necessarily the biggest takeaway from this preview, but rather one seemingly innocuous point that was made during the explanation of Earth’s ‘mortal gods’, when Midgard was described as, “the realm of iron”.

Iron Man Represents the Best of Midgard’s ‘Mortal Gods’

Tony Stark is a Mortal who Turned Himself into a God-Tier Hero

While the other realms among the Ten Realms boast beings of divinity and magic, Midgard is entirely populated by mortals, but that doesn’t make that realm any less important. In fact, humanity’s ability to create their own ‘gods’ has earned the respect of other realms, like Asgard, and makes Midgard like a prized jewel within this cluster of worlds. And the one hero who stands out from the rest is Iron Man.

Without even knowing it, Tony Stark named his superhero alter ego after the world he has sworn to protect, as if he was destined to be the Earth’s greatest protector. It’s as if the realm of iron forged the Iron Man, a mortal who made himself a god, and can stand among the greatest warriors in the history of the Ten Realms. Some ‘mortal gods’ came before him, and many will assuredly come after, but there is only one Iron Man from the realm of iron, and that is Tony Stark.

Marvel Comics Needs to Make Iron Man’s New Title Official

Immortal Thor Hints that Iron Man is Earth’s Greatest Hero, & Marvel Needs to Confirm That

The Immortal Thor makes it clear that Iron Man is not only named after Midgard itself (even though Tony Stark didn’t consciously make that choice), but he also perfectly represents what makes Midgard so special on a cosmic scale. Humans turn themselves into superhumans, and there is no greater example of this than Tony Stark. So, now that Iron Man has passively been named as Earth’s greatest hero, it’s time for Marvel to confirm it, perhaps with a godly title recognized by the other realms that represents Iron Man’s significance.

Even if The Immortal Thor doesn’t delve any deeper into the “realm of iron” line in this preview, the implication is clear, and very well received. Iron Man represents the best of Midgard’s ‘mortal gods’, and acts as the truest son of the realm of iron, which is perhaps the most poetic explanation for why Tony Stark is Marvel’s most iconic hero.

The Immortal Thor #16 by Marvel Comics is available October 2, 2024.

The Immortal Thor

In Norse myths, they called him Thunderer. Vuer has he been named, and Hloriddi. The gods know him as Asgard’s king, keeper of Mjolnir, hero of the tales. When injustice grips Earth and ancient powers bring down the sky, he fights for those who cannot – and when the tale is done, we will know what that cost him. For when an Elder God of the Utgard-Realm marks Thor for destruction, he will face his greatest trial. This is the story of the immortal Thor – and the battle that will define him!