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And Now For Something Completely Different
...Champion of Champions, is born!"
Referred to as The Proto-Classic Armor, Model II, Mark I, was a radical redesign of the early bulky models. The original Model I armor was simply too heavy. Besides being unwieldy and bulky, it used too much energy to support the suit's weight, requiring constant recharges. Additionally, the lighter armor greatly reduces the strain on Stark's heart. The Proto-Classic is more powerful than the original as well, and not just because its light. It carries more protective devices and new technology like the first palm repulsors. One of the biggest leaps made by Stark in terms of design, this streamlined armor is more powerful, lighter, and much more form-fitting and malleable, using Iron Man's now trademark red and gold color scheme for the first time in TALES OF SUSPENSE #48.
The most obvious design change is the new sleeker look and the first use of the now classic red and gold color scheme. Red gloves, boots and a new chest piece over golden arms and legs brought Iron Man a much needed cooler, more modern look. A new red helmet with a gold, horned faceplate, gave Iron Man a fearsome aura.
Made from an ultra-fine 3-D knitting process that incorporates knitted motors for full motility on the surface, the armor itself is smooth, supple, form-fitting with the strength of ductile iron. A paper thin iron foil insulator provides incredible protection--It can withstand the force/shock of a nuclear explosion and its radioactivity as well. Interestingly enough though, the armor appears to have been vulnerable to machine gun fire while small arms fire posed no threat.
The power handling circuitry throughout the armor was also improved for greater efficiency. Transistor powered muscles provide fists of iron. Striking and lifting power is boosted by adjustable Power Packs that are built into the gauntlets, providing enough power to lift and hold an entire collapsing building. It is worth noting that this armor marks Stark's first attempt at an anti-acceleration field, made practical because of suit-wide electrical contacts and much needed in light of the new, second generation boot jets.
Built into the main chest piece, the heart of the apparatus is the smooth center stomach section. Although wafer thin, it contains more than meets the eye. Hinged panels open easily to allow quick access to miniature transistor batteries which are attached to the inside of the panels. Each interchangeable arm/leg adaptor contains its own built-in power unit as a failsafe in case the main transistor battery fails. There is an additional power reserve as well. Iron Man can monitor his energy usage by looking at a gauge in his right wrist. An extension cord is still used for recharging.
The chestplate still contains the Heart-Activator unit which regulates Tony's heartbeat powered by heart reactor transistors. Also hidden in the chestplate, and always on Stark, is a concealed shoulder radio reciever.
Far more flexible that the former armor, the form-fitting Model II slips on and off easily. To don the armor Stark designed a revolutionary new system. The form-fitting armor sleeves and legs are housed in adapters. After placing an adaptor around each wrist, powerful shoulder magnets activate the suit, pulling the sleeve up and locking it in place. The leg units work the same way. Releasing magnetic "doohickeys" causes the armor to snap off and fold into place--All of the parts fold into themselves and fit snugly into Stark's well-travelled attache case. The case has an electronic lock that only Stark can open. As one more precaution, Tony places a dummy shirt on top of the armor to conceal it from prying eyes.
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New gloves work on the same principles as the arm and leg sections. Strong, flexible and easily slipped on and attached, they are held onto the armor by magnetic attraction. Slim as they are, the gloves pack twice the wallop of the Model I gauntlets. Raised studs on the fists add a fearsome look to their mighty power. The left glove contains a built-in slide rule calculator. (Believe it or not, that was high tech for the time!) The boots are a triumph of compact, miniaturized power with jets that are less than one inch thick. To activate them, Stark simply steps down hard on the boot base and magnetic force does the rest--Slipping the boot around Tony's legs. The boots have an Ultra-Turbo setting for quick bursts of speed or power. Finally, instead of the bulky, cumbersome headgear he used to wear, Model II has a completely redesigned helmet that is so light that the wearer hardly feels it. The most notable feature of the helmet is the horned mask, which gives Iron Man a tough, new attitude. The new look not only protects Stark's secret identity, its thin construction enables his expression to show through, providing a psychological weapon against his enemies. The new helmet attaches to the neck unit and then the faceplate can be flipped down over the face. This suit has a circular chestbeam with an Emergency Light Beam spotlight. The chest light's Ultra Beam can dispel any ray of less than cosmic intensity. Many of the armor's features are activated by wrist-mounted controls or by a control panel that is located inside the belt buckle. One control setting can blast high frequency waves from the belt buckle panel. Other features include Magnetic Grapplers (that allow Iron Man to magnetize to metal surfaces) and Grounding Wires (to dispel external electrical charges). The only known sensors in the Model II, Mark I armor is a RADAR circuit capable of finding frequencies. The special feature on this suit: Roller wheels emerge from the boot housing at the press of a button. Utilizing these skates, Shellhead can travel over short distances quickly, while saving transistor power because--unlike previous skates--these rollers have their own jet motors. Using the skates allows the suit to recharge. The skates are capable of going in reverse. Armaments:Palm Magnetic Repellers (the first Repulsors); Chestbeam with Ultra Beam setting; Transitorized Magnets (hurled is threes); Hand-held Proton Beam; Tiny, hand-held Force Beam; Hand Drills |
Model II, Mark I-A debuted in TOS #54 with a new helmet. Although it marked the loss of the horned mask, the new helmet, made of one piece, is stronger and lighter than the previous model and more comfortable. The new look includes rivets across the face mask and the now classic round ear pieces on the sides of the helmet. A built-in oxygen mask was also included.
This page is copyrighted by Tim Rassbach 2001, 2002.
Iron Man and all associated characters are the property of Marvel Comics.