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Multiple realities across the Marvel multiverse were upended by the early loss of Iron Man, and each of them was worse as a result of the change.
Across the Marvel Multiverse, there are countless worlds where the heroes were tragically cut short, and the world was forced to move on without them. But some heroes were too important for such an event to just happen. Instead, their premature demise radically altered the fate of the entire world, as was the case with Iron Man in several alternate realities.
What If…? has revealed plenty of dark realities over the years, including a few where the premature death of Tony Stark resulted in incredibly dark new futures for the remaining heroes left to pick up the pieces afterward. Now, we’re taking a closer look at these dark worlds and how one Avenger’s death completely reshaped them.
WHAT IF TONY STARK DIED BEFORE ARMOR WARS?
In What If… Age of Ultron #2 by Joe Keatinge and Ramon Villalobos, time and space are affected severely by Wolverine’s attempts to prevent the Age of Ultron. The ensuing reality quake killed a variant of Iron Man during the build-up to his battles with Obadiah Stane. This resulted in the take-over of Stark Industries by Stane, who quickly sold off much of the technology within the Iron Man armors. This resulted in a far more global armor war that brought down much of the hero community and left most of the world in ruins.
Decades later, an aged Wolverine and a new incarnation of Ghost Rider end up in possession of an original Iron Man armor. After recruiting a retired Spider-Man (living a quiet life with Betty Brant and their children) and the Hulk (now a zen monk who’s abandoned violence), the four decide to target the retrofitted Master Mold, which has been taken over by Ezekiel Stane to pump out Iron Man armors. After finding the Master Mold, the group stops the production of armors and saves the last member of the Trask family from Stane — but Spider-Man is killed in the battle, and the world is later destroyed by a multiversal horde of Ultrons.
WHAT IF TONY STARK DIED BEFORE CIVIL WAR?
One of the stories featured in What If…? Civil War — “What If Captain America Led All The Heroes Against Registration?” by Kevin Greviou and Gustavo Duarte — focused on a reality where Tony Stark died during the events of the “Extremis” arc. Steve Rogers becomes the unchallenged face of the hero community during the initial discussions of registration. The massive loss of life in Stamford causes the US Government to turn against the community, but there’s no hero to try and negotiate with them in good faith.
Without Iron Man around to try and find a peaceful in-between, the government quickly resorts to unleashing Sentinels against the assembled heroes. killing many of them in short order. Captain America leads the remaining heroes underground, where their resistance does their best against the government-controlled sentinels. But it isn’t long before the heroes are betrayed by Maria Hill, which results in the secret eradication of the remaining heroes (which is hidden from the public) and the successful presidential election of Henry Peter Gyrich.
WHAT IF TONY STARK DIED BEFORE SECRET INVASION?
In What If…? Fallen Son by Marc Sumerak and Trevor Goring, Marvel’s superhero Civil War played out much as it did on Earth-616. However, things took a dark turn during the trial of Steve Rogers. In this reality, the nephew of Goliath confronted Tony Stark out of rage and revealed he’d stolen his uncle’s remaining Pym Particles. Growing giant and lashing out, Tom accidentally killed Tony in his assault. This seemingly was the final straw for the already fractured superhero community, as Tony became a martyr to his cause.
The New Avengers turn their full attention to capturing their former allies and the captured heroes remain in prison, while powerful nefarious forces make their moves. Aleksander Lukin (with the Red Skull still hiding within his mind) takes control of Stark Industries and gains an armada of Iron Man armors. Meanwhile, the Skrull Invasion of Earth increasingly moves forward, confident now that Iron Man has been removed from the equation. As the heroes mourn the loss of their friend, the world inches towards a far darker fate.
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