Iron Man's New Powers Has Tony Stark Finally Admit Greatest Weakness
Warning! Spoilers for Iron Man #18 by Marvel Comics
After losing control and using his new powers to kill some of his closest friends, Iron Man just admitted his greatest weakness - that he can't help but create conflict and confrontation with those he cares most about. In a new preview for Iron Man #18 by Marvel Comics, Tony Stark tells Hellcat that his friends tend to get in the way of what he's trying to accomplish, leading the hero to make them his enemy.
While he promised to use his newly acquired Power Cosmic for the betterment of the world, Tony Stark quickly lost control of his god-like powers after returning to Earth. His friends (along with Doctor Doom and Silver Surfer) attempted to stage an intervention where they tried to take away his reality-changing abilities, but it ended in a blood-bath. Iron Man lost control and killed almost everyone, including Silver Surfer and War Machine. Patsy Walker, the lone survivor from the hero's outbreak, is now talking with Tony and learning his greatest weakness regarding those close to him.
In a brand new preview for Iron Man #18 by Marvel Comics by Christopher Cantwell, Lan Medina, Frank D'Armata, and VC's Joe Caramagna, Iron Man looks over the death and destruction he caused with his powers - as his closest friends and allies lay dead in front of him. In a subsequent conversation with Patsy Walker, Tony Stark tells her he can use the Power Cosmic to bring back those he killed without them even knowing. However, Walker reminds him that the horrible murders did happen, and his biggest problem is operating without thinking about the consequences of his actions.
Iron Man confides in Patsy that his greatest weakness is turning his friends into enemies. He admits there's always been conflict and confrontation with those closest to him because he feels like they get in his way, stopping him from "doing what I need to do."
Tony Stark rarely talks about his feelings so openly, as the conversation with Patsy Walker shows how much he trusts her in such a dire situation. Iron Man admitting he turns those closest to him away via confrontation and conflict is the hero being as self-aware as ever, as he knows its one of his greatest weaknesses. But, will he be able to fix the horrible situation he created by putting his ego aside and realizing the friends he killed weren't trying to stop him because of jealousy or control, but because they saw his powers change him and wanted to help? Readers will find out more when Iron Man #18 by Marvel Comics arrives in comic book stores on Wednesday.