Summary
The invincibleIron Manhas been feeling pretty mortal throughout the entire run of his solo series. Giving readers a deeper look into his character thanthe quippy Tony Starkusually allows, the narration throughout the series has been taken from an autobiography Tony has been writing. Now that he’s almost done, however, he faceshis greatest threat yet: superhero fatigue.
In a preview forThe Invincible Iron Man#20 – written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Andrea Di Vito– She-Hulk warns Tony about her legal fees, as she helps him settleRhodey’s official pardon. Despite having just saved the world from Orchis, Stark is still strapped for cash, asking her if there’s anyone they can sue.
When she reminds him of the upcoming payday from his memoir, he grimaces, noting: “my agent told me people are kind of ‘superheroed out’ right now”, echoing a complaint that’s been lodged in the real world against the MCU.
20 Best Iron Man Stories in Marvel History
Though Iron Man found new fame as the face of the MCU, the character’s long history in Marvel comics has made for some unforgettable stories.
“Superhero Fatigue” Is An Issue For Marvel Heroes Even Within Their Own Universe
The Invincible Iron Man#20 – Written By Gerry Duggan; Art By Andrea Di Vito, Bryan Valenza, & Joe Caramagna
It is understandable that an average Marvel Universe citizen wouldn’t be interested in hearing how hard it was for Iron Man to lose billions of dollars while getting married to a beautiful mutant.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off sixteen years ago in 2008 – withIron Man, fittingly enough – and superheroes have been big business since. Multiple filmmakers and actors have spoken out against the genre over the past decade, though it seemed in 2023,audiences started feeling superhero fatigueas well. Movies that were once expected to be guaranteed box office success underperformed or just bombed. Streaming TV series were once an event; now there are too many to keep up with. The fatigue is so strong,it has seeped ontop the page, affecting people even in the Marvel Universe itself.
To be fair, being a normal person in the Marvel Universe seems exhausting. A worldwide fight justbroke out against Orchis, enlisting not only the Avengers and X-Men, but a rogue’s gallery of villains, equipped with lethal Stark tech. Only months before that happened, New York Citywas under siege in a deadly Gang War, and before they had a chance to recover,vampires were unleashed. It is understandable that an average Marvel Universe citizen wouldn’t be interested in hearing how hard it was for Iron Man to lose billions of dollars while getting married to a beautiful mutant.
Superhero fatigue is not just real, it is personal for Iron Man.
Tony Stark Is Facing “Superhero Fatigue” In Both Public And Private
A Superpowered Couple In Jeopardy
Speaking of that beautiful mutant, Emma Frostmight be feeling superhero fatigue, too. The preview forInvincibleIron Man#20 suggestsshe’s still planning on leaving Tony, now that they’ve achieved their goal of defeating Orchis. While that was always the agreement since they first got married,Tony admits he’s fallen for her,telling Jen Walters to hold off on the annulment paperwork she’s prepared.However, Emma will be an important figure in X-Men’s “From the Ashes” era, with no time for her husband. In other words, superhero fatigue is not just real, it is personal forIron Man.
The Invincible Iron Man#20will available on August 21, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
Iron Man
Anthony “Tony” Edward Stark, AKA Iron Man, is a Marvel Comics superhero who has enjoyed several years of the spotlight and has become a mainstay in several Marvel media franchises. After suffering a critical injury, Tony creates a specialized armored suit powered by an arc reactor, which keeps him alive. Egotistical but good-hearted, Tony utilizes his super intellect and inventions to fight to protect humanity from various threats, eventually becoming a founding member of the Avengers. In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was kicked off with the film Iron Man, which starred Robert Downey Jr. as the superhero.
