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War Machine

War Machine

Creation & Design

War Machine was created to serve as a supporting character for Iron Man, showcasing the potential of advanced technology in warfare.

Early Years

James Rhodes first appeared as a friend and ally to Tony Stark, eventually donning the War Machine armor to fight alongside Iron Man.

Character Development

Over the years, War Machine has evolved from a sidekick to a prominent hero in his own right, often grappling with the moral implications of using advanced weaponry.

Cultural Reception

War Machine has been well-received as a character who represents the complexities of military technology in superhero narratives.

Character Details

Real Name:

James Rupert Rhodes

Aliases:

Iron Patriot, War Machine

Species:

Human

Gender:

Male

Affiliations:

Avengers, Iron Man, S.H.I.E.L.D.

Abilities:

Expert pilot, Skilled hand-to-hand combatant, Advanced technology user

Equipment:

War Machine armor, Various weaponry

Weight:

250lbs

Height:

6' 0"

Eye Color:

brown

Hair Color:

black

Non-Key Issues

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Iron Man #118

Marvel ⋅ 1979

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Low

Mid

$15

High

$55

Key Facts

1st appearance of James "Rhodey" Rhodes, later becomes War Machine

Key Facts

1st appearance of James "Rhodey" Rhodes, later becomes War Machine

Iron Man #125

Marvel ⋅ 1979

View Details ⋅ View Variants (1)

Low

Mid

High

$20

Key Facts

1st cover appearance of James Rhodes

3rd appearance of Ant-Man in costume

"Demon in a Bottle" part 6

Key Facts

1st cover appearance of James Rhodes

3rd appearance of Ant-Man in costume

"Demon in a Bottle" part 6

Iron Man #170

Marvel ⋅ 1983

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Low

Mid

High

$12

Key Facts

1st appearance of James Rhodes as Iron Man

Key Facts

1st appearance of James Rhodes as Iron Man

West Coast Avengers #1

Marvel ⋅ 1984

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Low

Mid

High

$15

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of the West Coast Avengers: Hawkeye, Iron Man (Rhodes), Wonder Man, Mockingbird and Tigra

[June 2022 - a Wonder Man series could lead to a West Coast Avengers team]

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of the West Coast Avengers: Hawkeye, Iron Man (Rhodes), Wonder Man, Mockingbird and Tigra

[June 2022 - a Wonder Man series could lead to a West Coast Avengers team]

Iron Man #281

Marvel ⋅ 1992

View Details ⋅ View Variants (2)

Low

Mid

High

$12

Key Facts

Debut of Tony Stark’s ‘War Machine’ armor, a heavy artillery suit

⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Tony dons the armor but continues to refer to himself as Iron Man. James Rhodes does not appear in this armor until Iron Man #284 and later assumes the codename War Machine in West Coast Avengers #94

Key Facts

Debut of Tony Stark’s ‘War Machine’ armor, a heavy artillery suit

⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Tony dons the armor but continues to refer to himself as Iron Man. James Rhodes does not appear in this armor until Iron Man #284 and later assumes the codename War Machine in West Coast Avengers #94

Iron Man #282

Marvel ⋅ 1992

View Details ⋅ View Variants (1)

Low

$10

Mid

$30

High

$100

Key Facts

1st cover appearance of the War Machine armor, worn by Tony Stark

⚠ Misconception: cited by many as the first appearance of War Machine. "War Machine" is splashed across the IRON MAN title in reference to the armor’s incredible armaments but the name is not official. The armor, (piloted by Tony Stark in this issue, not James Rhodes) actually debuts in the previous issue, Iron Man #281. In Iron Man #284, James Rhodes suits up in the War Machine armor but does so as Iron Man and does not officially assume the War Machine codename until West Coast Avengers #94, though he is referred to as War Machine in X-Force #21 but as Iron Man in X-Force #20

Key Facts

1st cover appearance of the War Machine armor, worn by Tony Stark

⚠ Misconception: cited by many as the first appearance of War Machine. "War Machine" is splashed across the IRON MAN title in reference to the armor’s incredible armaments but the name is not official. The armor, (piloted by Tony Stark in this issue, not James Rhodes) actually debuts in the previous issue, Iron Man #281. In Iron Man #284, James Rhodes suits up in the War Machine armor but does so as Iron Man and does not officially assume the War Machine codename until West Coast Avengers #94, though he is referred to as War Machine in X-Force #21 but as Iron Man in X-Force #20

Iron Man #283

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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Low

Mid

High

$10

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Tony Stark in the War Machine armor

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Tony Stark in the War Machine armor

Iron Man #284

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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Low

Mid

High

Key Facts

1st appearance of Rhodey Rhodes in the War Machine armor but he still refers to himself as Iron Man

It isn't until West Coast Avengers #94 until the codename ‘War Machine’ is used

[December 2020 - Don Cheadle will reprise his role as War Machine in an Armor Wars series on Disney+ / November 2022 - an inside source passed along an unconfirmed rumor that Armor Wars has been removed from Disney's production slate]

Key Facts

1st appearance of Rhodey Rhodes in the War Machine armor but he still refers to himself as Iron Man

It isn't until West Coast Avengers #94 until the codename ‘War Machine’ is used

[December 2020 - Don Cheadle will reprise his role as War Machine in an Armor Wars series on Disney+ / November 2022 - an inside source passed along an unconfirmed rumor that Armor Wars has been removed from Disney's production slate]

West Coast Avengers #94

Marvel ⋅ 1993

View Details ⋅ View Variants (1)

Low

Mid

$15

High

$50

Key Facts

Rhodey assumes the codename War Machine

Prior to this this issue, War Machine was the name of the armor

Rhodes first wears the armor in Iron Man #284 but refers to himself as Iron Man. Prior to #284, Stark wore the War Machine armor

[February 2021 - Don Cheadle will reprise his role as War Machine in Armor Wars]

Key Facts

Rhodey assumes the codename War Machine

Prior to this this issue, War Machine was the name of the armor

Rhodes first wears the armor in Iron Man #284 but refers to himself as Iron Man. Prior to #284, Stark wore the War Machine armor

[February 2021 - Don Cheadle will reprise his role as War Machine in Armor Wars]

War Machine #1

Marvel ⋅ 1994

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Mid

High

Key Facts

First solo series featuring War Machine

Key Facts

First solo series featuring War Machine

Secret Avengers #1

Marvel ⋅ 2010

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Low

Mid

High

Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Secret Avengers: Captain America, War Machine, Black Widow, Valkyrie, Beast, Nova and Moon Knight

1st team appearance of the Shadow Council

Beginning of the 'Heroic Age' according to Marvel

Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Secret Avengers: Captain America, War Machine, Black Widow, Valkyrie, Beast, Nova and Moon Knight

1st team appearance of the Shadow Council

Beginning of the 'Heroic Age' according to Marvel

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Deodato featuring War Machine

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Deodato featuring War Machine

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Choi

Cover art inspired by Captain America Annual #8 (1986)

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Choi

Cover art inspired by Captain America Annual #8 (1986)

Key Facts

Variant Venomized cover art by Khoi Pham

Key Facts

Variant Venomized cover art by Khoi Pham

Key Facts

Debut of Iron Man/War Machine armor 'Model 39'

Key Facts

Debut of Iron Man/War Machine armor 'Model 39'

Key Facts

James Rhodes pilots the Iron Patriot armor

Key Facts

James Rhodes pilots the Iron Patriot armor

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Sujin Jo featuring War Machine

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Sujin Jo featuring War Machine

Force Works 2020 #1

Non-Key

Marvel ⋅ 2020

View Details ⋅ View Variants (3)

Low

Mid

High

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Force Works 2020: War Machine, Quake, Mockingbird, U.S. Agent, Solo, Gauntlet

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Force Works 2020: War Machine, Quake, Mockingbird, U.S. Agent, Solo, Gauntlet

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike McKone

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike McKone

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mahmud Asrar

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mahmud Asrar

	Publisher	Low	Mid	High
Iron Man #118	Marvel	$5	$15	$55
Iron Man #125	Marvel	$2	$8	$20
Iron Man #170	Marvel	$1	$3	$12
West Coast Avengers #1	Marvel	$1	$5	$15
Iron Man #281	Marvel	$1	$3	$12
Iron Man #282	Marvel	$10	$30	$100
Iron Man #283	Marvel	$1	$2	$10
Iron Man #284	Marvel	$1	$2	$5
West Coast Avengers #94	Marvel	$5	$15	$50
War Machine #1	Marvel	$1	$2	$5
Secret Avengers #1	Marvel	$1	$2	$8
Secret Avengers #5	Marvel	$3	$9	$35
Iron Man #510	Marvel	$2	$8	$25
Secret Avengers #21	Marvel	$10	$40	$125
Iron Man #517	Marvel	$1	$2	$4
Gambit #13	Marvel	$1	$3	$12
Tony Stark: Iron Man #6	Marvel	$1	$2	$4
Force Works 2020 #1	Marvel	$1	$2	$4
Force Works 2020 #1	Marvel	$2	$8	$25
Captain Marvel #26	Marvel	$1	$5	$18

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