The first appearance of War Machine: Iron Man #118 (1979)

War Machine asks the collector a question not encountered with most characters:what exactly are you looking for— man, or identity?

Both exist, they are separated by thirteen years, and they do not pay the same price. This guide covers both, in order.

1979: the man, not yet the character

Iron Man #118 (1979) introduced James Rhodes— pilot, soldier, employee. He has no costume, no vigilante identity, nor any apparent importance.

The number owes its reputation to something else: it marks the beginning of the period Michelinie-Byrne-Layton on the series, one of the most esteemed of the title.

This is a first point of method. Demand for this issue is divided between two audiences: those looking for the first appearance of a character who has come of age, and those buying the start of a famous run.

This is quite favorable — two independent demands support a value better than just one.

1983: dress rehearsal

Four years later, an event in the series changes the situation: Rhodes dons Iron Man armor and operates under this identity for an extended period of time.

This number is the one that this corpus recommends knowing, because it is doubly instructive.

Narratively, this is where the character stops being an employee and becomes someone — and the story takes the difficulty seriously: he's not Tony Stark, the armor doesn't fit him, and it shows.

On the market, it illustrates a category that this corpus regularly points out: the number where a character takes on an identity that is not their own. These numbers are listed as curiosities rather than keys, and are paid accordingly.

1992: War Machine identity

Thirteen years after his first appearance, Rhodes finally gets armor and a name to call his own.

This is where the most important collection trap in this file comes into play, and it must be explained precisely.

The cameo and full appearance trap

The armor first appears so partial— a few boxes, a silhouette, a presentation — in a number, then completely in the next one.

This distinction, common in comic book publishing, produces two different issues for a single event. And the market does not treat them in the same way depending on the era, the guides and the sellers.

The practical consequences are serious:

• A seller can present the cameo like “first appearance” — which is defensible, and makes you pay full price for a few squares.
• Another can sell off full appearance presenting it as an ordinary number.
• Grading organizations generally mention the distinction on the label: read it.

The rule that this corpus applies:check what the number actually shows, not what the ad claims. On characters whose identity appears in two stages, this is the most profitable precaution possible.

Points of vigilance depending on the period

On the 1979 issue. Bronze age paper, sensitive to humidity: rusty staples and yellowing of the edges are the dominant defects. Also check the interior pages – cut coupons remain frequent during this period and severely reduce the gradation.

On the 1992 issues. Period of overproduction: considerable print runs, abundant copies, careful conservation from the beginning. The value there is based almost entirely on gradation, and a good copy is worth a fraction of a near-perfect copy.

This is an important structural difference between the two dates in this file. In 1979, we pay for rarity; in 1992, we pay for perfection.

What determines the value of this folder

One factor dominates all the others, and it must be named: the adaptations.

The character has been present on screen since 2008, in a franchise with a very large audience, with a recurring and identifiable role. This is the main driver of demand on its key numbers.

This corpus, however, formulates a reservation, drawn from neighboring files: it is not the presence on the screen which permanently shifts the odds, it is the centrality. A character seen by hundreds of millions of spectators in a supporting role does not produce the demand for a character in the title role.

Practical consequence for this file: the potential is not exhausted, and it depends on future projects rather than those which have already taken place.

As always, condition and gradation determine value; Supporting real recent sales is essential before any purchase.

For more, see ourWar Machine key issuesand ourcollection guide.