Invincible Iron Man #26
Issue #26 marks the in-universe founding of Stark Resilient — Tony Stark's post-Siege, post-Dark Reign attempt to rebuild his life around clean repulsor energy rather than weapons manufacturing — making it the organizational origin point for the supporting cast and corporate setting that would define Matt Fraction's run through issue #33 and beyond. The issue introduces Carson Wyche as a key new supporting character and plants the seed of Hammer Industries' Spymaster infiltration subplot, a slow-burn thriller thread that pays off across the entire arc. Arriving during Marvel's Heroic Age initiative and timed alongside the Iron Man 2 film release, it represents a deliberate creative reset: a character-driven, tech-forward Tony Stark stripped of his fortune and forced to innovate from scratch. That premise — the billionaire genius starting over with nothing but an idea — resonated broadly and shaped how subsequent writers and adaptations have approached Tony's entrepreneurial identity.
In "Stark Resilient Part 2, Visionary Men," Tony Stark takes a bold step forward by launching Stark Resilient, severing ties with the military—only to see his legacy weaponized when Justine and Sasha Hammer secretly sell outdated Stark tech to terrorists. Written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Salvador Larroca, with colors by Frank D'Armata and letters by Joe Caramagna, this issue sharpens the tension between innovation and accountability, all framed by Larroca’s striking cover.
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Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca had been the creative team on the series since its 2008 launch, a run that had already earned the 2009 Eisner Award for Best New Series by the time this issue shipped. Issue #26 arrived in May 2010 as the second chapter of the nine-part 'Stark Resilient' arc, editorially timed to serve as a new-reader entry point coinciding with the theatrical release of *Iron Man 2* that summer. Colorist Frank D'Armata and letterer VC Joe Caramagna, both series regulars, rounded out the production team under editor Ralph Macchio.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Stark Resilient (Earth-616), Tony Stark's clean-energy technology company founded after the events of Siege of Asgard.
- First appearance of Carson Wyche, an engineer Stark had previously (and publicly) fired from Stark Industries, whom he now recruits as a founding partner.
- Part 2 of the 9-part 'Stark Resilient' story arc, titled 'Visionary Men'; written by Matt Fraction with art and cover by Salvador Larroca.
- Published July 2010 (released May 2010); edited by Ralph Macchio; lettered by VC Joe Caramagna; colored by Frank D'Armata.
- Issue establishes the Spymaster (Sinclair Abbott) subplot: Justine Hammer hires him to infiltrate and destroy Stark Resilient from within.
- Tony Stark receives a shipment of recovered Iron Man armors from Steve Rogers and prepares to melt them down for parts to fund his new venture.
- A 1-for-15 Heroic Age variant cover by Carlos Pacheco was produced alongside the standard Larroca cover.
- Collected in the trade paperback Invincible Iron Man Vol. 5: Stark Resilient Book 1 (September 2010), which collects issues #25–28.
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Reprinted in Invincible Iron Man #5 (2010), Invincible Iron Man #5 (2010), Invincible Iron Man #2 (2011), Marvel Icons #2 (2011), Iron Man Modern Era Epic Collection #4 (2024)
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