Iron Man #1
Iron Man (Panini France, 1998) #1 is the French-language debut of the Heroes Reborn era, bringing to French readers the reimagined origin of Tony Stark set on the pocket-universe Counter-Earth created after the Onslaught crossover — a decisive, if controversial, chapter in Marvel's 1990s publishing history. The issue marks the moment Panini France's Iron Man series launched, roughly sixteen months after the U.S. original, as part of the publisher's broader effort to deliver a dedicated, character-focused monthly to French comics kiosques. For French collectors, it represents the first standalone Iron Man periodical under the Panini Marvel France banner, separating Iron Man from the anthology format that preceded it. The issue exists in two distinct editions — a standard edition ('Edition normale') and a limited print-run variant ('Edition à tirage limité') — giving it a dual-format distinction unusual for the era's French Marvel output.
In "Au cœur du sujet," a devastating attack by Hydra on Tony Stark’s research facility in Buffalo sets off a chain of life-altering events. With scientist Bruce Banner trapped and a gamma bomb ticking, chaos erupts when Banner’s transformation into the Hulk spirals out of control—forcing Stark to make a desperate choice. Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell’s gripping story, illustrated with intensity by Whilce Portacio and inked by Scott Williams and JD, sees Stark don experimental armor to survive the onslaught, marking a pivotal moment in his evolution as Iron Man. The cover by Ryan Benjamin captures the high-stakes drama in striking detail.
In "Au cœur du sujet," a sudden Hydra assault on Tony Stark’s Buffalo research facility plunges scientist Bruce Banner and security chief Liz Ross into a deadly trap with a ticking gamma bomb. As Banner makes a desperate choice to contain the disaster, he transforms into the Hulk, unleashing chaos that fatally injures Tony Stark—only for Stark to survive by activating an experimental suit, becoming Iron Man.
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The story reprinted here originated as Iron Man (Marvel, vol. 2) #1, cover-dated November 1996, produced under the 'Heroes Reborn' arrangement in which Marvel temporarily outsourced several flagship titles to the studios of Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. Jim Lee served as co-plotter and overseeing creative force for the Iron Man title, with Scott Lobdell handling scripting duties on the early issues and Whilce Portacio providing pencils, inked by Scott Williams. Panini France — operating under the Marvel France imprint after obtaining the Marvel license in January 1997 — launched its Iron Man series with this issue in March 1998, channeling the Heroes Reborn material into the French market as a monthly newsstand title.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published March 1998 by Panini France (Marvel France imprint); reprints Iron Man (Marvel, vol. 2) #1 (cover date November 1996).
- Two distinct French editions exist for this issue: a standard 'Edition normale' and a limited-print 'Edition à tirage limité' variant.
- Story titled 'Heart of the Matter'; co-plotted by Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell (Lobdell scripting), with pencils by Whilce Portacio and inks by Scott Williams.
- Presents the Heroes Reborn alternate-universe origin of Iron Man: a Hydra attack triggers the simultaneous birth of the Hulk (Bruce Banner exposed to a gamma bomb), and Tony Stark dons the experimental Prometheum Armor to save his own life after suffering shrapnel damage to his heart.
- First appearance of Rebel O'Reilly (Connor O'Reilly), Tony Stark's friend who had been conducting preliminary tests of the Prometheum Armor before the events of the issue.
- First appearance of the Prometheum Armor — the distinctive Heroes Reborn Iron Man suit designed for this alternate-universe pocket-world continuity.
- Characters appearing alongside Iron Man include Bruce Banner/Hulk, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Jasper Sitwell, Leonard Samson, Jennifer Walters, and Madame Hydra (Heroes Reborn versions).
- The underlying U.S. material was later collected in Heroes Reborn: Iron Man TPB (Marvel, 2006) and the Heroes Reborn Omnibus (Marvel, 2019); Panini France itself reprinted Iron Man (1996) #1 in the 'Je suis Iron Man' anthology.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Avengers #1 (1996), Iron Man #1 (1996), Iron Man #1 (1996)
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