War Machine
Rhodey in the heavy armour — the armory's big gun.
Origin
James 'Rhodey' Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 (January 1979), created by David Michelinie, Bob Layton and John Byrne — Tony Stark's pilot, confidant, and the one friend who never feared him. Rhodes first wore the Iron Man armour in Iron Man #170 (1983), carrying the role while Stark battled alcoholism, and in Iron Man #281 (June 1992) he debuted the heavy-ordnance suit built for one purpose: the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit — War Machine.
History
War Machine graduated to his own ongoing series in 1994 and became the Avengers' resident heavy weapons platform — the armour with the minigun where Iron Man keeps the finesse. On screen, Terrence Howard played Rhodes in Iron Man (2008) — 'Next time, baby' — and Don Cheadle took over from Iron Man 2 (2010), where War Machine's hangar reveal remains a high-water mark of the early MCU. Rhodes has worn the armour through the Avengers era ever since, including a stint rebranded as the Iron Patriot.
Key Facts
Key Issues & Pieces
- Iron Man #118 (1979) — first appearance of James Rhodes.
- Iron Man #170 (1983) — Rhodes becomes Iron Man.
- Iron Man #281 (1992) — first War Machine. The shrine's founding book.
- War Machine #1 (1994) — his own series launches, foil-cover era and all.
On Screen Now
Iron Man 2 — Official Trailer — official trailer, embedded from the studio's YouTube channel. The first Iron Man 2 trailer (2010) — the one that ended with Rhodey's debut as War Machine, back to back with Iron Man.
Build This Shrine
Three shelves, three budgets. Start where you are; the shrine grows one piece at a time — that is the whole philosophy of this site. Product links are being curated by hand and will appear shelf by shelf.
Starter Shelf
Report for duty.
War Machine figure (MCU)
The gunmetal suit in 6-inch form — minigun and shoulder pods are the sculpt test.
Iron Man #281 facsimile / reprint
Read the debut of the heavy suit.
War Machine Pop!
Rhodey in vinyl, minigun up.
Centerpiece Shelf
Built for the helmet wall.
Marvel Legends War Machine Helmet (Electronic)
Hasbro's 1:1 War Machine helmet: gunmetal and silver plate, glowing red eyes, lights and sounds — the heavy-ordnance answer to the Iron Man helmet, and a natural resident of a Marvel helmet wall like mine. Where Doom is menace and Daredevil is texture, this one is pure military hardware.
Iron Man #281, graded
The first War Machine, slabbed — a modern key that still trades sanely.
War Machine maquette
Mid-stride with the minigun spun up is the definitive Rhodey composition.
Grail Shelf
Maximum ordnance.
Iron Man #118, graded
First Rhodes — a Bronze Age key with a fraction of its era-mates' prices.
War Machine life-size bust
Shoulder-cannon busts are furniture-class centrepieces.
Don Cheadle signed piece
A helmet or photo signed by Cheadle — Rhodey himself since 2010.