The War Machine Armor: Mark I, also known as the JRXL-1000 Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, is the first armor given to James Rhodes, who used it to become War Machine. Originally Tony Stark's Mark II armor, the armor was taken by Rhodes and heavily modified by Justin Hammer with a variety of weapons and armor additions. Notably used during the Battle at Stark Expo, Stark later removed the modifications and reverted the armor to its Mark II state.
"You let your friend fly away with your suit. Now, if I didn't know better..." "You don't know better. I didn't give it to him. He took it." "Whoa, whoa, whoa. He took it? You're Iron Man and he just took it? The little brother walked in there, kicked your ass and took your suit? Is that possible?"
Following a series of conflicts with the United States government over the ownership of Tony Stark's Iron Man armor technology, Stark's friend and Military Liaison to Stark Industries, James Rhodes, took responsibility for minimizing any further conflicts or questionable actions by Stark. Upon arriving at Stark's annual birthday party, Rhodes discovered that he had become drunk while wearing the Iron Man Armor and was behaving recklessly, nearly endangering the lives of the party attendants. In order to subdue Stark, Rhodes put on Stark's Mark II armor and ordered Stark to stop, which led to a fight between the two.
Rhodes then took the armor to Edwards Air Force Base to turn the armor over the United States Air Force under his personal supervision. Rhodes' superiors then made the decision to call in Justin Hammer to weaponize the suit with a variety of top-of-the-line firearms provided by Hammer Industries. The armor was then weaponized and modified before Hammer and the military took the armor to the Stark Expo so that it could be presented alongside Hammer Industries' new Iron Man inspired Hammer Drones.[1]
Tony Stark went to Stark Expo in his latest armor, the Mark VI, to reclaim the Mark II and confront his foes. Stark attempted to force Justin Hammer to reveal Anton Vanko's location, as well as convince Rhodes to help him in his mission. However, Vanko took control of the War Machine armor and the Hammer Drones, sending them to kill Stark. The War Machine Armor, running on a remote autopilot, chased the Mark VI through the skies around the Expo until it was beaten in combat by the Mark VI. Eventually with the help of Natasha Romanoff, Rhodes was able to regain control of the armor and help Stark defeat the rest of the Hammer Drones and Vanko, who arrived in his Whiplash Mark II armor.[1]
Following the battle, Rhodes took the armor for "security purposes" without complete objection from Stark. Later, the armor was stripped of all Hammer's modifications by Stark, considering it an insult to his own tech, reverting it to the Iron Man MK II, and he created a new custom-made War Machine armor for his best friend.[2]
In an alternate universe, James Rhodes used the Mark I War Machine armor to fight Roxxon Energy Corporation's forces as they attempted to steal the Dataspine. Rhodes fought as long as he could and asked Tony Stark for an update, so Stark explained his intention to overload the core, causing an explosion. Rhodes used his armor to fight Roxxon's forces to get Stark more time, but Stark ultimately had to destroy the facility. Rhodes and Stark escaped in their armors. Rhodes then used the armor to help chase down the man they thought responsible, Valentin Shatalov. He brought the armor to attack a Tesla facility owned by Shatalov, but did not find it. He then flew it to Shatalov's true location, where the armor was shot out of the sky by Shatalov. Rhodes recovered and used the armor to restrain Shatalov's Crimson Dynamo Armor, allowing Stark to defeat Shatalov.[3]
James Rhodes wore the armor to the facility where Kearson DeWitt, who organized the Theft of the Dataspine, was believed to be located. However, they found the facility in conflict and joined the fight. Rhodes used his armor to fight the drones and soldiers while Stark stopped A.I.M.'s soldiers inside. As S.H.I.E.L.D. attempted to clean up the fight, J.A.R.V.I.S. reported on an anomaly. Rhodes, believing he found it, approached the anomaly in his armor. However, it was a bomb which blew up, infecting the armor with Project P.R.O.T.E.A.N. technology and allowing Ultimo to influence J.A.R.V.I.S.
Rhodes recovered from his injuries and put the armor back on in order to defeat an A.I.M. Arc Armiger which was attacking the Helicarrier. He brought the armor to the facility where Project Greengrid was conducted to help fight it. Rhodes and Stark then set a trap for Ultimo, where Rhodes used his armor to attack Ultimo and destroy the Arc Reactors powering him. Ultimo managed to infect the technology again, but Rhodes and Stark defeated him before it could happen.[3]
Using the first rendition of his armor, War Machine chased the Hammer Drones that attacked the Stark Expo. Eventually, War Machine was able to defeat them.[4]
Capabilities[]
With its basis being the MK II armor, it gives the wearer superhuman strength, reflexes, durability, and flight. Upon being handed over to Justin Hammer, it was weaponized, up-armored, and renamed the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit. Besides being able to use its repulsors as offensive weapons, the suit is armed to the teeth with weaponry such as a minigun attached to its back, combat rifles attached to its forearms, and a missile launcher stored in its shoulder. It was also given additional armor plating. To counterbalance the extra weight caused by the various added weapons and armor, extra thrusters were added to both calves to allow for flight on a level comparable to the Iron Man Armors from the Mark II onwards. The suit comes with a suite of onboard combat analysis software including radar tracking and auto-targeting systems. It can also be controlled via a remote A.I. system.
Self-Contained Life-Support System and Environmental Protection: To be added
Heads Up Display (HUD): To be added
Repulsors: Like most Iron Man armors, the War Machine armor can use its flight repulsors to fire powerful concussive energy blasts. Rhodes and Stark used their combined repulsors to defeat Whiplash, recreating their scuffle at Stark's mansion.
M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System: 12-gauge, bolt-action shotgun made exclusively by Hammer Industries. It has a barrel length of 180mm, with a five-round magazine and a double action trigger.
"This is the FN-2000 from Belgium. They do make something better than waffles."
Dual FN F2000 Tacticals: 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition, bullpup assault rifles. Modified to attach to each of the suit's forearms and loaded with extended magazines to allow for long periods of continuous fire without needing to reload.
"You're looking at a Milkor 40mm grenade launcher. Tear gas, smoke. Hippie control."
"This is an M134 7.62 Minigun. Six individual barrels. The torso taker, powder maker. Our boys in uniform call in Uncle Gazpacho or Puff the Magic Dragon."
M134 7.62mm Minigun: The MK I's most iconic weapon. A 7.62x51mm, six barrel, medium machine gun capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute. It is attached to the back of the suit on an articulating robotic arm. Using an auto-targeting system, it can fire on its own, even behind the user, allowing for near 360 degrees of coverage.
A miniature kinetic-kill bunker busting missile made exclusively by Hammer Industries. Mounted in a concealed launcher on the suit's left shoulder. Unfortunately, Rhodes was unable to make use of its destructive capabilities, as the missile he fired during the Battle at Stark Expo was faulty.
Promotional art depicts the War Machine MK I's arc reactor light as red, while in the movie it remains white.
Prior to the release of Iron Man 2, an alternate take on a potential cinematic War Machine armor was included in Hasbro's toyline for Iron Man.
While Rhodes ordered Hammer to attach all the weaponry Hammer presented to the War Machine armor, Rhodes is never seen using the Hi-Tec pistol, M24 shotgun, nor the Milkor grenade launcher; nor do they appear to be attached anywhere on the suit.
After Hammer Industries modified the armor into the War Machine Mark I armor, the color of the suit's visor display changes from blue to green. Its external visor lights also change from blue to red.
Since it was an upgrade of the Iron Man Mark II rather than something built from scratch, the suit was not properly calibrated to Rhodes' physiology; Stark stated Rhodes was lucky it did not cause him to suffer a heart attack.[2]
Behind the Scenes[]
The War Machine was initially going to be the name for the Mark IV Iron Man armor, which Tony Stark would have used in the climax of Iron Man and would have featured weaponized swap-out parts to be worn over the Mark III armor. However, this armor was cut from the first movie.[5]
