Comic books, admittedly this is the form of entertain I am the least knowledgeable; I’ve watched many shows (and movies) based on superheroes but never read any literature the characters came from. Despite this handicap the Characters of Color month continues on and I would be remissed if I didn’t talk about James ‘The War Machine’ Rhodes. Now back in the day when superhero cartoons were plentiful and good in the 90’s ‘Iron Man’ was always my favorite. What’s not to like? He had kick arse armor, a multi-billion dollar company and all the resources it brought (or bought), and even his own superhero strike team (Force Works) for a time. However in the comic book continuity Anthony “Tony” Stark, the creator and general user of the Iron Man Armor, had more problems than the old show portrayed. His mortally wounded heart needs a sophisticated pacemaker he created (that doubles as his Armor’s power source) to live, living a very fast life caused him to develop alcoholism, and of course that same devil may care attitude even caused him to quit being Iron Man over periods of time. So who picked up the slack? His best (and possibility his only as times) friend; James Rhodes who will later become the War Machine.
An accomplished United States Marine and skilled pilot Lieutenant James Rhodes and Tony were fast friends ever since the beginning. Rhodes’ helicopter was downed in the jungle, and he was trying to get his bird back in the air when Iron Man appeared, ironically escaping from the same forces that shot Rhodes down. They decided to work together in order to survive, so after recharging Iron Man armor with the helicopter’s battery, they trekked through the jungle until they discovered an OpFor rocket base. One destroyed base later they steal an enemy vehicle, get to an American base and the rest was history. Since then not only has he become Tony’s closest confidant, moral conscience and the superhero War Machine in his own right; but he actually was Iron Man for a number of years. Facing down threats such as Thunderball, Radioactive Man, the Mandarin, and once the entire Skrull armada (no relation) Rhodes is truly a War Machine and a hero for good. I’m not sure if he’s going to be in the latest event comic, Avengers vs. X-Men (due out in April – better not be April’s fool joke I can tell you that), but with his resume I wouldn’t want anyone else on my side in that rumble.
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