by Brett White

"Iron Man 3" finally lands in theaters next Friday and to get everyone prepared, we've compiled a list of five Iron Man stories that fill in a little bit of the film's primary characters' backgrounds. Sure, this may seem like a hefty reading list to tackle over the next week, but it's Iron Man. Isn't it worth it? This is the film that kicks off Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe! There's going to be a post-credits scene and Easter eggs galore! Most importantly, Robert Downey Jr. will be on-screen as Tony Stark again. If none of that makes you excited, then you really should crack open the collections listed below. They are 100% guaranteed to get you pumped up.

Iron Man is coming, and he craves your enthusiasm.

"Armor Wars," "Iron Man" #225-232 (1987)
While this story line isn't directly tied into "Iron Man 3," it does feature a lot of elements that we have a hunch will play a major role in the film. For one thing, it features Tony Stark and James Rhodes (played by Don Cheadle in the film) teaming up against a bunch of armored foes. Even if bad guys like the Beetle, Shockwave, the Crimson Dynamo, and Titanium Man don't show up in the film, Tony still has to fight approximately one bajillion suits of armor. This is a classic Iron Man story from classic Iron Man creators Bob Layton and David Michelinie, so you know you can't go wrong with it.

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Tags iron man 3, Required Reading