IRON MAN 2020 READING ORDER: Arno Stark (1984-2014)

Iron Man 2020 was a surprise element introduced at the end of the second issue of Machine Man's 1984 alternate future mini-series. With those gnashing teeth and shoulder cogs, this future Iron Man only seemed a little more advanced that the mainstream Iron Man of the present day, but he looked so cool thanks to that Herb Trimpe/Barry Windsor-Smith art. His follow-up appearance in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20 would end up painting Arno Stark as more of a tragic figure (while Spidey unknowingly ends up causing the deaths of thousands in Arno's alternate future).

While Arno Stark would eventually be revealed as Morgan Stark's son in his timeline of Earth-8410 (making him Tony's Stark's first cousin once removed), the mainstream Marvel Universe (Earth-616) would introduce its own Arno Stark as we got closer to the year 2020 in actual reality! This Arno is actually the real son of Howard & Maria Stark, while Tony would turn out to be adopted. And it looks like Arno will be playing a major role in the Iron Man mythos next year, allowing him to truly become Iron Man 2020.

As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at the Marvel Chronology Project which I use as a basis and work out my own continuity. Those guys have done all the heavy lifting for me.

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Iron Man 2020 stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
• Issue listings in grey: Part of Arno Starks chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of Arno from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
• Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20 (1986)
Having bought out Stark International following the death of Tony Stark, the ego-driven Arno Stark makes his bid for 'Man of the Year' 2015 by introducing revolutionary time-travel tech; the Planet Buster bomb he created for US Military is armed by 'terrorist' Robert Saunders, forcing Arno to go back in time in his upgraded Iron Man armour to claim a retina scan from the young Robert Saunders and stop the bomb; arriving in modern day Earth-616, Iron Man's attempt to gain a scan is stopped by Spider-Man who thinks he's trying to kill the boy; Arno Stark returns to the future too late to stop the bomb which takes the lives of his wife and son.

Avengers Forever #11 (1999)
Iron Man 2020 cameo; Iron Man is among the costumed heroes of various realities battling it out on behalf of Kang and the Time-Keepers.

Machine Man #2-3(pp.1-18) (1984)
First appearance of Iron Man 2020 (Arno Stark); in the year 2020, Iron Man is employed by an ageing Sunset Bain to destroy the rebellious Midnight Wreckers and the newly-rebuilt Machine Man.

Thor Corps #2 (1993)
Iron Man 2020 cameo; Iron Man mistakes the time-hopping Thunderstrike for one of the Midnight Wreckers.

Machine Man #3(pp.19-20) (1984)
Iron Man clashes with Machine Man.

Fantastic Four #405 (1995)
Zarrko the Tomorrow Man pulls Iron Man 2020 from his timeline to kill Ant-Man, only for him to clash with Conan the Barbarian before being returned to his battle with Machine Man during STRANGE DAYS.

Machine Man #3(pp.21-23)-4 (1984-1985)
Iron Man suffers an embarrassing defeat at Machine Man's hands; Machine Man is torn to shreds in his rematch with Iron Man, but Iron Man is ultimately defeated.

Death's Head #9-10 (1989)
Death's Head is stranded on Earth-8410 in the year 2020 after being hurtled through time by Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four; Iron Man is manipulated into fighting Death's Head for the amusement of the Dicemen during TIME BOMB.

Paradise X: Heralds #1-3 (2001-2002)
Paradise X #1-4 (2002)
Paradise X #8-10 (2003)
Iron Man of Earth-8410 is among a number of heroes pulled from alternate timelines by the Machine Man of Earth-9997 to warn other realities about the true nature of the threat posed by the Celestials; Arno Stark agreed to join the Heralds in return for becoming a hero in his own right and no longer compared to Tony Stark; Iron Man travels to Earth-691 with the future Guardians of the Galaxy; to fulfill his role as a hero and make up for the devastation caused by the bomb he once built.

She-Hulk #3 (2006)
Iron Man 2020 cameo; Iron Man is held in a minor time loop by the Time Variance Authority for undisclosed time travel offences.

Iron Man 2020 (1994)
Iron Man is hired by industrialist Mark Wellington to rescue his daughter from the Irkutsk Liberation Front terrorist group who are holding her to ransom.

Doom 2099 #25 (1995)
Iron Man 2020 cameo.

Astonishing Tales #1[2/4]-6[2/4] (2009)
Commodore Q tries to prevent the launch of Arno Stark's Spirit of Free Enterprise heliliner; Iron Man looks into the true identity of Commodore Q.
Originally presented in the Astonishing Tales: Iron Man 2020 #1-6 digital comic (2008-2009).

Uncanny Avengers #14 (2014)
Kang recruits Iron Man of Earth-8410 into his Chronos Corps.

Uncanny Avengers #18.NOW, 19-22 (2014)
Alongside the Chonos Corps, Iron Man works with Kang to battle the Apocalypse Twins in order to save his dying reality while also coming into conflict with the Avengers Unity Division during ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW!


Marvel Zombies 5 #4 (2010)
A technological version of the reality-hopping zombie virus spreads to Earth-8410, infects the Iron Man armour and consumes Arno Stark, killing him.

MCG Note: Notable Arno Stark's of realities other than Earth-8410...

Iron Man #250 (1989)
Iron Man 2093 (Andros Stark of Earth-8912) first appears and is revealed to be Arno Stark's grandson in one possible future; he joins forces with Doctor Doom of Earth-616 to battle the reborn King Arthur of Earth-8912 and Iron Man (Tony Stark) of Earth-616.

What If #53[1/3] (1993)
Uatu the Watcher reveals the tale of Arno Stark/Iron Man of Earth-939 who gets stranded in the present day during his fight with Spider-Man and his pursuit of Robert Saunders.

Exiles #13 (2002)
Iron Man of Earth-2020 is actually an alternate Tony Stark; this psychotic Iron Man joins the reality-hopping Weapon X.

Iron Man #12 (2014)
First appearance of Arno Stark of Earth-616, though he's not named in this issue; Arno is named five issues later and is revealed to be the true biological son of Howard & Maria Stark; Tony Stark is later revealed to be adopted during MARVEL NOW!

Armor Wars #½ (2015)
Arno Stark of Earth-15513 (Doctor Doom's Battleworld) is actually a variation of Earth-616's Arno Stark, but wears armour similar to that of Arno Stark of Earth-8410 during SECRET WARS.

Iron Man 2020
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20

Machine Man #1-4, Death's Head #10

Iron Man 2020 #1

Astonishing Tales: Iron Man 2020 #1-6

What If? (1989) #53

Machine Man 2020
Machine Man #1-4

Earth X vol.4-5
Earth X Trilogy Omnibus Omega
Paradise X vol.1-2
Include...

Paradise X #1-4, 8-10

Paradise X: Heralds #1-3

Uncanny Avengers Omnibus
Includes... 

Uncanny Avengers #14, 18.NOW, 19-22

Uncanny Avengers vol.3: Ragnarok Now
Includes... 

Uncanny Avengers #14

Uncanny Avengers vol.4: Avenge the Earth
Includes... 

Uncanny Avengers #18.NOW, 19-22

Marvel Zombies 5
Marvel Zombies: The Complete Collection
Marvel Zomnibus
Include... 

Marvel Zombies 5 #4