War Machine #4

War Machine number four was released in 1994 as part of the character's first self-titled ongoing series, which spun directly out of events in the Iron Man title. Following James Rhodes' decision to take over the Iron Man mantle and his subsequent disillusionment with Tony Stark's methods, this series explored the geopolitical implications of using advanced armor for military-adjacent peacekeeping. It arrived during a period in the mid-nineties where Marvel was actively expanding the focus of its armored heroes toward more tactical, high-stakes combat scenarios.

The issue features scripting by Scott Benson and Len Kaminski, with interior art by Gabriel Gecko and ink work by Pam Eklund. The design focus for this series leaned heavily into the industrial, heavy-duty aesthetic of the suit, distancing Rhodes from the sleek design of the traditional Iron Man armor. Critically, the series was well-received by fans who wanted a grittier take on the armored hero archetype, and it solidified War Machine’s identity as a distinct, independent force within the Marvel Universe rather than just a secondary version of Iron Man.