Iron Man Reignites His Most Significant Bromance

Contains Spoilers for Avengers (2023) #21 and X-Men (2024) #8!

Over the years, Iron Man has collaborated with numerous teammates as a member of the Avengers. However, Marvel Comics is reintroducing a long-neglected friendship, that of Tony Stark and Beast from the X-Men. As the Avengers reconnect with Cyclops’ X-Men, this provides a unique opportunity for Tony and Hank McCoy to catch up on all that has transpired in their lives.

Iron Man rekindles his friendship with Beast in Avengers (2023) #21

Following a baseball game between the Avengers and the X-Men, Tony seizes a private moment to converse with Hank. Their dialogue underscores the depth of their history together, highlighting why their partnership is cherished by fans.

Reconnecting: Iron Man and Beast – A Friendship Refreshed, Yet Changed

In Avengers (2023) #21, Beast questions Iron Man about his past actions.

However, the Beast that Tony Stark speaks to is not the one he remembers. During the X-Men’s Krakoan Era, Beast transitioned into a fully realized supervillain. This evolved so much that he was replaced by a version of himself unaware of his darker past, which now serves on the current X-Men team. A pivotal moment in Avengers #21 occurs when Beast confronts Iron Man about his previous self’s actions and questions why Tony did not intervene as he spiraled into villainy.

In response, Tony candidly admits that he lost touch with Hank amidst the chaos. He makes light of the situation by jesting that Hank is fortunate not to bear the memories of those transgressions. While this humor does little to ease Hank’s spirits, it does introduce a new complexity to their relationship. Beast’s characteristic guilt remains an ongoing theme, and this fresh dynamic is a narrative thread that Marvel might develop further in upcoming issues.