Jim Rhodes
Few characters in Marvel history have proven as enduringly vital as Jim Rhodes, who first suited up in the pages of Iron Man #141 in 1980, brought to life by Sal Buscema in the thick of the Bronze Age. Over nearly five decades — 367 catalog appearances and counting, stretching all the way to 2026 — Rhodey has grown from a compelling supporting presence into a cornerstone of Marvel's armored corner of the universe, racking up 19 collector-recognized key issues along the way. His world is populated by the very heaviest hitters: Tony Stark, Iron Man, War Machine, Captain America, and Steve Rogers all share his pages, a roster that speaks to just how central this character is to Marvel's biggest stories. Whether you're diving into Invincible Iron Man, the classic Iron Man run, or Captain Marvel, Jim Rhodes is the kind of character whose longevity isn't just impressive — it's earned.
Trivia
- Rhodes debuted as Tony Stark's helicopter pilot — a purely functional supporting role — before the landmark alcoholism arc elevated him into the core cast and eventually into the armor itself, exactly as Marvel's own retrospective record confirms.en.wikipedia.org
- When Rhodes stepped into the Iron Man armor, he became the first major Black character to claim that identity in Marvel continuity, a milestone significant enough that Marvel itself spotlighted the moment in its Black History Month coverage.en.wikipedia.org
- Jim Shooter has written more of Jim Rhodes's comics than any other writer in our catalog — 29 issues.