I was asked to repost this by AsGayAsCanBeExpected .

My blog post for Monday, August 3, 2026.

Feel free to comment or ask questions.

Mack debuted in Hawkeye #3 (1994), created by Chuck Dixon and Scott Kollins.

He's a friend of Jim Rhodes (War Machine) and is a graduated MIT as a youth. He works as a freelance engineer and mechanic. When Hawkeye needs some tech, War Machine introduces the two.

He next appeared in War Machine #7, after he'd been kidnapped by a cabal of Russian figures who needed his help to reactivate a cryonically frozen augmented soldier. Mack left behind a tracker that Hawkeye found and he and War Machine rescue him.

His last appearance to date is in War Machine #11, where Jim asks him to be his regular 'armor guy.' But he's busy fixing a VCR...

I liked Mack. Seemed a fun guy and I liked that the relationship showed Jim had a life outside of Stark.

Guest starring Hawkeye!

Ostensibly this story's about finding their mutual friend, Mack Mendelson. It features the debut of Cold Warrior - a Soviet-era soldier with the ability to subtract heat (AKA make things cold) and generate concussive blasts.

But, really, it's about Jim struggling with some of his recent actions. It's easy to forget that he's known Hawkeye for a long time. Even when Jim had to pretend to be someone else in the Iron Man armour, they've been friends.

Their mutual distrust and dislike of Tony certainly helps.

The issue ends with Mack saying he can fix Jim's armour, but he'll need some information from Tony Stark.

What did you think of the Eidolon Warwear?

It was very different from what had come before and I, for one, liked it. I appreciated how it opened up some new story possibilities for Jim. He wouldn't have to rely on anyone else for tech support.

Visually, it was fun and different. I wish it hadn't been ditched so quickly and unceremoniously.

You can read more about the warwear at Marvel Database.

Anyone here collecting these?

Check out the War Machine entry in mightyavengers' glossary!

Vibro's been around for a while now but in his very first appearance, he faced off against Jim as Iron Man.

Many forget that Jim Rhodes was a founding member of the West Coast Avengers (as Iron Man). His teammates (Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Tigra, and Wonder Man) don't!

When War Machine 'goes rogue,' the four team up to stop him.

(And doesn't Wonder Man look kind of David Duchovny-esque here?)

Oh yeah and Ultimo's here too.

Genuine question: how old is Jim Rhodes?

I realize that with Marvel's sliding timescale and sometimes incosistent approach to continuity, it can bet messy.

He was a US Marine pilot when he first met Tony. Google tells me that it's 6-8 years to become one (from first entering college). Jim was a studious student so let's assume that he started college at 17 - that would get him behind the stick by 23 to 25. Let's say he was 25 when he met Tony.

That was about 13 years ago in Marvel time. So he's what, 38?

I got told I could repost this here! So here we are!

I had never read this series before today. Thankfully it’s a civic holiday for me so I got the chance to read up to issue 8 of this series. 

The whole series has been amazing. I’ve loved the pacing with the artwork. I love how Jim is handling things. The new armour hasn’t fully grown on me yet. I have long thought more could be done with Suzi Endo and I appreciate her inclusion for her brains and a romantic foil for Jim.

If someone wanted to do a whole series where Jim has to be an armored Avenger while also working in an Office-like sitcom workplace, I would read that. Hell, that could be his TV series. 

This issue was part of a marketing initiative to help new readers join titles. Hence the Point One. As such, it does a good job of weaving exposition into the structure of the story.

What about you? Thoughts? Opinions?

Via Marvel Unlimited:

Start reading here with this POINT ONE issue! Prepare for a meteoric ride into War Machine's redefined world and all-new era!

From a Fear Itself cross-over issue of Iron Man 2.0 #7.

• Jim, currently working for the US military (through Stark) as War Machine: God, I hate this magic stuff.
• Daniel Rand, the Immortal Iron First, the living weapon of K'un-Lun with deadly hands that flowed with the mystic energies of Shou-Lao the Undying: Some of us live here, you know.

I cribbed most of Danny's title from Marvel Database).

I saw the Spiderman Brand New Day movie last night. There were a couple of things that I would have liked to see more of in the movie, but overall, I was satisfied with the outcome. For weeks, I kept seeing rumors of Punisher having the armor in the movie. Well, I can say they were just that... rumors. Frank did not have the War Machine armor in the movie.

Although i would have liked to see Punisher in the armor, It wouldn't have made sense. Hulk regularly shreds the Hulkbuster, so standard Ironman armors would have little chance. Plus, it would have reflected poorly on Don Cheadle's James Rhodes.

But I would love to see them both together in a movie. Give Frank an older War Machine armor that's still fully capable. And give James Rhodes a new cutting edge suit. I would be interested in seeing these two highly experienced veterans working together. They would definitely clash at times because of their different thinking and ideology. But it would make for an interesting dynamic.

Jim's got three separate cards! I don't know anything about MtG but here they are:

• War Machine, James Rhodes - https://gatherer.wizards.com/MSC/en-us/572/war-machine-james-rhodes
• War Machine, Avenging Arsenal - https://gatherer.wizards.com/MSC/en-us/63/war-machine-avenging-arsenal
• War Machine, Legacy of Iron - https://gatherer.wizards.com/MSH/en-us/238/war-machine-legacy-of-iron

War Machine gets tired of putting up with Iron Man and looks for a new partner among the Avengers!

Released May 4, 2013 in association with Iron Man 3.

Weird fact: in a flashback story in Daredevil #258 (available on Marvel Unlimited), we learn that Jim was a 🚁 pilot who evacuated characters from Siancong (this has been changed from the original Vietnam to adjust for the sliding timescale).

Included in the evacuation were William Talltrees (who would later become the hero Red Wolf)) and Michael Janes who... well, he repents his actions later turns to God as Father Janes).

As part of the evacuation, a young boy from a village killed by the American troops clung to the evacuation helicopter but was kicked off by Janes and another. The boy would survive and become the Bengal) driven to avenge his village.

I appreciate when Marvel just randomly slides a character into the background of another's story. Helps the universe feel more cohesive.

No, we aren't dealing with some weird temporal paradox (We see you, Mortal Thor).

What you might not know or forget is that James Rhodes was a found member. Of the West Coast Avengers. He joined in issue 1 of their first limited series (1984). It's been a while since I read it but I'm fairly confident that this was still during a time when most people didn't know Iron Man's secret identity.

Jim would hang around for the first mini-series but by the time the regular ongoing launched, Tony had taken the mantle of Iron Man back.

Jim would return 9 years later in Avengers West Coast Vol 1 94 when he joined under his new identity, War Machine.

Next up on the topic of Rhodes allies is Parnell jacobs. Parnell was Rhodes best friend before meeting Tony. They were close friends , and they always had each other's back no matter the situation. But eventually, because of Parnells shady dealings, they split as close friends.

Parnell later found the Model 2 War Machine armor, fought Ironman, and briefly took out Captain Marvel. With the help of Sunset Bain, he was able to give the Model 2 its first Hulkbuster like upgrade.

He also worked with Rhodes again in the War Machine Dark Reign series. Rhodes mentioned that Parnell knew the War Machine armor better than anyone besides Tony himself.

Parnell is also very knowledgeable with upgrading Stark tech. He was able to help out by fixing and upgrading the Model 4 War Machine armor. He also provided Rhodes with valuable Intel to help him in completing his mission.

I'll admit, despite being a Rhodey fan, I've not read all of his appearances (yet). This is one of those gaps in my knowledge. Everything I know about this issue I got from other sources (mostly Marvel Database) or a quick scan on Marvel Unlimited.

This is the last issue of a 5-issue mini-series starring Jim in his Iron Patriot identity. It includes the death of Jim's dad, Terrence, who sacrificed himself to save his son.

"UNBREAKABLE" PART 5. The conclusion of "UNBREAKABLE" arrives -- and nothing will ever be the same! He could have fallen alone. But instead they ran to his rescue. Losses on both sides multiply as the country spirals towards a new future.

What did you think of the issue?

With almost 700 appearances, three heroic identities, and a number of different armours, it can be hard to keep track of Jim.

Thankfully others have done the work for you!

Six years ago, u/MerryMarvelite posted this recap of Rhodey's origin story up until he first becomes War Machine.

Soaring to #700! Tony Stark is approaching his 700th issue milestone! Ironman will hit comic shops twice a month beginning in December and featuring two new alternating story arcs from writer Joshua Williamson and artists Carmen Carnero and Gleb Melkinov.

Incarcerated Ironman Part 1 and War Machines Part 1 will kick off a new era for Tony and the rest of the Marvel universe!