Iron Patriot

Norman Osborn as Iron Patriot. Art by Adi Granov.

Norman Osborn donned the original Iron Patriot armor during the Dark Reign storyline to exert his authority as 'commander' of H.A.M.M.E.R. and his own personal Avengers.[1] Osborn's Iron Patriot's activities have been increasingly jeopardized by various superheroes such as when he was tricked into attacking Tony Stark (in an early Iron Man suit) and when the New Avengers led by Captain America (Bucky Barnes) used Iron Patriot's tracking device on Luke Cage as a trick to destroy his own house.[2] During his invasion of Asgard on the "claim" of a national security threat, Osborn's Iron Patriot armor gets dismantled remotely by Stark in the middle of Osborn's fight with Steve Rogers, revealing Osborn's Green Goblin-like facepaint in fear of the Void.[3] When Rogers, Stark and Thor transfer him to the Raft penitentiary, Osborn blames his Goblin alter-ego for ruining his chance to protect the world as Iron Patriot.[4]

James Rhodes wears the Iron Patriot armor for a while.[5][6]

During the Fear Itself storyline, one is seen amongst Iron Man's many armors summoned to assists the New Avengers against the new Red Skull (in the Skadi form), and is vaporized with by the female villain's new powers.[7]

During the Marvel NOW! event, another version is seen at a weapons expo that Daisy Johnson and Nick Fury, Jr. were attending. During the attack by A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) and their fight with the Secret Avengers (which Rebel Ralston gets killed), the Scientist Supreme of the A.I.M. High Council takes the opportunity to steal the armor.[8] The Iron Patriot armor was replicated and its low-level A.I. was grown considerably, creating an army of sentient Iron Patriot drones which A.I.M. used to incriminate the United States in numerous international attacks. When an army of Iron Patriot droids that were going to attack Iran appear, S.H.I.E.L.D. sent the Hulk to destroy the Iron Patriot droid army.[9] Using holographic communication, S.H.I.E.L.D. hacks into the A.I.M. network which allows Rhodes to talk to the Iron Patriot drones. Rhodes makes the Iron Patriot army understand their programmed actions are wrong, and states Rhodes could teach.[5]

During the "Inhumanity" storyline, the Iron Patriot drones were disabled and badly damaged when the Secret Avengers were confronted by the vengeful Inhuman known as the Junkman's power of technopathy.[10]

Dr. Toni Ho is an engineer with three doctorates,[11] who wore the Iron Patriot armor as a member of the U.S.Avengers.[12]

A "what if" Civil War scenario shows Steve Rogers donning a patriotic-esque version of Iron Man's armor as a response to the government's more extreme methods, pulling back when realizing the damage. After overwhelming the heroes in the shadows, Henry Peter Gyrich launches an ambush that kills Captain America's rebellion, and is eventually elected President of the United States on a metahuman control platform.[15]

The "Dark Reign" storyline established American Son, another exoskeleton made from Iron Man's arsenal with Captain America's colors.

In The Amazing Spider-Man and related tie-ins to that storyline, Harry Osborn is approached with a job during his father Norman Osborn's corrupt tenure as director of H.A.M.M.E.R., which temporarily replaced S.H.I.E.L.D. To help his fiancé, Harry gains access to the American Son armor.[16] However, this was a ruse in which Norman would eventually arrange for American Son to publicly die tragically in order to increase sympathy for himself. After this discovery, Harry dons the American Son armor and fights Norman in the Iron Patriot armor to which the son was victorious over the father.[17][18]

After their father's incarceration, Gabriel Stacy shoots Harry in the chest,[19] but American Son saves his brother. After his attempt on Harry's life, Gabriel confronts the American Son suit and demands to know why 'he' interfered.[20] It is subsequently revealed that Gabriel has stolen the American Son armor and now suffers from a split personality. Gabriel himself commits crimes while his 'American Son' persona undoes the damage.[21] During Gabriel's fight with Spider-Man and Harry, Harry hacked into the American Son armor and quickly overpowers Gabriel. After he's defeated, Gabriel is in a psychiatric hospital and the American Son armor is thought to be destroyed. However, a package is delivered to Gabriel's room containing American Son's helmet and a note from Norman of loving and missing Gabriel.[22]

During the "No Surrender" arc, Robert Maverick wore the Iron Patriot Armor Model 4, calling himself Iron Hulk while combating the Hulk.[23]

The Ultimate Marvel equivalent of Iron Patriot armor appears during the "United We Stand" storyline due to Tony Stark inspired by Steve Rogers; the first armor is used to fight HYDRA's Commander Crimson,[24] and the second armor is seen during a corrupt political manipulator's scheme.[25]

• The Iron Patriot concept's animated debut is seen in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series with the original armor worn by Norman Osborn and the American Son armor (known as the Patrioteer) worn by Harry Osborn.[26][27]
• The Iron Patriot concept also makes sporadic appearances in the Avengers Assemble animated series. The Iron Patriot armor is among Iron Man's various armors remote-controlled by Tony Stark (voiced by Adrian Pasdar[28]) in "Exodus". The Iron Patriot suit is also among Iron Man's armors during Ultron's hijackings, attacking Captain America in "Avengers Disassembled" and Iron Man in "The Ultimates". An Iron Patriot-esque Hulkbuster armor is used by Steve Rogers (voiced by Roger Craig Smith[29]) among variations of Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor for the Avengers in "World War Hulk". The Iron Patriot armor merged with a time-travelling robot sent by Kang the Conqueror in "New Year's Resolution" to eliminate Howard Stark and Peggy Carter.

• The Iron Patriot armor is seen in Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United used by Steve Rogers (equipped with a holographic shield) during a practice fight against Tony Stark's Iron Man armor.

The Iron Patriot concept appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

• The Iron Patriot armor is first seen in Iron Man 3 (2013).[30] President Matthew Ellis (portrayed by William Sadler[31]) wanted an "American hero" symbol (in response to the battle of New York). The Iron Patriot armor is initially worn by James Rhodes but is later hijacked and used by Eric Savin to kidnap Ellis from Air Force One and to be propped up in the Iron Patriot suit next to Roxxon's abandoned oil tanker for Aldrich Killian's broadcast execution (with secret assistance from Vice President Rodriguez (portrayed by Miguel Ferrer[32]) in exchange for his disabled daughter (portrayed by Jenna Ortega) getting Extremis to restore a missing right leg), however, the President is eventually rescued by Tony Stark, and later Rodriguez is arrested.
  • Ellis is also alluded in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) on the Howling Commandos' exhibit and targeted by Alexander Pierce's Helicarriers but is saved by Steve Rogers.[33]
• A bulkier Iron Patriot armor is seen in Avengers: Endgame (2019) during the Avengers's fight against Thanos's forces.[34]

• The Matthew Ellis version of Iron Patriot appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Steve Blum.[35]
• The Maestro is featured with his own Iron Hulk armor in Marvel Contest of Champions.
• Norman Osborn's Iron Patriot armor can be seen in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds,[36] Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3,[37] Marvel Contest of Champions and Marvel Puzzle Quest.
• The second version of Iron Patriot armor can be seen in the Iron Man 3 mobile game, Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Lego Marvel Super Heroes,[38] Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, Marvel Heroes, Lego Marvel's Avengers and Marvel Future Fight.