Warning: contains spoilers for Avengers #22The iconic Wizard of Oz has come to Marvel Comics, as the industrious Iron Man pays homage to Wicked in the pages of Avengers #22. To break into a highly guarded vault within the galactic Speculatorium casino – on the hunt for an answer to the mysterious Missing Moment – Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and Captain America don ridiculous Oz-inspired costumes, with Iron Man perfectly hidden as the Tin Woodman.
This is far from the first time Marvel Comics has made allusions to the beloved Oz franchise, including an epic homage to Wicked in Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #15, where a poster for “Wiccan” – a Wicked-inspired musical – can be seen.
Avengers #22 sees the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes attempting to pull of a daring heist, robbing the Grandmaster of an important data archive, forcing the (already silly looking…) heroes to wear hilarious new costumes that hide their true identities.
In 2008 Marvel released an 8-issue comic adaptation of Frank L. Baum’s original novel, from writer Eric Shanower and artist Skottie Young, to much critical and fan acclaim.
Iron Man Would Be The Perfect Tin Man Cosplayer
If only he had a heart…
Tony Stark, Carol Danvers, and Sam Wilson walk into a casino… and they’re all dressed like knockoff Wizard of Oz cosplayers. Carol as Dorothy and Sam as the Cowardly Lion do not make much sense for their characters. Although to be fair, Captain America looks absolutely hysterical in his Cowardly Lion costume! Stark as the Tin Woodsman fits absolutely perfectly with his history. Not only is Iron Man literally a high-tech version of the Tin Man, but Tony also struggles with “not having a heart,” constantly making amends for his past as an arms dealer and struggling in any romantic relationship he finds himself in.
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The Tin Man costume Tony wears is basically just his regular Iron Man armor, except he added a Tin Man helmet and a heart-shaped arc reactor, a simple yet effective disguise for a hyper-famous hero. This isn’t the first time Tony Stark paid homage to The Wizard of Oz, with his 2002 The Invincible Iron Man #50 comic, which introduced the Model XXI or “Tin Man” armor. This tragic tale of war crimes and repentance even ends with Stark lamenting, “…if only I had a heart.” Obviously this appearance of Iron Man as the Tin Woodsman is much lighter in tone, and it would honestly be a blast if he showed up to a future Marvel Halloween party in his brand-new Tin Man armor.
Marvel Comics Has Never Shied Away From An Oz Homage
From the Scarlet Witch to Loki, Marvel and Wicked are strangely connected
Marvel loves a good homage, from the alien Brood being inspired by the Xenomorphs from Alien to the cover of New X-Men #141 perfectly homaging the poster for The Terminator, and The Wizard of Oz is no different. Just last year, the Scarlet Witch faced down Hexfinder in an Oz-inspired Oklahoma due to Bookworm’s magic, while Loki Season 2 and Agatha All Along both made multiple references to the iconic franchise.
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most classic pieces of media in film history, so it is no wonder that it is still being referenced to this day, and with Wicked making everyone reminisce about Oz, Iron Man’s Tin Man costume was perfectly timed.
Iron Man
The Iron Man franchise is a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), marking the beginning of the interconnected superhero films that have become a global phenomenon. The franchise follows Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, who creates a suit of armor to become Iron Man. His journey from a self-centered playboy to a self-sacrificing hero plays a pivotal role throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
Avengers #22 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
