There is no shortage of people with a burning hatred for billionaire superhero Tony Stark within the Marvel universe. Whether because of a rivalry or vendetta against Stark Industries or a more personal beef with the entire Stark family, the man behind the mask of Iron Man has no shortage of foes, from the Mandarin to Madame Masque, Obadiah Stane, Crimson Dynamo, Justin Hammer, and more. However, none may harbor quite the deep-seated disdain for Tony as the modern Whiplash, Anton Vanko. His hatred for Iron Man stems back to when the technological hero was framed for razing Vanko’s village of Volstok and killing Anton’s father in the process, yet even after learning the truth, he remains firmly on the side of evil, believing that such a tragedy would not have happened without his weaponry.
Yet, Marvel Comics might’ve just found someone who despises Stark even more. The latest issue of Iron Man 2026 sees the return of Whiplash with a few upgrades and a more towering physique to beat down on the hero. More importantly, he brought a friend. A preview showed him breaking into the infamous Vault to find an old enemy of Stark’s who has been waiting since the turn of the century to exact his vengeance. With issue #8, written by Joshua Williamson, now available for purchase, we now know that said shadowy figure is yet another classic villain going back into the annals of Iron Man history.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
Spoilers for Iron Man (2026) #8 below
The Original Whiplash Returns From the Grave to Fight Iron Man
During a brief tour of Stark Industries with his date Luna Lucia’s son, Tony is rudely interrupted by Whiplash, who crashes into the building and forces him to don his Iron Man suit. Anton initially gains the upper hand after ensnaring Tony in his electrified whips and attempting to crush his helmet with his newfound might. However, some quick thinking to reroute power to the outer shell of the armor creates a blast of energy that quickly turns the tide. That’s when Citizen V drops in and stops Iron Man from going any further in beating down Whiplash, which prompts Anton to introduce his own friend. Another cybernetic whip instantly streaks across the page, striking and paralyzing both heroes with ease, all while the mystery man reminds Tony that the last time they met, his suit killed him. The next page reveals the culprit — Marco Scarlotti, the original Whiplash, returning from the dead to send Iron Man to the grave instead.
Scarlotti had donned the name Whiplash since the villain’s first appearance in Tales of Suspense #97 in 1968 and became one of Iron Man’s most recurring foes until the 2000s. He had at times infiltrated Stark Industries undercover, worked for the Maggia, partnered with Justin Hammer, rearmed and upgraded himself under the new identity of Blacklash, and even battled Stark to a draw at one point. However, he’d make his last appearance on the page in Iron Man Vol. 3 #28 in 2000, where, in a harrowing moment, Tony battles and defeats Whiplash in his Iron Man Sentient Armor. Despite the hero’s desperate pleas to stop, the armor ignores him and continues beating Marco to death, all while the mercenary begs for Iron Man to spare him, as he’s only trying to get his son back.
In the context of their last encounter, there’s a lot of weight and tragedy to Marco’s sudden return and questions to be answered, including how he’s back from the grave. Donning his purple Blacklash outfit, albeit with some serious upgrades, he also appears more powerful than ever and far more dangerous, given how desperate the Vault’s guards were to keep him locked away. His revival means that, for the first time ever, Iron Man will be dealing with a double dose of Whiplash, as both generations of the villain join forces to bring him down.
Iron Man 2026 #8 is available for purchase now. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the latest developments from Marvel Comics.
