Editing War Machine (section)

=== 20th century ===
James Rhodes was created by writer [[David Michelinie]] with artists [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] and [[Bob Layton]].{{Sfn|Gilbert|2008|p=188}} Rhodes [[first appeared]] in a single panel of ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' #118 (1979), introduced as a friend of Tony Stark,{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=150}}{{Sfn|Costello|2009|p=146}} and he saw a recurring role as Stark's personal helicopter pilot.{{Sfn|Nama|2011|p=79}} Many comic books and other works in popular culture had begun introducing duos of one white character and one black character.{{Sfn|Austin|Hamilton|2019|p=177, 191}} Such a development had not occurred in ''Iron Man'' until Rhodes's introduction. One African American character, [[Eddie March]], was introduced as Iron Man's successor in ''Iron Man'' #21 (1970), but this character was severely injured and written out of the series before being elevated as Iron Man's partner.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|pp=149–150}} Shortly after his first appearance, Rhodes assisted Iron Man in defeating [[Justin Hammer]] throughout issues published in 1979.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=151}} He was established as a more prominent supporting character in ''Iron Man'' #144 (1981), which described his connection to Tony Stark and how they met during the [[Vietnam War]]. This depiction of Rhodes made him a central character in Iron Man's history and origin, elevating his importance beyond what had been written for Marvel's black characters to that point.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=150}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=2020-02-15 |title=When Did Tony Stark Let Rhodey Know He Was Iron Man?|url=https://www.cbr.com/iron-man-tony-stark-james-rhodey-rhodes-identity-reveal/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

When [[Denny O'Neil]] was the writer for ''Iron Man'' comics, he chose to write Stark out of the role entirely in favor of Rhodes.{{Sfn|Howe|2012|p=255}} Rhodes was first portrayed using Iron Man armor in ''Iron Man'' #169 (1983), when he had to fight a villain in the stead of a drunk and defeated Tony Stark.{{Sfn|Zehr|2011|pp=156–157}} A black superhero replacing a white one was almost unprecedented at the time, with [[DC Comics]] having only recently attempted a similar change with its character [[John Stewart (character)|John Stewart]], who was created by O'Neil.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=152}} From this change, O'Neil created a story arc in which Stark relapsed into alcoholism and Rhodes reluctantly took up the armor and the title of Iron Man.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=152}} The change saw mixed reactions from readers, as Rhodes's tenure as Iron Man emphasized his lack of experience or expertise regarding the Iron Man armor.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|pp=152–153}} For the duration of the story arc, the ''Iron Man'' series focused primarily on Rhodes, with Stark's recovery being relegated to a subplot.{{Sfn|Costello|2009|p=145}} It also included the ''[[Secret Wars]]'' crossover event, which featured Rhodes as Iron Man rather than Stark.{{Sfn|Hoskin|2008|loc=War Machine}} Stark resumed the role of Iron Man in ''Iron Man'' #200 (1985).{{Sfn|Costello|2009|p=145}}

During Iron Man's 1988 ''[[Armor Wars]]'' story arc, Rhodes accompanies Iron Man in his mission to fight those who had acquired the Iron Man armor technology.{{Sfn|Hogan|2009|p=206}} Rhodes again served as a replacement for Stark beginning in ''Iron Man'' #284 (1992), while Stark was in suspended animation.{{Sfn|Ridout|1992|p=8}} He began using the War Machine armor at this time, continuing as Iron Man until Stark returned the following year in issue #289. Keeping the War Machine armor, Rhodes was established as a new superhero, War Machine. He subsequently appeared in ''[[Avengers West Coast]]'' beginning in issue #94 (1993), but the series ended shortly afterward.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|pp=153–154}} ''Iron Man'' writer Len Kaminski did not intend to give Rhodes the War Machine armor permanently, but editor Nel Yomtov insisted after it was well received.{{Sfn|O'Neill|1994|p=54}}

War Machine was one of several characters to serve as grittier and more violent [[anti-hero]] versions of established characters during the 1990s.{{Sfn|Costello|2009|pp=168–169}}{{Sfn|Howe|2012|p=365}} The character received his own series with the release of ''War Machine'' #1 (1994), written by Kaminski and [[Scott Benson]] and penciled by Gabriel Gecko. This series featured [[Deathlok]] and [[Cable (character)|Cable]] as supporting characters,{{Sfn|Gilbert|2008|p=269}} and it ran for twenty-five issues across two years.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=154}} ''War Machine'' was introduced with a story relating to Africa and the continent's politics, reflecting Western interest in the subject following widespread reporting of the [[Somali Civil War|Somali]], [[Rwandan Civil War|Rwandan]], and [[First Liberian Civil War|Liberian]] civil wars.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=155}} By issue #15 (1995), the focus shifted to [[speculative fiction]] involving aliens and time travel.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=156}} Rhodes was given an alien symbiote armor during this series to differentiate him from Iron Man, but the change was short-lived.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoo |first=Timothy |date=2022-05-31 |title=War Machine's Alien Armor Was His Worst Attempt to Distance Himself from Iron Man |url=https://www.cbr.com/war-machine-alien-costume-iron-man-marvel/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> The series ended during a larger reorganization of Marvel amid financial problems.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=156}} In the years following the end of ''War Machine'', Rhodes became a minor character with only limited appearances.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=157}}