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When talking about Iron Man armors, most people think of Mark 3. It is the old-school armor and the first fully functional Iron Man suit. Tony Stark fought in this suit in Iron Man 1, and although it wasn’t used in Iron Man 2 and 3, you could see it in the background.
Unlike Mark 2, which couldn’t reach a higher atmosphere due to ice build-up, Mark 3 has excellent flying capabilities. Its technology is far superior in comparison to Mark 1 and Mark 2, and the suit also has built-in weapon systems that aren’t lasers. On top of that, it is much lighter and easier to handle.
The thing I like about this piece is its design. Mark 3 is the first thing that pops to my head when talking about Iron Man and his armored suits. Although the future armors are much better, both in terms of weapon systems and durability, this will always have a special place in my heart.
In this Iron Man Mark 3 guide, I will analyze the suit’s features and its appearances in the movies.
Key Info Up Front
Mark 3 armor is the suit heavily featured in Iron Man 1. It is the first armor with mini-guns and micro-missiles. Most importantly, unlike its predecessors, it can withstand ice and fire, making it ideal for high-altitude flying.
Another exciting thing about this piece is that it’s the first armor that had the traditional gold and red Iron Man paint. Eventually, Mark 3 is destroyed in Iron Man 3 during a terrorist strike.
General Information
After seeing the devastating impact of his weapons, Tony Stark decides to use his resources to create a perfect suit of armor that would help him maintain world peace. After creating crude Mark 1, and fatally-flawed Mark 2, he creates Mark 3, the first fully-functional Iron Man suit.
Although this armor didn’t have a long runtime in the movies, only appearing in the first Iron Man, it was showcased in several comic books and games. Mark 3 is the first Iron Man armor with red and gold paint and the first suit that could fly to the outer atmosphere.
Tony Stark had one of his best fights while wearing this armor when he faced Iron Monger. While the superhero manages to pull through in the end, Mark 3 sustains heavy damage. As a result, he had to switch to Mark 4. The suit remains in his Hall of Armors until it is destroyed in Iron Man 3.
Mark 3 visual design
As previously mentioned, this is the first Iron Man suit that uses red and gold colors. Previously, Tony Stark’s armor had silver metallic colors. Mark 3 has a red chest, legs, hands, shoulder, and head, combined with a gold mask, arms, and thighs. The most memorable part of the armor is the mask, as well as the Arc Reactor on the chest.
Tony Stark used color combinations so that the armor resembles a Hotrod in his garage. In terms of the design, the suit is very similar to Mark 2. The main difference is that the previous armor doesn’t have any paint.
This color scheme remains the most common combination for Mark armors. Occasionally, Tony Stark would use silver, black, green, and blue for his creations.
Mark 3 Appearances in Movies
Iron Man 1
Tony Stark was forced to make Mark 3 after discovering a few significant flaws with the previous iteration of the armor. During his Mark 2 test flight, the protagonist goes high into the atmosphere. Ice starts forming around the suit, making it an ice casket. The armor falls down to Earth, and the only reason why Tony stayed alive was that Mark 2 was durable enough to absorb the fall.
With Mark 3, he manages to rectify the previous issues. He uses gold-titanium alloy that can easily withstand both fire and ice. The protagonist also adds a new weapon system to armor’s plating.
Before using the suit for the first time, J.A.R.V.I.S. shows Tony what it would look like upon assembly. The superhero thinks that the colors are awful and decides to give it a personal touch with the addition of the red Hotrod color.
Clash with the terrorists
Quickly after creating the suit, Tony has the opportunity to test it in action.
While watching the news, he sees Ten Rings, a notorious terrorist organization, in possession of discontinued Jericho missiles. They used the weapon to attack Gulmira, Ho Yinsen’s birthplace. He sees the news while working on new Mark 3 repulsors and accidentally realizes that these tools can be used for offense.
Tony goes to the village and eliminates the villains, as well as their weapon stockpiles. While doing so, he attracts the attention of the US military. They send two F-22 jets in his direction, and Iron Man accidentally destroys one of them by simply cutting it with his powerful Mark 3.
Just as the army was preparing to launch a strike against an unidentified armored threat, Tony Stark reveales his identity to his friend, Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, thus stopping the army attack.
The military representatives describe this event as an unfortunate accident during routine training. Raza, Ten Rings’ leader, quickly realizes that Tony Stark was behind the attack on his troops. Despite great performance on the field, the superhero has trouble removing the suit and is barely saved by Pepper Potts.
Battle with Obadiah Stane
Jealous of young Tony Stark, the former Stark Industries interim CEO, Obadiah Stane, joins forces with Ten Rings. He hates Tony’s philosophy, who wants to stop weapon sales. In response to that, Stane starts supplying the terrorists with Stark weapons.
During their meeting, Obadiah disables Tony with a sonic device and steals his Mark 2 Arc Reactor. Stane uses the powerful device to power up Iron Monger Armor, which he made in secrecy. Somehow Stark manages to retrieve his older reactor and uses it to power his own body. He suits up in Mark 3, ready to confront the enemy.
As Iron Man goes to confront Iron Monger, J.A.R.V.I.S. informs the superhero that the Mark 1 Reactor is not powerful enough for the new suit and would only give him 48% of the required energy. He comes just in time to save his assistant, Miss Pepper Potts.
In the ensuing battle, Iron Monger has a massive advantage as it is powered by a stronger Arc Reactor. Iron Man tricks Stane into following him in the upper atmosphere. Iron Monger starts to freeze, encountering the same issue Tony Stark had with Mark 2. Despite the brief success, both of them land on the top of the Stark building.
Conclusion of the fight
After sabotaging Iron Monger, Tony Stark orders his assistant to blast the surrounding area by creating a surge from a massive Stark Industries’ Arc Reactor. Stane continues his onslaught while all of this is happening. Tony somehow manages to destroy his weapon targeting and HUD, but Stane reciprocates by smashing Iron Man’s Arc Reactor cover.
Finally, Pepper manages to overload the main reactor, thus knocking Iron Man and Iron Monger from the roof. Iron Man lands on the safe ground below, with his Mark 3 completely demolished. Meanwhile, Iron Monger falls onto the massive Arc Reactor and is killed in the subsequent blast.
Iron Man 2
In Iron Man sequels, we only get brief Mark 3 cameos. In the second part, we can see the armor inside the Hall of Armors. The suit is appropriately placed between Mark 2 and Mark 4. Its status displays tell us that the suit sustained heavy damage and is not currently operational.
We can see Mark 3 in two different scenes. First, you can see it during a government proceeding as the officials try to ascertain whether or not these suits pose a threat to the general public. The viewers can see the Hall of Armors once again when Tony and James Rhodes have a drunk fight, with James wearing Mark 2 and Tony Stark wearing Mark 4.
Iron Man 3
Mark 3 makes its final appearance in Iron Man 3. When the Mandarin terrorists attack Stark Mansion, they completely destroy the Hall of Armors. Interestingly enough, they didn’t destroy Mark 3; the suit detonates itself, probably due to Arc Reactor overload.
This goes to show that the suit can withstand enormous damage without being completely destroyed.
Other Mark 3 appearances
Iron Man
The Iron Man video game is loosely based on the first Iron Man movie. It puts you in place of Tony Stark as he battles Ten Rings, Maggia, and Advanced Idea Mechanics. During the game, you confront several villains, including Melter, Controller, Madame Masque, and Iron Monger. The cool thing about this title is that it features voice acting from Robert Downey Jr., Shaun Toub, and Terrence Howard.
In Iron Man, players can use Mark 1, Mark 2, and Mark 3. Mark 1 and 2 are available during the initial levels, while Mark 3 is the suit that you’ll wear for the majority of the game. Mark 3 has lots of fantastic features such as flying, long-distance repulsors, melee blades, missiles, and HUD with different information.
Iron Man 2
Similar to Iron Man 1, the Iron Man 2 video game follows the plot from this movie. Unlike the previous iteration, this one doesn’t feature Robert Downey Jr., and instead, we’re treated to Don Cheadle’s and Samuel L. Jackson’s voice acting. Iron Man visits numerous locations in the game, including Russia, the USA, Hungary, and Malaysia, battling enemies such as Mauler, Firepower, and Ultimo.
The great thing about this title is that it allows players to unlock various suits. For example, you can get Classic Iron Man armor, Mark 1, Mark 2, Mark 3, Mark 6, Extremis, and Silver Centurion, on top of Mark 4 and 5 that are already present in the game.
Iron Man 3: The Official Game
Gameloft made this mobile game back in 2013. Players control Iron Man as he flies around in different environments killing enemies in his wake. Mark 3 is the character’s basic suit in this title. It provides minimal protection, and you can upgrade it as you progress through levels.
Interestingly enough, you play the tutorial with Mark 42. However, the suit is destroyed almost instantly, and you have to go back to some of the basic armors and work yourself up. So, the players change various armors during the game, starting with the first, iconic Mark 3.
Marvel Heroes
In this game, you can choose between numerous superheroes, including Black Widow, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, etc. This was a free-to-play massive multiplayer online RPG. Players could traverse different computer-generated levels set within Marvel Universe.
The company made money by selling superhero skins. Mark 3 was one of the cheapest suits in the game. Aside from this armor, you could also purchase other notable outfits, including Mark 1, Mark 2, Age of Ultron Movie Hulkbuster Costume, Mark 46 Civil War Movie Costume, etc.
It was a great homage to Marvel movies.
Iron Man 3 – J.A.R.V.I.S.: A Second Screen Experience
J.A.R.V.I.S.: A Second Screen Experience is an app available in US Apple Store. It had numerous neat features, including an alarm clock, weather report, calendar, messaging system, and the Hall of Armors showcasing all Iron Man suits.
You can access the Hall of Armor by scanning Iron Man 3 on Blue-Ray. Alternatively, you could ask the J.A.R.V.I.S. app to unlock the featuring by giving a mic command “Roll Call.” The unique thing about Mark 3 is that this is the only suit in the Hall of Armor with battle scars. You can clearly see damage on the outfit sustained during the battle with Stane.
Various comics
Iron Man’s Mark 3 is present in different comics, including
- Iron Man: I Am Iron Man!
- Iron Man: Security Measures
- Iron Man 2: Public Identity
- Iron Man 2 Adaptation
- Iron Man 3 Prelude
- The Avengers: Iron Man Mark VII
- Captain America: Civil War Prelude
It is also seen in footage during Iron Man: Fast Friends and The Avengers Prelude: Black Widow Strikes.
Mark 3 features and systems
Mark 3 provides numerous improvements compared to Mark 2. As mentioned, with the introduction of this model, Tony Stark managed to solve the issue of outer-atmosphere flight. The suit is also much more stable than its predecessor having thruster systems, flaps, flight stabilizers, and new thruster systems.
Most importantly, with this model, we are introduced to J.A.R.V.I.S. This integrated artificial intelligence operating system helps Tony Stark perform various tasks. Aside from providing tips and guidance, it oversees the suit’s condition, functions, and systems.
Mark 3 also has HUD or Heads-Up Display. As the name implies, this display is on the helmet, allowing Tony to monitor various systems during fights. Besides showing the suit’s status and energy levels, it also has a targeting system. Like all other features, J.A.R.V.I.S. controls the HUD.
Mark 3 features
Enhanced strength
Mark 3, like all Mark armors, boosts user strength. Keep in mind that that suit doesn’t have a base power, per se, but instead utilizes a person’s strength of muscles and increases it by a certain percentage. In theory, this makes the suit much more powerful when a superhuman wears it.
Enhanced durability
The suit combines gold (4.5%) and titanium (95.5%), making it impervious to most weapons known to man. While wearing it, Tony Stark can take direct hits from firearms, explosions, and energy weapons. The combination of alloys is present in all Iron Man suits. In the Iron Man movie, Mark 3 absorbs a tank shell blast and direct collision with a military jet.
Flight
When we think of Iron Man, we commonly imagine the superhero flying around and shooting repulsors. In fact, if you check all the Avengers movies, he commonly fights while in the air. Mark 3 introduces propulsion systems, flight stabilizers, and flaps that allow Tony Stark not only to fly but fly at a supersonic speed.
Call service
Tony can use Mark 3 to make calls. The thing that distinguishes this communication system from a regular cell phone is the fact he can use it from anywhere in the world, and it always has a clear sound, even when the superhero is flying at high speed.
Frost resistance
Due to its inability to withstand extreme temperatures, Tony had to scrape Mark 2 rather quickly. He addressed this issue by changing the armor composition. With Mark 3, the superhero can fly to the outer atmosphere without getting frozen mid-air.
Flame resistance
Aside from providing frost resistance, Mark 3 also has flame resistance. The new alloy can take all types of extreme temperatures protecting the user inside of the suit.
Weapon systems
Repulsors
Repulsors are the iconic Iron Man weapon allowing the superhero to shoot beams of light from his hands. Mark 3 introduced this technology, and since this point, it has been present in all other armors. Whether we’re talking about comics, video games, or movies, this was always Iron Man’s primary weapon.
Micro guns
Mark 3 also introduced smart micro guns, which are on armor’s shoulders. Tony can quickly deploy the weapon system and use the suit’s targeting system to take out any target.
Unibeam
Unibeam is a type of repulsor weapon that shoots from the chest. Unlike the standard hand repulsors, unibeam is much thicker, with larger destructive power. However, it quickly drains armor’s energy making the wearer prone to subsequent attacks. For example, Tony Stark used this weapon just once in Iron Man 1.
Micro-missiles
Micro-missiles are another new weapon on Mark 3. Tony has mounted a set of micro-missiles on each of his arms. Although they seem rather small and weak, these missiles can penetrate 400 millimeters of steel armor. The superhero can use the high-explosive warheads in different combat situations. In Iron Man, Tony launches a micro missile at a Chieftain Mark 5 Main Battle Tank, completely destroying the vehicle. The missiles can be programmed to explode after a set period of time.
Flares
Flares on Mark 3 are mostly a utility tool. Tony used them to surprise Stane just as he was looking to finish off the superhero with his Iron Monger. Although they don’t have the same penetration power as the missiles, flares can be a deadly weapon when you fire them at a close range, causing burns and potentially killing a target.
FAQs
Question: What’s the difference between Iron Man Mark 3 and 4?
Answer: Tony Start made Mark 4 after the destruction of Mark 3 by the hands of Obadiah Stane. The new suit is heavily featured in Iron Man 2 but is, for the most part, a replica of Mark 3. The differences between the two armors are minor, with the new suit having a bit sharper edges and a better color pallet. Mark 4 also features Palladium Arc Reactor Mark III.
Question: What happened to the Mark 3 Iron Man?
Answer: Mark 3 was almost completely destroyed during the first Iron Man movie. Obadiah Stane did heavy damage to the suit with his Iron Monger making it useless afterward. Viewers can see the piece in Iron Man 2 and 3, inside of the Hall of Armors.
Question: What is the Mark 3 Iron Man suit made of?
Answer: Tony Stark used a combination of gold (4.5%) and titanium (95.5%) when making this suit. The alloy is ice and fire-proof, which allows it to withstand outer atmosphere flight. The combination of substances also provides high durability.
Question: What is the most powerful Iron Man suit?
Answer: The most powerful Iron Man suit is Mark 85, and you can see it in Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark used advanced nanotechnology for this armor, making it very flexible and durable. However, the thing that really separates this suit from all others is its ability to assimilate the Infinity Stones and perform the Snap.
Conclusion
Mark 3 is one of the most recognizable Iron Man armors. Tony Start used it during the first Iron Man movie, and it also got a few cameos in Iron Man 2 and 3. You can also notice it in a few comics and video games.
By the end of Iron Man 1, the suit is almost completely destroyed, and it is replaced with Mark 4, which has similar features. Overall, this armor introduces a lot of cool new weapons and systems, making it one of the best pieces in the Iron Man armor pantheon.
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