The latest to join Sideshow's line of Marvel collectibles is the Iron Man Mark I Maquette. Each piece is hand cast in highest quality polystone, hand finished to Sideshow's exacting standard and enhanced with real wire hoses. The center of the chest will feature working light-up feature, replicating the 'heart' of Tony Stark. Perfectly capturing Tony Stark's first generation of Iron Man armor, this is the definitive Mark I collectible, a stunning representation of Old Shell Head as seen in the 2008 blockbuster film.
As the head of Stark Industries, billionaire inventor Tony Stark is responsible for the creation of high-powered weapons used by the U.S. military. While demonstrating Stark Industries' latest design, the devastating Jericho missile, to troops in the Afghanistan desert, Stark's convoy is attacked, and he is kidnapped and taken to a terrorist hideout. His body littered with shrapnel from the attack, Stark's fellow captive Yinsen fashions a battery-powered magnet that will keep the shrapnel from reaching his heart, which Stark later exchanges for a miniature arch reactor powerful enough to run his heart for fifty lifetimes.
When the terrorists show Stark their stockpile of Stark Industries weapons, the reason for his capture is clear. They want the Jericho, and they want Stark to build it for them. Knowing that this will lead to his death and the deaths of countless others, Stark and Yinsen instead fashion a high-tech suit of armor to fight their way out.
Working furiously, the suit is soon complete. They set off a bomb in their small quarters as a diversion, and Yinsen sets out with gun in hand to distract the guards while Tony's suit powers-up. The suit in full force, Tony begins the escape, the metal shell easily deflecting heavy gunfire. Making his way through the twisting underground passages, Tony finds Yinsen mortally wounded and turns his suit's weapons on the terrorists. He ignites the built-in flame-throwers and destroys the stockpiles of weapons. Using the suit's jetpack, he blasts into the air, escaping the captive zone. High above the desert sand, the jetpack explodes, destroying the armor but leaving Tony alive to be found by U.S. troops. This rudimentary Mark 1 suit design would be the basis for Tony Stark's more advanced Iron Man armor.
