My name is Iron Lad. I come from the 30th century, where the technology is so advanced that I can upgrade my own circuitry...Theoretically allowing me to absorb and regenerate all the energy you can throw at me. 
The Neuro-Kinetic Iron Lad Armor was the thirtieth century armorsuit used by the young Nathaniel Richards and eventually became the Young Avenger The Vision.
History
_(Earth-6311)_and_Vision_(Earth-616)_from_Young_Avengers_Vol_1_2_0001.jpg){kind=link}
Nathaniel Richards discovers the remains of the original Vision
Origin[]
Seeking to rewrite his own history, Kang the Conqueror traveled through time to save the 16-year-old version of himself from a near-fatal attack by a bully with an Anti-Grav that put him is the hospital and nears bankrupted his parents. To demonstrate his power and show his history, Kang put his neuro-kinetic armor on his younger self, but when Kang demanded that he murder his bully, young Nathaniel refused and accidentally escape into the timestream, landing in New York City just after the Avengers had disbanded. Unable to get help from Tony Stark, Nathaniel used his armor to break into Stark Industries where he found the remains of The Vision.[8] Nathaniel download Vision's operating system into his armor and found the Avengers Fail-Safe Program.[8] Taking on the guise of Iron Lad, he used these program to assemble a new team of "Young Avengers".[10][11][12][13]
_and_Nathaniel_Richards_(Kang)_(Earth-6311)_from_Young_Avengers_Vol_1_5_0001.jpg){kind=link}
Iron Lad's neuro-kinetic armor operating with The Vision's programming
Not long after their first missions, the Young Avengers were confronted by Jessica Jones, Iron Man, and Captain America. While learning about his past, the group was attacked by Growing Men, who signaled Kang with their location after Iron Lad revealed his true identity. In a misguided effort to protect the Young Avengers, Cap, Iron Man and Jessica had Iron Lad remove his armor and locked the young heroes in a safe room while lying that it was part of a training exercise.[10] They escape with help from Kate Bishop and Iron Lad was once again able to don his armor. Unfortunately, Kang the Conqueror had arrived and could use his own armor remotely control the Iron Lad armor.[14] With time destablizing around them and his friends under attack, Iron Lad removed the his armor to attack Kang. However, the stored brain patterns, emotions, and memories of Iron Lad and the Vision's original operating system merged together into a new sentient consciousness inhabiting the armor and acting on its own.[3][4][5] While Kang was distracted by the armor's new A.I., Iron Lad stabbed him through the chest, seemingly killing him.[6] Unfortunately, Kang death appeared to cause even more time anomalies. Iron Lad finally decided to return home, commanding the new A.I. his armor to open a time portal for himself and to stay to take care of his friends.[15]
Version 2.0[]
Iron Lad eventually received or built an new suit, similar to his original armor and continued to fight the future Kang versions of himself. During a battle with Kang on Planet Moord, Iron Lad was tricked into traveling back in time again by older versions of the Young Avengers.[12] Thinking he had to protect Wiccan, Iron Lad arrived in Latveria as Wiccan and Wanda Maximoff wearing escaping Castle Doom.[16]
Using Kang's Time Chair, Iron Lad escaped into the timestream with the Young Avengers and Wanda Maximoff. Unfortunately, the group arrived at the Avengers Mansion just as Jack of Hearts was dying.[17][18] Although Iron Lad's energy reverse were depleted, the Scarlet Witch was able to save them by transporting them to the present day.[17]
During the ensuing fight between the Avengers, the Young Avengers, the X-Men, X-Factor Investigations, and Doctor Doom, Stature was killed. In rage and grief, Iron Lad destroyed Vision before reentering the timestream to save Cassie and become "better" than Kang the Conqueror.[7]
At the end of time, Iron Lad, Kang the Conqueror, and Immortus team-up and used their combined technology (including the Iron Lad Armor) to trap the fractured Time Gem in a statis prism.[19]Properties
The Iron Lad Armor has several properties and functions including:
- Neuro-Kinetic Interface: The neuro-kinetic interface allows the armor to respond to its wearers thoughts and emotions almost instantaneously. It is capable of forming various weapons; for example, it might manifest spikes if someone tries to grab it.[1] It can also drastically alter the appearance of the armor.[8] The armor is so advanced that it can upgrade it's circuitry in real time. While fighting Electro, the armor's circuitry altered itself to absorb and redirect Electro's energy bolts.[12] The armor can also heal some puncture wounds.[20]
- Chronal Programming: Similar to Kang's Time Chair, the armor can create temporal divergences, giving him the ability to travel through and manipulate time.[8][15][2] The second version of the Iron Lad Armor may not be able to travel through time as Iron Lad is seen needing Kang's Time Chair. However, the armor is capable of summoning the chair.[12]
- Video Communicator: Built into the right wrist is a video communicator, which he can use to stay in contact with his bases from any point in the time-stream.[17]
- Technological Interface: The neuro-kinetic armor can download/upload massive amounts of data with its complex hard drive and is capable of overriding security systems.[21]
- Widerange Sensors: The armor's sensors can read energies from other realities[22] and atomic radiation.[23]
- Repulsors: The armor utilizes repulsors[24] that can expel destructive energy blasts[7] and concussive bolts.[14][16]
- Magnetism Manipulation: The armor can also emit magnetic rays capable of suspending ferrous matter in mid-air.[1]
- Flight: The armor allows Iron Lad to hover above the ground or fly at tremendous speeds.[1]
- Force-Field: The armor has a built in force-field that extends from 2 feet away from his body, outward to 20 feet in all directions.[24] It can withstand even a nuclear strike at point blank range.[23]
- Enhanced Strength: Gives Iron Lad the ability to lift 5 tons.[citation needed]
Alternate Reality Versions
| Image | Description | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|
Runaways Became Young Avengers (Earth-2912)[] | ||
 |
The 16-year-old Nathaniel Richards was kidnapped by his older self and taken on a tour through time ending with his ultimate defeat of the Avengers. Not liking the man he would become, Nathaniel took the time manipulating armor and tried to travel back in time to warn the Avengers only to find himself in a timeline where Victorious had killed the Avengers. Uploading the deceased Vision program into his armor, Nathaniel found the Avengers Fail-Safe Program, located the Runaways, and began training them as Iron Lad to stop Victorious and save the future.[2] Unfortunately, Victorious followed Iron Lad into the past, defeated him and stole his armor. Wearing the armor, Victorious' younger self impersonated Iron Lad and infiltrated the team.[25][26] When his secret was revealed to the team, Sister Grimm removed the armor from Victor using a spell.[27] Talkback later used the Iron Lad Armor to heal himself from a severe puncture wound in his torso, risking becoming permanently bonded with the armor in the process.[20] |
What If? House of M #1 |
Exiles' Iron Lad (Earth-18651)[] | ||
 |
When Kang the Conqueror traveled through time to save the 16-year-old version of himself from a near-fatal attack by a bully with an Anti-Grav, he gave him the Iron Lad Armor hoping that he would become an omnipotent cross-time warlord if he started earlier. Not interested in being a conqueror or a hero, young Nate kept the armor to get revenge on his bullies, but refused to work with Kang. While Iron Lad was tormenting his bullies, he was approached by Blink and Khan who recruited him to the Exiles.[9] |
Exiles (Vol. 3) #1 |
Home to the Iron Prince (Earth-14181)[] | ||
 |
When Kang the Conqueror traveled through time to save the 16-year-old version of himself from a near-fatal attack by a bully with an Anti-Grav, he gave him the Iron Lad Armor hoping that he would become an omnipotent cross-time warlord if he started earlier. Young Nathaniel accepted, became the Iron Prince and upgraded his armor to be more powerful than before.[24] |
Exiles (Vol. 3) #11 |
Unknown Realities[] | ||
 |
Superior Kang was wearing a version of the Iron Lad Armor when he arrived to the Battlerealm.[28] | Marvel Contest of Champions |
See Also
- 52 appearance(s) of Iron Lad Armor
- 2 minor appearance(s) of Iron Lad Armor
- 2 mention(s) of Iron Lad Armor
- 114 image(s) of Iron Lad Armor
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Young Avengers #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 What If? House of M #1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Young Avengers #5–6
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Young Avengers #8
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Young Avengers Presents #4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Young Avengers #5
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Avengers: The Children's Crusade #9
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Young Avengers #2
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Exiles (Vol. 3) #1
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Young Avengers #3
- ↑ Young Avengers Special #1
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Avengers: The Children's Crusade - Young Avengers #1
- ↑ Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulkling #1
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Young Avengers #4
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Young Avengers #6
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Avengers: The Children's Crusade #4
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Avengers: The Children's Crusade #5
- ↑ Avengers (Vol. 3) #76
- ↑ Avengers (Vol. 5) #34
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 What If? Secret Wars #1
- ↑ Young Avengers #2–3
- ↑ Exiles (Vol. 3) #1–2
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Exiles (Vol. 3) #3
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Exiles (Vol. 3) #11
- ↑ What If? Fallen Son #1
- ↑ What If? Spider-Man Back in Black #1
- ↑ What If? Newer Fantastic Four #1
- ↑ Marvel Contest of Champions