This week has been a major one for Thunderbolts fans, after the first details and first idea art for Marvel’s impending surprisingly realistic film were revealed at Disney’s D23 Exhibition. The team of villains and antiheroes has boasted many members throughout the long term, including some who have been a heck of significantly more going on under the surface. This week’s Iron Man played off of that in a cunning way, carrying back a mantle with a complicated and bizarre history in Marvel Comics. Spoilers for Iron Man #23 from Christopher Cantwell, Angel Unuzeta, Frank D’Armata, and Joe Caramagna underneath! Possibly look if you want to be aware!

The issue follows Tony and Rhodey in their battle against Source Control, as Tony aims to buy up as many of the shrewd organization’s weapons and resources as possible. All through Issue #23, that is taken to a tumultuous turn, with Carl Walker/Power being tossed into the past by Source Control tech, and fostering a ton of animosity for Tony and his crusade in the process. By the issue’s end, we get additional background info as to who is chipping away at Source Control’s side, with the reveal that Cobalt Man has purchased The Mandarin’s ten rings from them.

Created by Roy Thomas and Werner Roth in 1967’s X-Men #31, Ralph Roberts/Cobalt Man is initially a scientist studying his titular mineral, which leads to him constructing an Iron Man-like suit that he hopes to provide for the military. Because of a concussion he suffered prior to taking a stab at the suit, Ralph became obsessed with harming Iron Man, yet was stopped from doing as such by the X-Men. He then was given deadly radiation powers, joined the Emissaries of Malevolence, and battled Hulk on several occasions.

In 2004, it was revealed that Tony Stark had actually momentarily impersonated Cobalt Man to attempt to infiltrate the Thunderbolts, during an adventure that took place during the 1980s. Ralph himself then kicked the bucket in the New Warriors explosion that caused the start of Nationwide conflict, and was impersonated by a Skrull and several other non-Skrull copycats. He most as of late battled the Mercs for Cash, and was later liberated by them in a prison escape.