by Jason Inman
It’s not hard to empathize with Rhodey in this instance. Loyalty is his defining characteristic. His whole character, in every story he appears in, is about helping out Tony Stark. When it is robbed from Rhodey, what can he do? Luckily, James wasn’t sitting on his hands the entire time he was a supporting character. He was subconsciously observing how a superhero works and figuring out ways to do it better.
In fact, the War Machine armor is the perfect tool for James Rhodes. While the previous Iron Man suits had been designed for single battles and criminals, this is the first armor that was specifically designed for war. This is even the first armor in Iron Man history to include a giant Gatling gun on the shoulder! Repulsor beams aren’t good enough for War Machine! He needs a gun that makes every criminal wet themselves in fear when they see the bullet capacity. This is a suit built for a service member, not a billionaire.
After years and years of fighting supervillains as War Machine, James Rhodes finally found a job that made sense for his time as a superhero and his time in the service. He was hired by O*N*E (Office of National Emergency) to serve as the direct command officer and combat instructor for the Sentinel Squad O*N*E program. If you’ve ever read an X-Men comic, then you probably know what a Sentinel is. It’s a big purple robot whose programming is to hunt, capture, and sometimes murder humans. Now, before you go on a rampage, Rhodey was not hired to kill mutants (mutants, of course, being the humans born with powers in the Marvel Universe).
(Side point: One could write a whole book about the bigotry of the Marvel Universe. Why do they fear Kitty Pryde when Spider-Man lives in the same city? There’s no way to tell them apart, but I digress.)
The mutant killing machines were reprogrammed and repurposed to protect and serve the United States after the recent drop in mutant population, caused by the Marvel Comics event House of M. Not only was this a brilliant writing move on the part of Marvel Comics, but it was the perfect fit for Rhodey. After years of being a more gunned-up version of Iron Man on his own, Rhodey could rejoin the fold. This program could accomplish the same amount of good Iron Man could, but it folded into the rules and regulations of the military and the government. Plus, Rhodey gets to be at the top of the chain of command. For a man who had to put up with all the insane nonsense Tony Stark subjected him to, Rhodey would be looking for any semblance of structure.
Many veterans, when they leave their units, are excited to join the civilian world. The freedom of choice in all matters of your life is very appealing. Some find they dislike the lack of structure outside the military. This leads them to rejoin their former service branch.
James Rhodes found himself in a perfect position to make use of his expertise. Not only did he have prior service in the military, but no one in the world knew as much about cybernetics, mech tech, and being cramped inside a claustrophobic metal suit as him. From right out of the gate, Rhodey made his unit inclusive—even allowing mutants to serve inside the Sentinel mechs. The team aspect was the primary goal. “Every last member of your team is your brother,” Rhodey announced to his teams.
In a training exercise with his Sentinel Squad, another recruit freaked out when she saw the amount of firepower being levied at the team. Scores of tanks and planes were bombarding one of Rhodey’s Sentinels. Smoke and ash filled the air. At the end of the fight, it was not clear whether the Sentinel recruit had won or lost. Suddenly, three Sentinels stood in victory as Rhodey boasted to the recruit, “It was never about taking down a single Sentinel, but taking down a Sentinel team.”
The writer of the Sentinel Squad One series, John Layman, impressed me. In this story, we see Rhodey building an entire military unit out of loyalty. The fact that Rhodey holds fast to that idea is powerful. It makes him a good man and a good leader.
Finally, there is one more recent concept that affects not only James Rhodes, but many service members across the world: through various—and slightly more dramatic—storylines, Rhodey was killed while in a fight with the mad titan Thanos. (Remember him from Infinity War?) Many months after his death, Rhodey was brought back to life in the same procedure which also brought his good friend and old boss, Tony Stark, back to life. (Remember what I told you earlier about the impermanence of death in comic books?) In Tony Stark, Iron Man #2 (2018), days after rejoining the land of the living, Rhodey experienced a nightmare full of references to classic issues of Iron Man. He saw himself burning up in the atmosphere when he stood in for Tony in the Iron Man armor. He saw himself becoming a half-cyborg from a War Machine series that, very honestly, is better forgotten. Next, he saw the fatal blast from Thanos’s hand that had torn him apart, and he shot up in bed, covered in sweat, and screamed: “I can’t stop dying in the damn suit!” This, my friends, is a classic example of a character struggling with PTSD, better known as post-traumatic stress disorder.
PTSD is a mental disease that develops after a person suffers a traumatic event. It is a malady which has become more prevalent in recent years, due to the number of War on Terror veterans returning from combat with it. It’s a disorder that is being seen more and more in media, and it makes complete sense for a superhero to struggle with it—especially a military superhero. Think about the cataclysms and cosmic disasters these people face on a daily basis. If one of the elder beings of the universe shows up in your backyard and tries to eat your home planet, I think you will probably experience some trauma. Re-experiencing trauma through recollections of the event or flashbacks is one of the symptoms of PTSD.
Rhodey does the absolute wrong thing and suits up in the War Machine armor as soon as he can. Instead of seeking professional help, Rhodey puts himself back into the same dangerous situations that gave him PTSD. Remember, James Rhodes is all about loyalty. When his friend, Tony Stark, asks for his help, Rhodey is there. From the very beginning, Rhodey can’t stand being inside the suit, and, once their superpowered fight with a bunch of villains begins, Rhodey starts to freak out. He quickly ejects from his suit, which gives Tony pause. He has never seen his strong support, his military hero friend, like this.
However, Rhodey didn’t leave his best friend hanging for long. He crawled inside this mobilized battle vehicle named The Manticore. It has a steering wheel and feels like a flying armored tank. Rhodey warmed to it quickly. It made him feel like a pilot again. It’s a brilliant move to connect the character all the way back to the origin story where readers were first introduced to him. The heroes saved the day with all speed and on their ride home, Tony asked Rhodey what had happened to him. What was he struggling with? What was going on? “I can’t be in suits anymore,” Rhodey explained, “they’re like coffins to me.” Not only does his word choice evoke death, something Rhodey had recently experienced, but it doubles down on Rhodey’s PTSD. Rhodey wanted nothing to do with his War Machine suit, and in the middle of a combat situation, he abandoned it.
I can sympathize with Rhodey. While I didn’t suffer death at the hands of a giant purple Marvel villain, I did spend almost a year in a combat zone. From January 2005 to December 2005, I was stationed in Iraq. Something that many civilians might not realize is that, for every second you are in a combat zone, you are required to carry your weapon, usually an M16. This weapon becomes your second arm. Many people today would equate that feeling to their cell phone. The second it goes missing, it drives you mad. Not only does this weapon become a part of your life, but every decision you make is ordained by a standard set of rules. You may not drive off base without an armed convoy. If you do drive off base, your Kevlar helmet and flak jacket must be on at all times. Your weapon must be locked and loaded. All of these standard procedures add up and change your daily life in subtle ways. Think about completing these actions time and time again, day after day.
When I returned home, I no longer had my weapon. I could drive my car down the street to wherever I wanted. I can clearly remember once, in early 2006, freaking out over the freedom of being able to drive to Subway (this is by n
o means a chapter sponsored by Subway). The freedom of choices and the loss of those standard daily routines was frightening, and frankly, overwhelming. It took several months for me to feel comfortable with being a normal “civilian” again. Admittedly, my thoughts and feelings took me nowhere near the severity of Rhodey’s condition, but since his thoughts lined up with mine, I felt a kinship with his problems.
James “Rhodey” Rhodes is not only a great man, but he’s an astounding character. In fact, he was my introduction to the character of Iron Man. When I first bought comics featuring the armored Avenger, Rhodey was the star. So I have a bit of a soft spot for him. Whether the writing choice was conscious or not, baking the character trait of “loyalty” into every aspect of Rhodey’s life not only cements him as a hero, but also deeply connects to his military career. When I started the research for this chapter, I didn’t expect to discover more about Rhodey. For years, he’s always been Iron Man in the black-and-white armor. The not-as-cool Iron Man who was in the military. However, writing this chapter has changed my mind! I respect him as an airman, I respect him as a character, and I respect him as a hero. We could ask for no better example of a military hero in comic books. When used correctly, as in a character like Rhodey, the traits of the military can strengthen and enhance dramatic storytelling. His loyalty to Tony is not a weakness, but a defining trait that should be celebrated. In fact, Tony Stark said it best. When talking about Rhodey, he once said, “You literally catch me when I fall. You’re James Rhodes. That’s what you do.” If we could all have a battle buddy like Rhodey, all of our lives would be better.
Chapter 5
Green Lantern
(John Stewart)
The Hero of Change
When you say the name “Green Lantern,” what character do you see? Before 1959, many people saw a blonde and barrel-chested dynamo by the name of Alan Scott. After that, and still to the present day, most people would probably say “Hal Jordan!” If you were a comics fan who grew up in the 1990s, you might say “Kyle Rayner.” Some might argue for G’Nort, the silly dog creature Green Lantern from Sector 68 (I’m lying. No one wants to remember G’Nort). However, after 2001, many children would immediately think of John Stewart, the Green Lantern of the Justice League animated series. His emerald constructs (mostly bubbles) and stern attitude were displayed to millions of viewers each and every week.
But who is John Stewart? How would you describe him? He’s more than simply Hal Jordan’s partner. He’s more than a cartoon character. He’s a Green Lantern of change. I’m not just referring to his skin color, either. Sure, he’s the first Green Lantern main character who was African American, but John Stewart is not simply a character defined by his ethnicity. He’s defined by change.
When he was first introduced in comics, John was an architect. His occupation was later changed to marine. With the retcon in place, John went from one military organization to another, trading the Marine Corps for the intergalactic policing of the Green Lantern Corps. He later went from sidekick to leader. During his first adventure, John is Hal Jordan (the main Green Lantern)’s sidekick, basically a trainee. Eventually, John Stewart ascends the ranks and leads the Green Lantern Corps and its thousands of members from across the galaxy.
Could this be attributed to a military attitude from his time in the marines? Switching from base to base and mission to mission is common for anyone in the armed forces. Are service members like John at ease with that? I doubt it. Especially since John’s military service was a change to his already established character history. John went from authority-questioning architect to order-following, rule-abiding Green Lantern pretty quickly. When he was introduced, he yelled at Hal Jordan constantly. When he was transformed into a marine, he yelled orders at Hal instead. In many ways, this shift turned his entire character into the stereotype of a “good soldier.” (I mean no offense with that statement, Marines!) A character steeped in the rules and methods of a service member. It’s now John Stewart’s defining character trait.
To determine the breaking point, let’s go back to John’s original comics origin. His first appearance was in Green Lantern #87 in 1971. One thing I can tell you about the year of 1971? All the racial biases and problems of the world had not been solved. Oh, what a peaceful time it must have been. (That last sentence was brought to you by the Sarcasm Department of America. You’re welcome.) The color of John’s skin became a basis of the plot from the beginning. It seems like it was an impossible task for DC Comics to introduce a non-white character and not address it. John immediately comments on the issues of the time and even forces Hal Jordan to reveal some troubling prejudices. For example, John first appears in a scene where he is defending two innocent men from two city cops. These policemen are trying to stop two African American gentlemen from playing dominoes (which, in my estimation, is the most innocent of street games. Lay off, fuzz!). John Stewart comes to their defense and, with some razor-sharp words, convinces these two officers to move along. Hal Jordan witnesses the event from high above. See, Jordan had recently been informed by the Guardians of the Universe (the blue smurf presidents of the Green Lantern Corps) that John Stewart was to be inducted into their ranks. Jordan rebuffs this order at first. He claims John has too big a chip on his shoulder to be a successful Green Lantern. The Guardian ignores Hal’s opinions and demands that he move past his petty bigotries. (I can assure you, I guffawed quite loudly when I read this panel during my research.)
Hal’s viewpoint is quite antiquated by a modern standard. The scene he witnessed with John and the police officers was a prime example of the protection of the innocent. Since the Green Lantern Corps are basically “space cops,” Jordan ought to have been praising John’s actions. I do not wish to start throwing shade at Hal Jordan, who will be mentioned later in this book, but c’mon, man! Pull your intergalactic and possibly bigoted head out of your space ass.
The comic continues with Hal Jordan recruiting John Stewart in a diner. Hal simply asks John to join. John agrees to this proposition quickly, because he’s unemployed at the time and has nothing better to do. (That last sentence was not a joke.) John’s first change to the corps is his refusal to wear a mask. “I’ve got nothing to hide!” he exclaims as he throws the outdated green mask to the ground. Up to this point, most of the Green Lanterns that had been seen in comics had worn masks to protect their identities and families. It had become a standard trope of superhero stories, and here was John Stewart already pushing boundaries and changing things. Later in his debut issue, Jordan and Stewart came to blows over their crime-fighting philosophies. After a gunfight, Hal got heated when John didn’t simply stop it. However, John had realized the whole attack was a charade. The gunmen were firing blanks, and the crime was a setup to help a politician’s career. Hal Jordan, by simply playing the hero, missed this fact, but John spotted it. In his very first mission as a Green Lantern, John adjusts the way Hal Jordan operates and observes crimes. John Stewart, in the comic books, is a man who is willing to bend the rules if it gets the right result. The moral result is always the best result.
Cut to the year 2002, the episode Metamorphosis of the Justice League animated series airs. John Stewart is a main cast member and the only Green Lantern on the team. While he investigates an incident with a train, his old friend Rex Mason hails him. How does John know Rex? From their time serving together in the United States Marine Corps. An entire comic book fandom’s jaw drops, and a character’s history is retconned. Much like this chapter, it took a long time for DC Comics to connect John Stewart to the marines, but now that it’s happened, his history can never go back.
John Stewart, in the animated series, is a marine through and through. A professional marine with the most powerful weapon in the universe on the fourth finger of his left hand. He’s much more serious about his role as one of Earth’s protectors than he ever was up to that point in the comics. Whereas, on panel, he would challenge authority, the animated Joh
n Stewart follows orders and executes objectives—a man of duty. The question to ask is: why would the producers of the animated series choose to change John’s character in this way? Well, when you examine the lineup of the Justice League cartoon, it becomes very obvious.
The animated Justice League team is made up of a bunch of rule-breaking outsiders. Don’t believe me? Let’s break it down: their leader is Superman, the most powerful being on Earth, who only owes allegiance to hope and innocents. Batman is a rule-breaker and Wonder Woman is a mythical being who does whatever it takes to win. Martian Manhunter routinely invades minds without permission. Flash is the rookie of the team and wouldn’t know the meaning of a rulebook if it bought him dinner. This leaves us with Hawkgirl. She’s a secret member of an intergalactic army invasion force. Not only does it make sense that John would have a relationship with her, but it also immediately gives him a character who will back his every action. She is a fellow soldier. This animated team is rudderless. Superman should be the leader, but he’s too nice to give orders. Changing John Stewart’s background to a marine immediately creates an understanding with the audience, specifically the children who were the show’s primary audience. John will always do what’s right, he’ll fight harder than anyone else on the team, and he believes every mission should be about order. He’s a no-frills marine. Get the job done is his attitude. In the cartoon, they even give John Stewart the “jarhead” haircut! This change allows John to give this team of superpowered outsiders a tactical advantage with his knowledge, thereby allowing the team to develop a sense of camaraderie by the end of the first season. The dynamic the show enjoyed was due to John’s approach to decision-making and his new marine background.
While many see this change as a cliché, I think it vastly improves the character of John Stewart. I think the staler cliché would be to simply park John Stewart as an African American character who will do anything to challenge authority. There are several other characters in comics that fill that role much better: Luke Cage and Black Lightning, to name two. Giving John the strength of marine service immediately makes him a more singular character—especially when you compare him to the man who initially voiced concerns against his service, Hal Jordan. Hal is also a member of the military, US Air Force, but instead of being a great example of responsibility, Hal is anything but. No character in the DC Universe would ever expect Hal to water their plants when they’re out of town in the Vega System. John Stewart, meanwhile, can water your Ficus plant like no one’s business. His military experience makes him a better leader than this Air Force flyboy. It makes John a perfect yin to Hal’s yang. (Think clean thoughts, chum.)
