Illustration Charts Every Iron Man Suit Across 50 Years

Despite notching up half a century this week, we can’t imagine Robert Downey Jr will be too concerned about how his birthday suit looks (terrific we imagine).

He’s got another one to worry about: primed to appear in the latest Avengers film, the Hollywood hero will be hoping the latest generation of Iron Man armour lives up to audience expectations once again - especially with a forth standalone Iron Man film in the pipeline.

That red and yellow shell has clearly come on a lot down the years. Sometimes it's not even red and yellow at all, as this wonderful illustration, plotting its varied history right back to its first appearance when it resembled the Iron Giant in Hunter wellies, highlights stupendously. Then there are those special editions (War Machine, Patriot, other macho names) that have helped contribute to the franchise's legacy.

And if this illustration by the good folk at Mashable were not entertaining enough, it also gives us an excuse to re-read this similar list featuring another Marvel hero, who, funnily enough, you can also expect to see in the third Avengers film.

[Via Mashable]