In The Avengers, Steve Rogers asked Tony Stark what the latter would be without his armor. Ever the deflective comedian, Tony responded that he was a genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist. In Iron Man 3, Tony has no need to tell his enemies what he is without his armor, opting to show them instead. Taking a hero out of his costume for such a long stretch of a film is risky. Fans want to see their favorite characters in full gear. Iron Man 3 rewards the audience for its patience by showing Tonys ability to use his brains and brawn to best his opponents, some of whom were Extremis soldiers. Whether its firing a gun, throwing down in fisticuffs, or rigging a microwave to blow, Tony Stark proves that he is more than just a guy in armor. He is a worthy combatant and an even greater hero for succeeding even at the height of his physical and emotional vulnerability. Tony Stark is Iron Man. The rest is just a suit.