10 Shocking Times Superheroes Couldn’t Save Someone

A true hero should be able to save people not only from bad guys wearing outrageous costumes and natural disasters, but also from themselves. Few understand the power of self-destructive tendencies as well as Tony Stark does. With a sordid past as a former weapons manufacturer, you’d understand why Iron Man wouldn’t want more blood on his hands.

So, when an experimental enhancer called Extremis ends up in the hands of a domestic terrorist, Tony is compelled to act. Iron Man’s first encounter with Mallen, the man that used the stolen dose to turn himself into an organic killing machine, doesn’t go that well for the Armored Avenger.

Realizing that he too has to upgrade himself in order to keep up with his enemy, Tony uses Extremis both to heal himself and to better interface with his armor. Plagued by painful memories of his past during the transformation, Iron Man returns to battle Mallen, yet he’s determined to do everything in his power not to kill him. Tony sees in this villain a dark reflection of himself and tries to convince him to surrender, but Mallen gives him no other option than to kill him.

For Iron Man, this victory holds no satisfaction, as he’s bloodied his hands once more.