10 MCU Storylines The Comics Did Better
2. Iron Man 2 Lacks The Intrigue Of Armor Wars
In addition to barely scratching the narrative potential of Demon in a Bottle, Iron Man 2's scattershot narrative was not able to fully capture the themes of industrial espionage, guilt and paranoia that defined the 1987-1988 Armor Wars storyline.
Although both storylines taking place at different points in Tony Stark's life, the comics storyline is more coherent and showcases the consequences of the hero's single-minded approach to solving issues.
The film more or less eschews the industrial espionage element of the comic in favour of having Justin Hammer's suits solely built by Ivan Vanko. This personalizes the conflict (as Vanko's father Anton and Howard Stark worked together) but the change falls flat due to the younger Vanko's wanting characterization.
Right off the bat the comic has the advantage of having more heroes and villains in the mix (something the movie cannot be faulted for) and this helps contextualize Stark's actions and fears. Antagonists such as Hammer, the Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man push the Armored Avenger to his limits and he is forced to come to terms with the consequences of his technology ending up in the wrong hands.