The LAPD has announced that they’re investigating the mysterious disappearance of Tony Stark’s original Iron Man suit. The armor, capable of rocket-powered flight, bristling with armaments and practically impenetrable to conventional weaponry, would be incredibly dangerous were it to fall into the wrong hands, so cops have warned LA residents to be on the lookout for a red and gold figure acting suspiciously. Suspects Obadiah Stane, Ivan Vanko and Aldrich Killian have all been called in for questioning in connection with the theft.
Okay okay okay, as you’ve probably guessed, I’m talking about the theft of a prop (as the MCU isn’t actually real, no matter how much we wish it were). Still, it’s a pretty valuable and important prop that someone has swiped from an LA storage warehouse. The suit, from Jon Favreau’s original Iron Man, is valued at an eye-popping $431,000 and is precisely the kind of important cultural artifact that you’d hope Disney and Marvel Studios would be keeping a closer eye on.
The theft apparently occurred between February and April, though it was only noticed missing on Tuesday night, according to sources. One thing working against the thieves is that this is an incredibly recognizable and world famous prop – and it seems like it’d be difficult to sell and display without someone realizing that it’s stolen. Still, I’m sure whoever’s got it right now is having a ton of fun strolling around their lounge and pretending to fire repulsor blasts while making “pew pew” noises.
Then again, there’s a tiny chance this could be stealth marketing for an Armor Wars adaptation – a comic book arc in which Tony Stark’s stolen technology is used to upgrade various armored Marvel villains (Titanium Man, Stilt-Man, the Crimson Dynamo, etc.). I mean, what better way to tease the arrival of a new Iron Man storyline than to have us live through the real life prologue, right?
