Story #2A potted history of James Rhodes
Writer: John Rhett Thomas.
Synopsis
Marine
James Rhodes helped the newly-created
Iron Man get back to friendly territory. He didn't know
Tony Stark was Iron Man, but Stark offered him a job as pilot and aviation engineer when Rhodey left the military.
They became friends and shared many adventures. When Tony's alcoholism got the better of him, Rhodes took over as Iron Man. This period included both
Secret Wars series, and the formation of the
West Coast Avengers.
Stark eventually took his armour back. But sometimes they both suited up as Iron Man.
Later when Tony faked his own death, James inherited control of
Stark Enterprises, and the new
War Machine armour. When Stark turned up alive Rhodey quit in disgust and rejoined West Coast Avengers.
WM got his own series. But he quit and went civilian round the time of
Heroes Reborn.
The WM armour was appropriated by
Parnell Jacobs. But Rhodey got it back and used bits of it as part of the
Crew.
Then he wore a different kind of armour as part of
O*N*E's
Sentinel Squad.
Later he was back as War Machine as director of the
Initiative training program. But inside the armour he was a cyborg, Stark had rebuilt him after a terrorist bomb. That stint ended with
Secret Invasion.
During
Dark Reign WM got his 2nd series as a cyborg vigilante, ending with his rehousing in a clone body. After which he helped Tony to recover from
World's Most Wanted/
Stark Disassembled.
Now he's a member of
Secret Avengers, and starting this new job with
Babbage.