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Ezekiel " Zeke" Stane is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as the son of Iron Monger and an enemy of Iron Man. Created by writer Matt Fraction and artist Barry Kitson, he first appeared in The Order #10 (April 2008). (2026). 9781465478900, DK Publishing. ISBN 9781465478900
Alden Ehrenreich portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ series Ironheart (2025).
Zeke Stane appears in the series The Invincible Iron Man, where he furthers his vendetta against Tony Stark. Stane is first seen attending a meeting with a large tobacco company after being hired to create a type of tobacco that enhances metabolism, resulting in weight loss. Stane reveals that he only took the job to use the company's resources to upgrade the biotechnology he placed in his body. He swiftly kills the company's board of directors before being contacted by Sasha Hammer about a group of African suicide bombers who were test subjects for his biotechnology. The Invincible Iron Man (vol. 2) #1 (July 2008) Stane meets with Stark during a party moments before the suicide bombers attack, injuring Pepper Potts. The Invincible Iron Man (vol. 2) #2 (August 2008)
Stane confronts Stark with his own armor, while having terrorists armed with his technology attack Stark Industries facilities around the world. However, Stark defeats Stane's plan with his control of all of his various Iron Man armors, allowing him to be in multiple locations and neutralize all of Stane's bombs at once. Stark then disables all of Stane's tech and both of their armors with electromagnetic pulses and defeats Stane in hand-to-hand combat. Invincible Iron Man (vol. 2) #25-28 (June - September 2010) Stane is imprisoned, but is paroled shortly afterward by the Mandarin and Crimson Cowl, Sasha Hammer's parents. The Invincible Iron Man #500 (April 2011)
Mandarin becomes increasingly discontent when Stane is unable to build Dreadnoughts and Titanomechs on a tight schedule and low budget. Mandarin begins affecting Stane with his ring, making him obsessed with the work and gradually damaging his brain. After the Mandarin brings Tony Stark under his control as well, Stark and Stane work together to produce the Titanomechs. The Invincible Iron Man #520 (September 2012)
After Mandarin uses three of his rings to power the first Titanomech, Stark and Stane convince Whirlwind, Blizzard, and Living Laser to join him in a rebellion with the final purpose of defeating Mandarin. After having the Extremis virus inside his body reactivated, Stark creates a mental link with the Swarm, a swarm of microbots. Stark uses the Swarm to destroy Mandarin's weapons while Stane confronts and kills the Mandarin. The Invincible Iron Man #525 (November 2012)
In the series The Mighty Thor, Zeke Stane represents Stane International while attending a meeting with Tiberius Stone, Wilson Fisk, Sebastian Shaw, Darren Cross, Silver Samurai, Frr'dox, Wilhelmina Kensington, and Dario Agger to discuss Agger's plan to exploit the ten realms of Asgard. Exterminatrix arrives and knocks Agger out, declaring herself to be a new member of their assembly. The Mighty Thor (vol. 2) #8 (August 2016)
Fraction states the similarities between the pair's characteristics, with Ezekiel being an evolution of Tony Stark's character: a younger, smarter, sharper futurist of a post-national supercorporate world moving into a future that Stark has no control over. Overtaking Stark and his Iron Man technology by not taking the route of armored suits but upgrading the human body itself.
Fraction often describes the contrast between the two characters using software terms, due to the character's technological basis.
This excessive use of the body's energy has shown that Stane must constantly keep his body's blood sugar level high to make up for its rapid consumption. Stane does this by eating a high (20,000) calorie paste.
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