Skyward Sheep
Banned
From my own experience 40k is still bigger than Warhammer fantasy here but I'm just going off of my own experiences with what myself and my friends like.
What's Your Pick for the Most Iconic Power Armor in All Ass Kicking SF Fiction?
- Thread starter HStallion
- Start date
From my own experience 40k is still bigger than Warhammer fantasy here but I'm just going off of my own experiences with what myself and my friends like.
Iron Man should be disqualified, he's the actual correct answer.
Personally, I really dig the Starcraft space marines. Maybe the most recognizable silhouette in all of RTS:
But this is still the GOAT:
343's Mk VI variant is the best version of Master Chief and therefore the best power armor of all time.
Personally, I really dig the Starcraft space marines. Maybe the most recognizable silhouette in all of RTS:
But this is still the GOAT:
343's Mk VI variant is the best version of Master Chief and therefore the best power armor of all time.
Seductivpancakes
Member
WRONG
He's just a guy with a shotgun.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
Anyone who thinks WH40K is more iconic than Iron Man is out of their minds.
I'd say its more influential in a lot of ways for sure. Just look at the heavy inspiration in stuff like Starcraft.
More_Badass
Member
Iron Man may be more popular and well known, but 40K is probably more influential across various mediums
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Besides the obvious like space marines, Master Chief, and Iron Man, I personally like the armor from John Steakley's Armor
And are exosuits considered powered armor? Have a soft spot for the designs in Elysium
I was hoping I'd see a few people post this. It's true that the way Steakly split the story between two different characters and time periods probably made it a less popular choice, but every time there was a Felix portion, the book just blew me away. It was one of the single, best depictions of powered battle armor I'd ever seen, and the battle scenes were amazing. I was so happy when this book finally got a Kindle version, because I'd been making that request on Amazon for years without any real hope it would happen.
Huh.. yes, I'm well aware.
Also the first thing i think when someone says space marine, as i was answering the post i quoted.
Shanhara (X-O Manowar)
yes, one of the most fascinating Power Armors in fiction
More_Badass
Member
Why? What makes it unique?
Phoenix RISING
Banned
Posring from Cell phones sucks.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
More_Badass
Member
Forgot about the nanosuit
Love me some power armors, my favs have already been mentioned.
-Various SPARTAN armors from Halo
-Samus Aran's Chozo suit
-40k Space Marines
-Various Iron Man Suits
-MCU Black Panther suit
-Sam Gideon's suit from Vanquish
-Crysis Nanosuit
Also I suppose they are more combat armor/space suits but I've always been fond of the Mass Effect and Destiny armors.
-Various SPARTAN armors from Halo
-Samus Aran's Chozo suit
-40k Space Marines
-Various Iron Man Suits
-MCU Black Panther suit
-Sam Gideon's suit from Vanquish
-Crysis Nanosuit
Also I suppose they are more combat armor/space suits but I've always been fond of the Mass Effect and Destiny armors.
SixMachine
Member
I would agree with the 40k armors and it's variants being most influential design wise. Even though Iron Man is the most popular character in this thread, it feels that in public conscience the armor is attached to the character of Tony Stark (even though they are variants like War Machine), while the bulky 40k armor is the main iconic image of the Space Marines. It's influence on other works such as Starcraft, Halo, Fallout, etc. really is noticeable.
I'd like to give a mention to the Gantz Hard Suits for how over the top they are
Yep, they're so awesome.
Crayon
Member
I don't know about the *Most* iconic, but its what popped into my head:
The Power Loader from Aliens.Where does Power Armor end and Mech begin?
Came to say this. This forklift is the most iconic and recognizable powered armor in scifi. It's usage in the movie was just too good. From a self-indulgent prop at the very beginning of the movie then next it's the great equalizer at the climax. Who doesn't love this thing?
Gotta be WH40k stuff just by the sheer amount of choice in that universe and tremendous reach beyond just a few paltry nerd niches. They have released books, Pen and Paper games, movies (of questionable quality), video games, card games, board games, the classic war games, and a plethora of other stuff. For decades now, to boot.
Personally, after all my favs have already been mentioned, I remember the suits they wore near the end of The Forever War by Haldeman.
Honourable mention to Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. Those were more utility suits IIRC, but hey, can't knock armour that comes with a hat. Also I've completely run out of other ideas.
Personally, after all my favs have already been mentioned, I remember the suits they wore near the end of The Forever War by Haldeman.
It makes sense to do that if you're too low tech to have self repairing armour and have to fight someone in a suit in vacuum, but that doesn't make it any better. Plus, the idea that the last few fights reverted to medieval Bow and Arrow/Sword/melee engagements inside a pocket dimension and shield bubble was ... memorable. Heh.
Honourable mention to Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. Those were more utility suits IIRC, but hey, can't knock armour that comes with a hat. Also I've completely run out of other ideas.
Killa Sasa
Member
Iconic would be Vader if that counts, and Iron Man if it doesn't. Multibillion dollar franchises built on the backs of those things, for 40+ and 50+ years. The mom/grandma/dad/grandpa test is a good barometer here.
As far as power goes, I like the Doom Suit. The Edge of Tomorrow exosuit was pretty dope. Wing Zero if Gundam counts. Panther's suit, and I'm sure Flash has a good suit as well that augments his ability to do bullshit based on running fast.
As far as power goes, I like the Doom Suit. The Edge of Tomorrow exosuit was pretty dope. Wing Zero if Gundam counts. Panther's suit, and I'm sure Flash has a good suit as well that augments his ability to do bullshit based on running fast.
SixMachine
Member
Even though it is a bodysuit compared to the fullmetal armor posted in this thread, I always liked Hurricane Polymar, it basically enhances his brand of asshole karate. He also turns into a plane.
itwasTuesday
He wasn't alone.
Armor King from sfxt
shockthrill
Banned
RIP Sanguinius
Would Bioshock's Big Daddies count? After all, they're people wearing these huge suits and capable of doing superhuman things in them whilst protecting the Little Sisters. It could be argued that the strength comes from the plasmids the wearer has, but the eyes changing colour when you've pissed one off suggests that the armour itself is powered.
I'd definitely put 40k's Space Marines up there as most iconic though. They were the first thing I thought of when I saw the words "power armour".
I'd definitely put 40k's Space Marines up there as most iconic though. They were the first thing I thought of when I saw the words "power armour".
Strangelove77
Member
Iron Man. Its known across all mediums and not just video games.
Your problem is that Iron Man changes suits like panties.
His suit now looks almost nothing like his iconic suit from the early days.
Spider Man, Captain America, Daredevil...ICONIC superhero appearances once you wade through alternate universes and get to the basic.
Iron Man is just a fancy suit but nothing iconic about it.
Put up Armor Wars or early Avengers Iron Man? You got it.
Put up MCU horse shit or Marvel from the past 10 years where it still has no idea what it is doing? Nah
40k inspired Starcraft, among many other things. It may be niche on its own but it's influence isn't.
Iron Man is of course worldwide recognizable....since 2008.
Before that people may have seen him here or there but he wasn't really famous outside of comics, certainly not like Cap or Spidey.
Prophaniti
Banned
Man I love that book. I'm going to have to dig that out from under the bed. That opening section is amazing.Iron Man may be more popular and well known, but 40K is probably more influential across various mediums
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Besides the obvious like space marines, Master Chief, and Iron Man, I personally like the armor from John Steakley's Armor
mattwhite924
Member
Uh, no. Not at all. I think of this
And it's vastly more influential than anything Games Workshop has done.
Uh, no. Not at all. I think of this
And it's vastly more influential than anything Games Workshop has done.
But there is no power armor this invalidating its purpose here (other than a forklift)
Uh, no. Not at all. I think of this
And it's vastly more influential than anything Games Workshop has done.
But, those are Colonial Marines. I know the game was bad, but still...
Seductivpancakes
Member
Reminds me of the Polymar OVA where he just completely obliterates a bunch of mooks int he most brutal forms imaginable. I still haven't found a version of it in english too, but damn, that beginning fight is ridiculous.
Me either, but I figured if I did not put it in there the reply would have come quickly
I went over several of the tropes of Power Armor that were started with Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers in the OP. Its worn by a military elite in most cases, enhances the users abilities many times over and gives them increase to amazing durability and often mobility as well. Armed to the teeth with weapons that would kill a normal person and even being shot from orbit down to a planet's surface to act as the ultimate shock troop.
manfestival
Member
I love the first few posts of this thread. These are the main reasons that I am so into mecha for the most part. Probably all began thanks to Ironman and eventually moved on to other things. However, one from my childhood that I have a huge heart for is EXO squad.
I eventually found warhammer 40k stuff when I was little around the same time as starcraft and I love both for different reasons. Also I do love me the T'au designs which is why I play them on tabletop . There is something special to me for some reason about the stealth suit design... old and new
I eventually found warhammer 40k stuff when I was little around the same time as starcraft and I love both for different reasons. Also I do love me the T'au designs which is why I play them on tabletop . There is something special to me for some reason about the stealth suit design... old and new
mattwhite924
Member
I was specifically responding to the statement that when you think of space marines the first thing you think of is 40K.
Aliens is generally credited with popularizing the concept of space marines, and it's influence is still felt in a lot of things today.
As for power armor, as much as I like the power loader, I don't think it counts. Even if it's not a mech, it's definitely not armor. It's just really cool work equipment.
As far as the most iconic power armor, it's easily Iron Man. I guarantee you that if you were to go out and ask 100 random people what comes to mind when you mention power armor, the majority of them would say Iron Man. Sure most of his popularity has been in the past decade, but I don't think that disqualifies him at all.
Gnome Scat
Member
Mjolnir Power Armor from Halo is always the first that comes to mind for me.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
Honestly StarCraft's Marines seem more inspired by Starship troopers than WH40k. They are called Terran's after all. The Marines also aren't knights.
The original WH40K Space Marines weren't either. Starcraft's version is actually much closer to the original style of Space Marine which were basically drugged up psychopaths stuck inside power armor and set lose to cause mayhem.
This and Samus her suit from Metroid.