KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — A career spanning 50 years, legendary comic book artist Bob Layton hasn’t just contributed to the industry but has helped shape its very foundations, bringing iconic superhero stories to life, such as Marvel’s Iron Man, Hercules and many others.
Making his first-ever visit to Malaysia at the soft launch of the Collektr Experience Centre — the country’s first collector hub, located in Amcorp Mall — a media press conference was held today where Layton shared stories from his 50-year career, reflecting on the legacy of his work.
Among the many questions posed during the session, one stood out: who Layton believed could take on the role of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), post-Robert Downey Jr.
For context, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed in an interview with Variety earlier this year that the MCU is heading for a major reset — one that includes plans to eventually recast legacy characters, including members of the X-Men, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark himself.
American comic book artist, writer and editor Bob Layton, best known for his work on Marvel Comics, meets the media in Petaling Jaya October 3, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel
Layton responded by stressing the importance of staying true to the character’s essence:
“Always keep the adhesive on Tony Stark — think of the armour as a work in progress, and always keep developing Tony as a character.”
When asked if he had a specific actor in mind to carry the mantle, Layton replied:
“There are younger actors who could play Tony for the next 10 years.
“I’d have to give that some thought.
“Any competent actor could probably do it — Henry Cavill, for example, could pull it off.
“I’m sure there are a bunch of other guys who can as well,” he added.
A comic book fan takes a picture of an Iron Man comic book during an event attended by American comic book artist, writer and editor Bob Layton in Petaling Jaya October 4, 2025. — Picture by Choo Choy May
While Iron Man may be Layton’s most famous work, such as penning the landmark storyline Demon in a Bottle, comic fans also know him as the co-founder of Valiant Comics, home to a wide range of original characters — including Bloodshot, a nanite-powered super-soldier with regeneration and super strength.
The character was brought to the big screen in 2020, portrayed by acclaimed actor Vin Diesel and interestingly, the film re-entered Malaysia’s Top 10 movies on Netflix just yesterday — something Layton admitted caught him off guard.
“It has to be because of Vin Diesel and his global fanbase,” he stated.
“But honestly, the film was so far removed from the actual comic.”
He explained why Bloodshot was not the perfect fit to be the first character adapted from Valiant comics.
“I created Bloodshot in 1991 after reading an article in Scientific American about the theoretical applications of nanites.
“The problem is, over 30 years, nanotech has become a cliché — it shows up in nearly every sci-fi movie now,” he said.
He added that the film likely underperformed due to the audience’s fatigue with similar sci-fi tropes
Legendary comic book artist Bob Layton shares his stories with a Malay Mail reporter during an interview in Kuala Lumpur October 3, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel
“They should have done X-O Manowar — another character from Valiant Comics who wields powerful alien armour — instead.
He went on to add that the modest success Bloodshot had was largely due to it being one of the few films released during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Layton, however, said he still enjoyed being part of the project, sharing how he spent time with Eiza González (who played KT), Sam Heughan (who portrayed Jimmy Dalton), and director David S. F. Wilson.
“It was a fun experience,” he added.
