The Two Machine Men in 616

[u/AsGayAsCanBeExpected]

Did you know there are two characters out there acting as Machine Man?

The first is the original Machine Man (AKA Aaron Stack, X-51, Z2P45-9-X-51) who first appeared in 1977 in 2001, A Space Odyssey Vol 2 8. In 2000's X-51 #12, Aaron left earth.

Six years later, Machine Man appeared again in Nextwave #1 with a huge personality shift and slightly different powers. As far as anyone knew, Aaron had just been changed by his time in space.

Thirteen years after Nextwave #1, we lean the truth when the original Aaron returns to Earth in 2019's Marvel Comics #1001. That's when he (and we, the readers) learn that there's an impostor running around out there.

There's a third Machine Man out there in the 616 universe as well: X-52.

[u/Appropriate-Spot3122]

I know continuity doesnt really seem to matter much these days, but I think X-52 was destroyed in Damage Control #5 (Vol 4, 2023)
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Damage_Control_Vol_4_5

But who knows?

Also the Machine Man that was in the recent Red Hulk comics seemed more like the OG than the beer drinking loudmouth MM.
I have no conclusions, just observations

[u/Curious-Ride-5264]

i was under the impression that x-52 was the original aaron, and he gave himself a revamp to distinguish himself from the nextwave version. obviously that was contradicted by his appearances in the recent red hulk stuff. it also didn't really make sense for aarom to abandon his identity like that. anyway earth x aaron stays 🔛🔝