Jun 10 2009First Look at Rourke in 'Iron Man 2': He Has Rogue's Hair
Is Mickey Rourke playing a He-Man figure? Based on the above image, that's a logical conclusion to come to, but no--this is the first look at Rourke in Iron Man 2. The suddenly-respected actor is playing the central villain, Whiplash, in the film, and he and director Jon Favreau briefly discussed the character and the function of his post-apocalyptic orthopedics:
The villain's alter ego, Ivan Vanko, is a Russian who "has constructed his own version of a suit," Favreau says. Among the creative innovations: a pair of whips, powered by the suit's glowing chest piece, that are expected to keep Iron Man cracking.Whiplash "is going to light them up," Rourke quips.
Powered whips, eh? Wait a minute, I think I've seen that somewhere before...
(Thanks, everyone who gave tips.)
Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in Iron Man 2 [ScreenRant]

Reader Comments
1. proteon - June 10, 2009 11:22 AM
Are you not entertained? I approve.
2. Nick - June 10, 2009 11:49 AM
The narration on that clip was something else.
As for the costume...it's kinda interesting. To me, though, it lacks function. He could easily be shot and killed. I hope this is just his initial mock-up and he gets a little plating to cover his vital organs for later.
3. Chuck Nunchuck - June 10, 2009 12:05 PM
#2, you don't get it- the suit is his "skin" along with the contraption on top of it
4. Nick - June 10, 2009 12:18 PM
No shit, douchenozzle. I was saying that it's retarded for a super-villain to walk around with next to nothing on. One well-placed bullet and he's out of commission. Maybe you should work on your reading comprehension skills before you try to tell me I don't understand something.
5. gink - June 10, 2009 1:05 PM
he looks like charles bronson
6. ScreenRant.com - June 10, 2009 1:17 PM
This looks like it could be the first prototype and the first time he tries out the equipment, much like the Mark I armor from the last film. I'm sure by the end of the movie he'll have a bitchin' costume.
Vic
7. Chuck Nunchuck - June 10, 2009 1:21 PM
So much for a joke.
8. e3000 - June 10, 2009 1:21 PM
What the hell, they had a washed up piece of shit actor in a knock off Ironman suit fighting Ironman in the first flick. Fail.
Ironman 2 is starting to look worse and worse.
G.I. Joe FTW!
9. Adam - June 10, 2009 1:46 PM
Ironman: Hey Whiplash, is that glowing thing in your chest what powers you? If I break it, will you be powerless?
Whiplash: Ummm... Noooooo... Is that what your glowing chest thing does?
Ironman: Ummm... No, certainly not. On an unrelated note, I'm going to go home and redesign my costume.
Seriously, Punisher painted the skull on his chest because it was the most armored, and a bullet in the vest is better than one in the face. Tony Stark lights his weakspot up like the Fourth of July. I really hope that all future Iron Man enemies don't have glowing chests like this.
10. Adam - June 10, 2009 1:48 PM
Also, Mickey Rourke looks like a complete douche now... Can they undo his plastic surgery and remove the facial hair?
11. crazylikeafox11 - June 10, 2009 2:06 PM
What I really want to know is why he's standing on what looks like a racetrack? Did Iron Man go Nascar?
12. SlowHand - June 10, 2009 2:31 PM
Ivan Vanko isn't supposed to be Crimsom Dynamo?
13. MorpheusDream - June 10, 2009 3:39 PM
huge devastating mmechanical whips on a russian person already exist in the marvel universe, his name is Omega Red. Also I'm pretty sure whiplash was a woman
14. frank - June 10, 2009 6:41 PM
To be fair, Mickey Rourke kinda looks like a Ferengi now. What do you mean "suddenly" respected? He was awesome in Angelheart.
15. sva1994 - June 10, 2009 7:41 PM
Powered whips, eh? Wait a minute, I think I've seen that somewhere before...
So that Star Trek episode came out BEFORE the comic book character? That's funny. I coulda sworn that Whiplash (now known as Blacklash) first appeared in the late 60's.
16. the watcher - June 11, 2009 2:16 AM
@16 - wait, so you're saying this "Iron Man" thing is based on a comic book?
17. gunther - June 11, 2009 2:34 AM
i need a pair of electric whips ......cause I am fat...
18. Mr. Jones - June 11, 2009 8:26 AM
I got a preview of the film. There is a scence where Whiplash is locked out of his trailer-home, and ends up sleeping in his car. Some kids wake him up in the morning, and then he completely destroys the trailer park.
Oh, and he dies in the end, but we don't get to see it.
19. Simon N - June 11, 2009 8:52 AM
You need to try and find footage from the original Voltron series and upload it to YouTube - I distinctly remember one of the Doom Empire commander guys threatening to whip some slaves by cracking his whip aloft and shouting;
"Or you'll taste my LASER WHIP!" *crack* *crack*
Then some dude's eyes glowed red for no reason. Psychedelic stuff. Ferengi have nothing on those guys.
20. Darth - June 11, 2009 10:48 AM
He could be playing in 'Predator' as well.The face is almost similar.
21. romulox - June 11, 2009 1:10 PM
@12
I thought the same thing. Looks like there is wreckage behind him, so I'm guessing he's either already done his damage or is about to do more to the next car.
Isn't Whiplash a hired assassin or something. Maybe this is his first hit job. Wait... someone earlier said this whiplash was ivan vanko. Never mind, I'm all confused.
22. Hal - June 11, 2009 2:15 PM
If that was Scarlett Johansen's IRON MAN 2 outfit I'd be foaming at the mouth.
23. One Piece - June 11, 2009 4:58 PM
I second that, Hal ^^^ I don't know who Whiplash is and neither am I a big Iron Man fan, but I would sure as hell want to see more of his Sin City character.
Dugg: http://digg.com/movies/First_Look_at_Rourke_in_Iron_Man_2
24. Delgo - June 11, 2009 5:11 PM
Fucking comic losers.
Shut up, you know you're all gonna go see it anyways.
P.S. Is it Wednesday yet?
25. Dave - June 11, 2009 6:16 PM
... looks pretty crappy
26. squeehunter - June 12, 2009 8:17 PM
http://cdn1.gamepro.com/article_img/gamepro/132908-1.jpg
He's dressed like a super mutant.
27. White - June 21, 2009 9:04 AM
Are all of Iron Man's enemies just could to be other people trying to make their own Iron Man Suit? Seems to me that's just lazy.
28. G5 - December 19, 2009 5:58 AM
wtf?? whiplash is suppose to be an american named mark scarlotti. i hate when they switch shit up.