Genius billionaire inventor and founding Avenger.
Central romantic relationship driving Stark's emotional arc and final decisions.
Stark has built dozens of new suits causing friction with his girlfriend Pepper Potts, and his devotion to her drives the final resolution.
Deep friendship and loyalty between Stark and his longtime bodyguard.
Hogan is Stark's security chief and loyal friend who is badly injured in a Mandarin attack and later awakens from a coma.
Primary antagonistic relationship defining the film's central conflict.
Killian is the mastermind behind the bombings and kidnaps Potts; Stark ultimately fights and defeats him on the oil tanker.
Professional connection through the Extremis research that impacts Stark's investigation.
Hansen invented Extremis and initially collaborated with A.I.M., later warning Stark about the program's flaws.
Stark's pursuit of Slattery serves as a major misdirection in the plot.
Slattery is the English actor posing as the Mandarin, the false terrorist leader Stark hunts across the country.
Alliance formed during Stark's isolation in Tennessee, aiding his investigation.
Keener, a local boy, helps Stark investigate explosions in Tennessee and provides mechanical assistance.
Direct physical confrontation where Savin acts as Killian's enforcer against Stark.
Savin attacks Stark in Tennessee and later infiltrates Air Force One; Stark kills him to save passengers.
Brief but lethal conflict as Brandt serves as an A.I.M. operative targeting Stark.
Brandt attacks Stark alongside Savin in Tennessee; Stark kills Brandt during the ambush.
Stark assumes a protective role toward the President as part of the climax.
Killian abducts Ellis on Air Force One; Stark and Rhodes infiltrate to save him from assassination.
Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Iron Man 3
Related entry on Wikidata (Q23894967), public domain (CC0).