After being told by Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige that Tony Stark would be be "cut off from the world and need to focus on his intellect to get himself out of his situation", it was a wonder just how Iron Man 3 writer/director Shane Black would go about it - but new online concept art offers some tantalising clues.
Dubbed 'Caged' by the artist, Ryan Meinerding, the piece shows Mr. Stark in a rather awkward situation: somehow he's ended up with only part of his suit on and he's surrounded by armed assailants.
Has his suit been removed (in part) by others? Is this a new suit entirely, with the unusual alternate finger-colouring and all? Is this, in fact, the Extremis armour?
Those who've read the Extremis arc of the comic books will be able to draw their own techno-organic and nanobot-based conclusions, but all in all, it's another intriguing glimpse into this new, somehow Avengers-less world of Mr. Stark.
**Iron Man 3 **will be out on May 13, 2013, whether everyone's favourite genius billionaire playboy philanthropist is fully dressed or not.