| “ | Long ago, the bow and arrow was the ultimate technological achievement. It was used by Genghis Khan to forge an empire that stretched across Asia, from the wintry woods of Ukraine to the Eastern shores of Korea. Now, whoever holds the weapons manufactured by Stark Industries rules the world... and soon, it will be my turn. | „ |
| ~ Raza to Tony Stark. |
Raza Hamidmi Al-Wazar is the secondary antagonist of the 2008 Marvel film Iron Man. He is a murderous terrorist, a high-ranking member of the Ten Rings and the personal subordinate of Obadiah Stane.
He was portrayed by Pakistani-American actor, Faran Tahir who also portrayed President Patel in Elysium.
Role
Cooperation with Obadiah Stane
Raza was one of the members of the terrorist group known as The Ten Rings (alongside Abu Bakaar, Ahmed and Omar). After a secret agreement with Obadiah Stane, Raza captured Tony Stark, who was in Afghanistan displaying the Jericho Missile. Raza wanted Tony to build him one of the missiles for his own use (he was originally supposed to kill Tony, but they came to consider him more useful alive). He called Stark "The most famous mass murderer in the history of America," and then went on to say that he was "honored" to meet him.
Stark's First Armor and Escape
Despite Raza's guards watching the prisoners day and night, Tony managed to build an armor to save himself and his fellow prisoner, Yinsen. Tony managed to escape, while Yinsen was killed. During his escape, Raza was caught in an explosion, and fractured a part of his head. Tony also managed to save a Afghan village from a Ten Ring attack led by Bakaar, who is left at the mercy of the angry villagers, much to Raza's anger.
Demise by Stane's Sonic Wave
Later, Raza organized a meeting with Stane to conduct further deals. Stane arrived at Raza's Camp in a convoy with a squad of armed guards. That meeting ended when Stane betrayed Raza, used a special device to paralyze him in his tent, and left, but not before he had his men dispose of Raza's guards and told them to "finish up".
Trivia
- Faran Tahir, expressed concern about the possibility of the film causing offence to a Muslim audience by portraying the gang as Islamic caricatures, and suggested the idea of the gang having members from various different nations.
- Raza himself mentioned that he is a descendant of the great Gengis Khan, and has the right to rule as a terrrorist.
- It is unknown what Raza's last name is, as it was never mentioned in the film.
- In the comics, Raza is an alien space pirate. Although unrelated, Raza's character in the movie mirrors his comic counterpart with the scars on his face. However, his role in Iron Man's origin is very similar to the role of Wong-Chu, a Vietnamese warlord from the comics who took Tony prisoner in the jungles of South Vietnam.
- A version of the character was later introduced in the comics in a retelling of Tony Stark's origin as Iron Man.
Quotes
| “ | This is only a first, crude effort. Stark has perfected his design. He has made a masterpiece of death. A man with a dozen of these can rule all of Asia. And you dream of Stark's throne. We have a common enemy. lf we are still in business, I will give you these designs as a gift. And in turn, I hope you'll repay me with a gift of iron soldiers. | „ |
| ~ Raza |
| “ | We have a common enemy. | „ |
| ~ Raza to Obadiah Stane about Tony Stark's escape. |
