Iron Man MK17 Heartbreaker Helmet Review
Tell the Mark 17 Heartbreaker to open and the front of the helmet comes apart in two directions at once: the upper faceplate lifts and folds back over the crown, and the jaw section swings down and forward, leaving a wide, open frame around your face. That open jaw is the reason to choose this helmet over the MK5 or the MK50, so this review starts there, then covers the four finishes, a full day of wear, and what the three helmets share.
The short answer
- Buy the MK17 if the open-jaw look is what you want and you like having four finishes to choose from.
- It works for a convention day if your head measures 55-62 cm and you carry a spare set of AA batteries.
- Look at the MK5 or MK50 instead if you prefer panels that fan open or a single lifting faceplate. Fit, weight and battery life are the same across all three.
What you are buying
The MK17 Heartbreaker is a wearable, life-size replica of the Mark 17 armor helmet from Iron Man 3. The shell is molded from ABS and PC with metal parts, the faceplate is motorized, and the eyes and the panels at the ears light up. It sells for [[price:mk17-heartbreaker-iron-man-helmet]].
It is a fan-made collectible and is not officially licensed by Marvel.
How the jaw opens
There are three ways to control it: voice commands, touch sensors on the ears, and a wireless remote. Depending on the control you use, it either opens the front faceplate on its own or runs the full sequence with all the moving panels, and it closes the same way.
The voice commands cover starting the system, opening and closing the mask, switching combat mode on and off, and shutting down. The exact wording, and which ear sensor or remote button does what, is set out in the manual, so learn it from there before your first outing.
On a quiet shelf, voice control is the fun part. On a loud convention floor, the ear sensors and the remote are the dependable options, so keep the remote in a pocket.
The lights work alongside the mechanism. The listing describes an LED visor with two lighting modes, and in the product photos the eyes glow red in some shots and blue in others, with blue light panels at the ears.
The four finishes, and how they read in a room
All four are the same helmet with the same mechanism. What changes is color, and how much of the room each surface reflects back at you.
Classic Gold x Red
Gold on the faceplate and crown trim, candy red on the crown and cheeks, and satin silver panels low on the sides. In the studio photos the gold shows a fine brushed grain, which softens reflections and gives it a warm, finished-metal look. Of the four, it is the most forgiving day to day: brushed surfaces hide dust and fingerprints far better than mirror ones.
Silver x Red
Mirror-polished silver across the faceplate, with a red stripe over the crown and red accents low on the jaw. Chrome like this behaves like a mirror, and in the white-background photos you can see the room in the faceplate. It reads like machined metal, and it shows fingerprints and dust easily, so handle it with a microfiber cloth.
Silver x Black
Gloss black with satin silver trim along the jaw and the edges of the face. Under a spotlight the gloss black turns every light in the room into a sharp highlight, which looks dramatic with the eyes lit. In a dim room the silver trim is what outlines the shape, so give it a light source rather than a dark corner.
Dark Edition
Dark, near-matte black all over, with the eyes lit in the photos in blue or red. With almost no reflections, the lighting does all the work. On a dark shelf with the lights off it disappears. Switched on, it reads as stealth armor.
Choosing for your room: brushed gold is the easy-care option, mirror silver rewards a clean, well-lit shelf, gloss black wants a spotlight, and the Dark Edition belongs where you will actually switch the lights on.
Inside, and a full convention day
Fit. The listing gives a head circumference of 55-62 cm (21.7-24.4 in). A molded shell does not stretch, so measure before you order. Our head size guide shows how, including what to expect if you wear glasses.
Lining. The photos of the open helmet show a mesh fabric lining over the internal frame, blue in the shots of the open black helmet. It sits between your head and the shell and does most of the work of holding the helmet steady.
Weight. The helmet weighs 1130 g, about 2.5 lb. That is easy to carry through photos and short sessions, and it becomes noticeable on your neck by the end of a long day. Take it off between photo sessions rather than wearing it for hours straight.
Battery. Four AA batteries in the helmet run it for about 8 hours, and the remote takes one AAA. The batteries swap out, so there is no charging break. Carry a spare set of four AA and the day is covered.
Vision and air. With the faceplate closed you look through narrow eye openings, so open it when walking through crowds, on stairs, and whenever you want air.
Safety. This is a costume and display piece, not protective equipment. It is not DOT approved and offers no impact protection, so never wear it on a motorcycle or a bike. Our article on riding in an Iron Man helmet explains why.
What is in the box
The product photos show the helmet with its retail box, but not the contents laid out, so this review only lists what the specifications confirm: the helmet itself and the wireless remote it is controlled with. Have four AA batteries and one AAA ready for the first day.
MK17 vs MK5 vs MK50
Underneath, the three helmets share their specs: a 55-62 cm fit, 1130 g, about 8 hours on four AA batteries, and the same three ways to control them. What separates them is the faceplate and the number of finishes.
| MK17 Heartbreaker | MK5 | MK50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film | Iron Man 3 | Iron Man 2 | Avengers: Infinity War |
| How it opens | Faceplate lifts, jaw swings down | Faceplate splits into panels that fan open | One solid faceplate lifts |
| Finishes | Four | Three: gold, silver, dark | One |
| Fit, weight, battery | 55-62 cm, 1130 g, about 8 hours on 4x AA | ||
| Price | [[price:mk17-heartbreaker-iron-man-helmet]] | [[price:mk5-iron-man-helmet]] | [[price:mk50-iron-man-helmet]] |
If you are still choosing between them, our MK5 vs MK50 vs MK17 comparison goes through all three in detail.
Display it properly
Between wears, the Iron Man helmet stand holds the MK17 upright at eye level on two clear acrylic rails, over a base that lights up blue. The same stand fits the MK5 and MK50. A stand keeps the lining off a dusty shelf and keeps the finish away from anything that could scratch it, which matters most on the mirror and gloss finishes.
Verdict
The Mark 17 Heartbreaker earns its place with one thing: the open jaw. Everything else, the fit, the weight, the battery life and the controls, it shares with the MK5 and MK50, and that is good news, because it means you choose on looks without trading away comfort. Pick your finish by the room it will live in, measure your head, carry spare batteries, and it delivers exactly the look it is built for.
Shipping and returns. Free tracked shipping on every order, usually 10-22 business days. See our shipping policy for details. 30-day return window, see our refund policy for what qualifies.