Paramount Pictures has let slip the first official photo of Mickey Rourke as Ivan “Whiplash” Vanko in Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2.  Rourke’s character is actually a combination of two Iron Man villains: Blacklash and a Russian villain Crimson Dynamo.  The photo no doubt represents an early iteration of the character in the film; as Lucas put it best, he looks like “steampunk He-Man“.

I have faith that Jon Favreau will make Iron Man 2 as entertaining as the first film.  Now where are the official photos of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow?  After this image, Paramount owes us pictures of Johansson in skin tight leather!

Click here to see a larger version of Mickey Rourke as Whiplash.

Iron Man 2 is currently filming and is set for release May 7th, 2010.

Thanks to Raj for the heads up.