Robert Downey, Jr. as "Iron Man" is the most iconic Marvel role by far. Perhaps we can imagine other actors playing the other heroes but can we picture somebody else as Tony Stark? Despite his aura of infallibility, the actor gets serious and humbly admits he is not bigger than the franchise.

The highly publicized negotiations impasse between Robert Downey, Jr and Marvel has put both parties in a bad light. It was perplexing for the general audience how such a successful franchise (Iron Man's total world gross is $ 2.4 Billion for three films) could result in two dissatisfied parties.

Ever the professional, Downey marched into the filming of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" without any hint of that awkward situation. Filming has wrapped but he is still signed up for "Avengers 3." Movie fans are hoping it won't be the last.

In a revealing interview with Vanity Fair where he is the featured cover, he humbly looks back at what the iconic Marvel role has done for him. It's very different from the general impression that Downey's ego got the better of him!

Downey walks through his auto collection: "Ford F150. Bentley given to me in lieu of back-end payment for Iron Man 3. Volvo. That's a Woody. That's a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang. That's a 1970 Mercedes-Benz Pagoda. That's my dear friend the Audi, whom I've had a lovely relationship with since the first Iron Man. It's an A8. That's an Audi R7, arguably one of the greatest cars ever made. That's a Mercedes-Benz wagon. That's the 2011 VW GTI.."

 When asked if he collected these after Iron Man:

"Are you kidding? Before that, I didn't even have the GTI."

He talks about his role in the franchise and how it has affected his life. Read between the lines and there might be bittersweet hint of farewell:

 "I've gone from being convinced that I am the sole integer in the approbation of a phenomenon to realizing that I was the lead in the first of a series of movies that created a chain reaction that, if everything didn't fire the way it was supposed to, there's no operator, no anything. And you go, O.K., life is doing something here that included me but did not require me. But, yes, that role means a lot. Marvel is kind of like this sacred brotherhood."

He is not the 'sole integer' but just the 'first in a chain.' He is 'included' but not 'required.'

What do you think of these comments? Is this farewell?