USA Today has a first look at Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in “Iron Man 2,” the new Jon Favreau film based on the Marvel Comics characters. Also known as Ivan Vanko, the film’s Whiplash constructs his own version of Tony Stark’s famous armor, with the addition of a pair of powered whips.

Whiplash sports a power pack on his chest that looks similar to the repulsor tech used by Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).

“The technologies are definitely related, and that’s part of the core theme of the film,” director Jon Favreau told the newspaper.

The character’s alter ego, Ivan Vanko, is a Russian who has constructed his own version of a suit. Among the creative alterations: a pair of whips, powered by the suit’s glowing chest piece

“Robert [Downey, Jr.] has a tremendous screen presence. So it was very important that the villain be as compelling as can be,” Favreau told USA Today with regards to casting Rourke. “Once I thought of Mickey in that role, it made me understand how to shape the story.”

“Iron Man 2” is in production for May 7, 2010 release.