| "So exactly who is the Ironman? We've all seen | | | | is all but impervious to any kind of weapons fire. |
| the movie, but let's hear a little something about | | | | Initially, Iron Man was a way for Stan Lee to |
| how this character was first created. He is of | | | | explore Cold War themes. He was particularly |
| course based on a super hero from a comic | | | | interested in the role of American technology and |
| book. The character first appeared in Tales of | | | | business in the fight against what was then |
| Suspense #39 (March 1963), and was created by | | | | perceived as the communist threat. At first, the |
| Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, and artists Don Heck | | | | Ironman was completely against communism and |
| and Jack Kirby. | | | | did everything to stamp it out, but that attitude |
| The Ironman starts off his life as a billionaire | | | | changed gradually when the Vietnam war heated |
| playboy who is off showing his weapons of mass | | | | up and so many people were against the fight |
| destruction. As Robert Downey Jr. so memorably | | | | that it was felt that Iron Man needed to get out |
| says at the beginning of the movie, “most | | | | there and say exactly how he felt. |
| people feel that the best weapon is one you have | | | | Later on, Iron Man was re-invented (isn't it nice |
| never have to use. I say the best weapon is one | | | | how super heroes can reinvent themselves |
| you only have to use once. That's the way | | | | whenever they feel like it and they are always |
| America has always done it and it worked out | | | | young?) to face more contemporary problems |
| pretty well for them.” He is changed when he | | | | such as crime and corporate greed. |
| gets kidnapped and forced to build an ultimate | | | | The character used to be a member of the |
| weapon for a group of terrorists. He instead builds | | | | Avengers super hero team and also spent a bit |
| himself a suit of armor which he wears and the | | | | of time hanging out with the Incredible hulk, but it |
| Iron Man is born. Being a genius, Stark does not | | | | was only recently that Ironman got a world all his |
| just build himself a suit of armor, but literally builds | | | | own in a series of comic books beginning in 2005 |
| a suit of armor capable of doing almost anything. | | | | with the “Extremis” story line written by |
| He can fly, he has all manner of weapons and he | | | | Warren Ellis. |