Who is Iron Man?

The comicbook character, Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark/Iron Man who was was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck and Jack Kirby,  made his debut in the Marvel Comicbook "Tales of Suspense" issue #39 in March 1963. The premise and role model for the character was none other than multimillionaire and playboy Howard Hughes. Said Lee, the then story-plotter, "Howard Hughes was one of the most colorful men of our time. He was an inventor, an adventurer, a multi-millionaire, a ladies man and finally a nutcase." The next time the Iron Man character appeared was in issue #59 in November 1964.  

Originally, Iron Man starred in 13-page comicbooks but was known to occasionally appear in 18-page books. When he first appeared, Iron Man wore a bulky grey coat of armor but for his second story, issue #40, April 1963, he was redesigned with similar amor but was given a more colorful golden armor.

The Iron Man character did not find a stable home until his reincarnation as The Invincible Iron Man in issue #1 May 1968. Prior to that he shared the billing with Captain America (issue #59 November 1964), and with the Sub-Mariner in the short lived Iron Man and Sub-Mariner issue #1 April 1968.

The development of the Iron Man character went throgh various incarnations. Originally he was cast as an anti-communist hero, however, technological advancement and national defense were constant themes for him. Later, the Stark character developed into a more complex and vulnerable character as he battled alcoholism and other personal difficulties.

Many of the writers often portrayed Iron Man as a symbol of man's creativity and frailties. He was also contrasted with his close buddies Captain America and Thor. Captain America being viewed as both an interventionist and having cooperative attitudes, and Thor being contrasted as between science and the supernatural.

For most of his career, Iron Man has been a member of the superhero team "The Avengers", and has in fact been featured in several of his own comic-book series. According to BusinessWeek, Iron Man is listed as one of the top ten most intelligent fictional characters in American comics.

Now for the first time ever, On May 2, 2008 we'll all get a chance to see the Invincible Iron Man in his own full length feature movie, IRON MAN, staring  Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man and featuring an impressive supporting cast consisting of: Terrence Howard, of Hustle and Flow fame, as Lt. Colonel James "Rhody" Rhodes,
Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark's trusty executive assistant, Virginia "Pepper" Potts
and Jeff Brides as Obadiah Stane, Tony life long confidant.

I must say, that as a kid Iron Man was one of, if not, my favorite comic book heros. Tony Stark was a regular, every day, run of the mill millionaire and the story line was always right on point with whatever was happening in society at the time. The movie, which was directed by  Jon Favreau, with directorial credits for: In Case of Emergency, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Elf, Life on Parole, Undeclared, Made and Smog, will be set in Afghanistan.

The premise for the movie is that Billionaire playboy industrialist Tony Stark, who makes weapons for the U.S. government, while out on a field test for one of his inventions, is wounded, captured and forced to make weapons for the enemy. Instead, he fashions himself a crude armor suit to save his life and facilitate his escape. When he returns to the U.S. he redesigns his armor and finds purpose as the Armored Avenger Iron Man!