Published: May 03, 2008 12:13 am            

'Iron Man' a flawed, fascinating high-flying hero

Comics Corner column

NORMAN, Okla. — I’ve always been a fan of Iron Man.

I always equated him with Batman, but Marvel’s more disturbed, drunker version.

Last month, Iron Man celebrated his 45th anniversary. Way back in 1963, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck and Jack Kirby created the character, so, yes, he even predates the Black Sabbath song (although the song’s story is about a time traveler who comes back to save mankind from a terrible event, but is transformed into metal and turns on the people who don’t trust him because of his appearance).

Tony Stark is one of the most complicated comics frontmen ever. Stark, a billionaire genius whose weapon designs are sometimes misused by the government, becomes Iron Man when he’s attacked by a rogue terrorist group. Shrapnel in his heart has him on his deathbed when fellow captured scientist Yin Sen helps him design an iron suit that keeps him alive.

Stark uses the suit to escape, goes back home and decides to help people rather than continue to provide weapons for the government.

An Air Force pilot he met after he escaped, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, becomes his confidant, as does his secretary Pepper Potts and his chauffeur, Happy Hogan.

Many versions of the suit have come and gone, but one thing has always remained the same: Stark is all about protecting the people.

Even when the “Civil War” storyline turned him into a villain to many Marvel readers, Iron Man has always put the good of the people ahead of his own.

In the film, which opens Friday, there’s a scene where Stark even mentions protection people from his own designs.

And the character was always deep.

When villainous Obadiah Stane committed a hostile takeover of Stark International, Stark became a homeless alcoholic.

Stane made his own suit, known as Iron Monger (this is apparently the plot of the film), and Stark had to build a next-generation model to defeat the new threat.

During this time, Rhodey donned the Iron Man guise for an extended amount of time, and eventually became Iron Man’s partner War Machine.

Complicated history? Yes.

Deep history? Absolutely.



The worst of times

“Civil War” angered many Iron Man fans, myself included. I just thought good ol’ fun-loving, funny and engaging Tony Stark was made into a jerk who pushed his friends away and forced a division throughout the superhero ranks.

By the end of the maxi-series, though, Stark had learned a few things about himself, the U.S. government and his friends.

By the time Captain America was shot and killed, Stark had reconsidered his actions.

But it was way too late.



The best of times

Warren Ellis and Adi Granov relaunched “The Invincible Iron Man” in 2005, and Ellis’ six-part “Extremis” storyline dove right into how cool Stark and Iron Man could be.

The series had a lot of action, some deep character development, and a ton of cool future-tech.

Stark tweaks his suit when he finds a criminal named Mallen, infected with the Extremis agent, is on a rampage.

Ellis’ witty dialogue and Granov’s incredible art make it one of the best six-part superhero stories ever told.

At the same time Ellis and Granov were at work, Joe Casey and Frazer Irving were on the six-part “Iron Man: The Inevitable.” This story featured more of the industrial espionage angle older Iron Man stories focused on.

Although Frazer’s watercolor art takes some getting used to (it’s very abstract), it’s a fun, fast-paced story and was a great monthly companion piece to Ellis and Granov’s superior effort.



The film and the future

Can’t wait. Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait. I think I’ve been saying that since the first trailer premiered, or maybe it was when Rotten Tomatoes talked about the plot and cast last year.

As an Iron Man fan, I’ve always wanted to see the character on the big screen. And now that Marvel is producing its own films, it looks like the company is introducing individual character after individual character in perhaps preparation for a future “Avengers” film.

Downey even has a cameo as Stark in the summer’s upcoming “Hulk” reboot, starring Edward Norton.

Iron Man lost a lot of readers due to “Civil War,” but thanks to an interesting storyline in the books involving Dr. Doom, and this little movie coming out Friday starring Robert Downey Jr. as Stark, the character is immensely popular again.

With the film coming out, and Iron Man acting more like himself lately, hopefully the character will continue to gain popularity and improve, not just on the big screen, but in the comics.

It’s nice to see “Civil War” finally being put behind the character.

Maybe Stark can finally move on to bigger, better and more explosive things.



Jeff Johncox writes for the Norman (Okla.) Transcript.