In modern pop-culture, there is no armored hero as famous as Marvel’s Iron Man. First appearing in the comics in March 1963, Iron Man (and his roguish alter ego, Tony Stark) took his time transitioning from the printed page to television to film. But once he arrived, he anchored one of the most successful and enjoyed franchises in Hollywood history. This is the complete story of Iron Man, from the literary and fabled characters that influenced his creation to his present and future place in the Marvel universe.
A HOPE AND A DREAM • SOMETIMES, THE SUIT DOES MAKE THE HERO
FORGING HISTORY • DC HAD THE MAN OF STEEL, BUT MARVEL’S MAN OF IRON COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFERENT
DEMON BOTTLES AND ARMOR WARS • HOW ONE STORY INFLUENCED IRON MAN FOR GENERATIONS
READY FOR THE BIG SCREEN • IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET IRON MAN INTO THEATERS, BUT IT WAS WORTH THE EFFORT
THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK • IT SEEMS LIKE A DISTANT MEMORY, BUT CASTING ROBERT DOWNEY JR. WAS A BIG RISK
STRIKING WHILE THE IRON IS HOT • WORKING AT A BREAKNECK PACE, MARVEL PRODUCED A SEQUEL THAT WAS AN EVEN BIGGER BLOCKBUSTER
EVERYTHING CHANGES • UNDER THE OWNERHIP OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, IRON MAN ONLY GAINED POWER
PUMPING IRON • PHASE TWO OF THE MCU WAS FULL OF SEQUELS, AND A DOUBLE HELPING OF IRON MAN
TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE • IRON MAN RETURNED IN A WAY THAT CROSSED COMPANY LINES AND SAVED THE MCU
HEAVY METAL • THE INTERCONNECTED MCU MEANS THAT IRON MAN WILL NEVER TRULY BE GONE
Iron Man - 60th Anniversary Celebration
PHOTO CREDITS