subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sat, May 17 2008 

Published May 03, 2008 12:13 am - Comics Corner is published Fridays in pop, The Norman Transcript's weekly entertainment and pop culture section.

'Iron Man' a flawed, fascinating high-flying hero
Comics Corner column

By Jeff Johncox
THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT (NORMAN, Okla.)

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.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.

Click here to load this Caspio Bridge DataPage.
Click here to load this Caspio Bridge DataPage.




monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Premium Jobs

P/T Front Office
Person Needed
for weekends & evenings. Excellent phone/interpersonal skills, computer skills helpful, professional
...>MORE

FT Dietary Cook
Exp Prefered, Will Train • Day Position
Apply in Person Noble Healthcare
1501 N 8th, Noble
...>MORE

Pest Technician
Lawn Technician Needed
Experience, good driving record
& dependability a must.
Apply in person
1829
...>MORE

IMMEDIATE OPENING
FT Evening Dispatcher
Office & Computer Exp Nec.
Will Train. Apply at:
1315D Suite 101, 24th Ave. SW
...>MORE

AMD Property Management, Inc.
a rapidly growing company owns & manages a diverse portfolio of real
estate throughout the United States. We are se
...>MORE

FT CNA’s
Free Training Available
for FT CNA’s • All Shifts
$250 Sign on Bonus after
6 mos FT Employment
...>MORE

FT General Office Position
for Busy Doctors Office. Must Have Computer, Good People & Phone Skills. 40 Hrs, Mon-Thurs. Bring
Resume to 900
...>MORE

Paul’s Valley • Almost 8000 sf
Built as Assisted Living Center
Suitable also for Medical Office
Lease or Sell • Owner Anxious
$649,000 •
...>MORE

Now Hiring
Journeyman Plumber
Fulltime with benefits.
City Plumbing Heating & Air 321-6017
...>MORE

IMMEDIATE OPENING for CHHAs
IMMEDIATE OPENING for CHHAs
Local Home Health Agency taking
applications for full-time & part-time Evening & W
...>MORE

Grace Living Center
LPN’s
Mon - Fri

3p - 11p • 11p - 7a
RN Charge Nurse
7a - 3p Weekends

New Grad’s We
...>MORE

Assistant Director Of Sales
P/T Position, $10hr
20/25 hours per week
resumes accepted through
Friday May 23, Fax: 321-2406
email
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

NO LAND?
Land/Home Packages with Small Down Payment Anywhere in the State. Starting at $2500 Down, You Can Own Your Own Land and ...>MORE

Blanchard Area • Nearly New!
On Culdesac • 1006 Spring Lane
3Bd/2Bth • Grt Floorplan & Colors
$179,900 • Ask for Jeana
405-420-7933 or
...>MORE

Mobile Home Sales
Lots w/ util. for sale
I-240 & Anderson Rd.
Circle C Estates
Owner will finance
www.midstatehousin
...>MORE

1526 Glen Cliff Dr • 3Bd/1Bth
2 Liv Areas. Complete Remodeled
NEW Roof • $93,900
Tom @ Homeworx 613-1493
...>MORE

"HOME ON ACREAGE"
Purcell Schools, 2 Living Areas,
Ctr Island, Covered Patio, Like New!
Free Recorded Message 1-800-590-2682 Ext
...>MORE

"HARDWOOD FLOORS"
Large Backyard, Spacious Kitchen, New Roof, Noble Schools,
Lots Of Shade!Extra Extra Nice
FREE RECORDED MESSAG
...>MORE

FSBO 813 E Eufaula 1000 sf +/-,
LG Lot, Many Upgrades 2Bd/1Bth/
Bonus Rm • As is, $79,900
View Appt 405-360-0752 Lv Msg
...>MORE

Beautiful Floor Plan 316 Towry DR
4Bd/3Bth/2Din/2Liv/3Car • 2550 sq’
Large Kitchen w/Island • Near NNHS
$241,000 • FSBO • 405-701-3913
...>MORE

FOR SALE BY OWNER
901 Rambling Oaks
(Corner of Rye & Rambling Oaks)
2 Bd/ 1.5 Bth / 2 Car • 2 Living Areas
Approx. 1400 sq.
...>MORE

Brookhaven Townhouse • 3Bd/2Bth
Oversized Garage • 2220 SF
325 Stafford Square • $249,900
447-5226 or 250-4535 or 250-6753
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

••FSBO East Norman
Core Area
1000 sf +/-, LG Lot, Many Upgrades
2Bd/1Bth/Bonus Rm • As is, $79,900 View Appt 405-360-0752 Lv Msg
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc