L'Invincible Iron Man chez Patrick Couture

THE LIFE AND TIMES
OF THE INVINCIBLE
IRON MAN

by Patrick Couture and Dave Huber

1963: A NEW HERO IS BORN

He lives! He walks! He conquers! Thus was introduced the newest super-hero of them all; the invincible Iron Man. The historical issue is Tales of Suspense #39. The creators are legendary author Stan "The Man" Lee working with one of the most talented artists of his time, Don Heck. The book tells the story of Anthony Stark, an American industrialist and inventor who is gravely wounded by a booby trap hidden in the jungles of Vietnam. Stark is then taken prisoner by Wong-Chu, an evil communist warlord, and is unable to escape because of the deadly piece of shrapnel lodged in his chest and moving ever closer to his heart. Wong-Chu incarcerates Stark in a lab along with a world renowned inventor, Professor Yinsen. Together, they must create a new weapon for Wong-Chu to use against his enemies. Instead, they secretly build a powerful suit of armor which contains a device that will slow the shrapnel's movement towards Stark's injured heart. At the price of Yinsen's life, Stark has enough time to put on the grey suit of iron and power it. The following momentous battle is Iron Man's baptism of fire.

1963-1967: THE «ToS» ERA

Panel from Tales of Suspense #66

Iron Man immediately becomes the main character of the series which will eventually be rebaptised Tales of Suspense featuring the power of Iron Man (issue 53). Then, with issue 59, Iron Man begins to share the title with another well known Marvel hero: Captain America.

The Tales of Suspense years are very important and introduce many important characters in the Iron Man mythos. Stark's employees and friends, Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts are introduced in issue 45. Some of Iron Man's all-time greatest foes also make their debut in ToS: the Crimson Dynamo (issue 46), the Melter (issue 47), the Mandarin (issue 50), Titanium Man (issue 69) and Whiplash (issue 97). Two of Iron Man's earliest foes will eventually become allies and fellow Avengers; the Black Widow (issue 52) and Hawkeye (issue 57).

It is during this period that Iron Man's armor begins to evolve and adapt to new realities and technologies. To know more about the early armors, click here. Iron Man also becomes one of the founding members of Earth's team of mightiest heroes; the Avengers (alongside Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp). Iron Man's career with the Avengers has since been a long and fruitful one with many exciting and memorable moments.

1968-1978: THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN

The character finally gets his own book in 1968, entitled: «THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN». The first ten years of the book's existence are marked mainly by one man, a great artist; George Tuska. For a decade, his run on IM will be almost uninterrupted. George is an elderly fellow today, in his mid-80s. This makes his debut on the Golden Avenger's book a late one - for him, at least - he began in his 50s. Mr. Tuska is currently hard of hearing, but his wife has remarked that Iron Man is one of his favorite characters ever. Beginning with the classic issue #5, George was basically THE artist for Shellhead. His early work included epic confrontations with the Mandarin (issues 10-11), the Controller (issues 12-13), and the Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man (issues 21-22).

Original artist Don Heck returned for a bit in the late #20s and into the #30s, which included the premiere of the arch-villains Firebrand (issue 27) and Spymaster (issue 33). But along came Mr. Tuska again, who, alongside writer Mike Friedrich, provided most of IM's adventures up 'til his centennial issue. After a somewhat disappointing 20 issues (issues 41 to 60, the only real exception being the death of the original Guardsman in issue 46), we were then treated to some slam-bang action against the likes of Dr. Spectrum, Thor and the Freak (issues 63 to 67), and then immediately after Sunfire, the Mandarin and Yellow Claw (issues 68 to 71) in what was the beginning of the initially cool, but ultimately very lame, "War of the Super-Villains" (which ended in issue 81). (Whether by luck or by design, Mr. Tuska did not draw any of the later "War of the SVs" issues.) Mike Friedrich's writing style was high-powered and very "pro" Iron Man in that he made Tony Stark and his alter-ego very tough hombres to deal with!

Bill Mantlo came aboard as writer soon after, who, along with Mr. Tuska did up the battle against Blizzard (issues 86-87), the cosmic Blood Brothers and their, er, "controller" the Controller (issues 88 to 91), the Mandarin-controlled Ultimo (issues 95-96) and Mandy himself (issue 100). George Tuska finished his art chores on IM with issue 106, smack in the middle of the Midas takeover of Stark International yarn. Perhaps his most memorable work (along with Mr. Mantlo) was the "originally a fill-in, but now a classic" issue #78, "Long Time Gone", which recounted a trip to Vietnam by Iron Man. This issue was more recently reprinted in the volume 3 #46 "monster" issue.

1978-1982: THE MICHELINIE / ROMITAjr / LAYTON RUN

This new era is considered by many fans to be the Golden Age of Iron Man. Writer David Michelinie, penciller John Romita Jr and inker Bob Layton are first united in issue 116 of the IM series. The three men are masters of their respective trades and their combined efforts give astounding results. The stories become deeper and more mature and the art shines like the hero's metallic armor. The team offers us a Tony Stark more human and realistic than ever before, a man whose worst enemy is no longer a powerful costumed villain but something even more destructive and that much harder to defeat: alcoholism.

An entire cast of supportive characters is also introduced. They are Tony Stark's friends and employees: Stark's new love interest, the beautiful Bethany Cabe (issue 117), the director of Stark International's European operations, Yvette Avril (issue 119) and Stark's personal pilot and best friend, Jim Rhodes (issue 118).

Among the most important events of this period, aside from Stark's epic battle against alcoholism which culminated in issue 128, was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attempt to take over Stark International (issues 118-119), the introduction of two of Stark's greatest business rivals and enemies; Roxxon Oil (issue 121) and Justin Hammer (issue 124), Iron Man's earthshaking battle with the Incredible Hulk (issues 131-133) and the time travelling adventure which pitted him against Doctor Doom and Morgan Le Fay (issues 149-150), to name but a few. Readers are also treated to Iron Man's first specialized armors, perfectly adapted to the requirements of specific missions; the space armor (issues 142-144) and the stealth armor (issue 152).

1982-1985: THE ALL-NEW IRON MAN!

A new era begins with the arrival of a new creative team. Denny O'Neil writes the stories which are illustrated by artists McDonnell and Mitchell. This is a new and memorable period that will see Tony Stark's downfall, his replacement and eventual return.

If Tony Stark was victorious in his first battle against alcoholism, the war was not yet won. In order to aquire Stark International, a new and deadly business rival called Obadiah Stane uses Stark's greatest weakness against him. When the evil Magma attacks Stark International (issue 169), Tony Stark is drunk and unconscious, unable to defend his company and employees. The responsibility falls to Jim Rhodes, who wears the armor for the first time in the now classic issue 170. As Stark's life subsequently falls apart (he eventually loses his company to Stane and ends up as a homeless drunk), Rhodey starts a new one as the armored Avenger. His attempts at understanding and mastering the armor's full capabilities make for a very fun read.

Rhodey will have to protect Stark's armors and designs from being aquired by Stane and S.H.I.E.L.D. (issues 174-175) and battle one of Tony's deadliest enemies, the Mandarin (issues 180-181). As for Tony Stark, his fate is decided during a tragic night (issue 182) and he will eventually return to found a new company, along with Rhodey and two of his ex-employees. The tension will rise between the two men when Stark begins work on a new suit of armor. The two Iron Men finally come to blows in issue 192. Rhodey remains as IM, participating in the legendary SECRET WARS alongside Spider-Man, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. He then becomes one of the founding members of the West Coast Avengers.

1985-1987: THE RETURN OF THE ORIGINAL IRON MAN!

Obadiah Stane will not permit his old defeated enemy to make a comeback. He bombs Stark's new company (killing one of his associates and badly hurting Rhodey) and kidnaps many of Stark's old friends. Whether he likes it or not, Tony must become Iron Man once more to save the people he loves from the clutches of a madman. To accomplish this task, he puts the finishing touch to his newest armor; the beautiful Silver Centurion Armor. The final battle between Stark and Stane takes place in the pages of the 200th issue.

This anniversary issue welcomes a new penciller on board; the very talented Mark Bright. He beautifully illustrates Stark's battles against his old enemies Madame Masque (issue 203) and Modok (issue 205) as well as the beginning of IM's long war against the deadly group of terrorists called A.I.M. (issues 201, 207-208). But every penciller, no matter how talented, needs a good inker to properly enhance his art. With issue 215, Bright will get the greatest inker he ever could have hoped for.

1987-1989: MICHELINIE & LAYTON'S SECOND RUN!

It's every Iron Man fan's fondest dream come true. David Michelinie and Bob Layton, the two men who created some of the greatest IM stories ever told, team up with Mark Bright, one of the book's most talented pencillers. The results are astounding and deserve to be considered the Silver Age of Iron Man.

Out of this collaboration will appear one of the greatest and most memorable storylines in the history of Iron Man, the Armor Wars (issues 225-232). Realising that some of his precious designs have been stolen and sold to evil armored criminals, Tony Stark embarks on a crusade to eliminate his stolen technology. He soon becomes obsessed with his mission and even ends up attacking some armored heroes and government agencies in order to erase all trace of his technology. In reaction to these highly publicised events, the Avengers are forced to kick him off the team and Tony Stark must «officially» fire his bodyguard to keep his crusade from damaging his company's reputation (the general public is not aware that both men are one and the same).

In the end, the government will have to fund Firepower, the most powerful suit of armor ever created, in order to put an end to Iron Man's rampage. The apparent death of Iron Man will in fact mark the beginning of a new era in the armored Avenger's career and the creation of a new red and gold armor. Stark will subsequently be shot by a jealous ex-lover (issues 242-243) and end up in a wheelchair, until the insertion of an experimental biochip into his spinal chord gives him once more the ability to walk (issue 248). He will then travel through time once more alongside the evil Doctor Doom (issues 249-250), but in the future this time, in a story that ties in with the one that occured in issues 149-150.

1990-1992: JOHN BYRNE VISITS IRON MAN

Following the departure of Michelinie, John Byrne will take over the writing chores for a while. The legendary writer and artist (well-known for his formidable work on Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Alpha Flight, Avengers West Coast and Superman) will deliver two interesting storylines. The first one, unaptly titled Armor Wars II (issues 258-266), will see evil enemies of Stark take control of his body, thanks to the biochip attached to his spine. The second one, The Dragon Seed Saga (issues 272-275), will reveal some unknown facts about the Mandarin's origin and introduce the giant dragon Fin Fang Foom in the pantheon of IM villains. Shellhead will also take part in one of the Avengers's greatest and most epic battles, Operation Galactic Storm (issues 278-279). Although Byrne usually handles both writing and art when he is assigned to a book, he only writes the stories during his IM run. The art will be provided first by John Romita Jr (whose style has greatly evolved since his earlier IM run) and then by Paul Ryan, also known for his work on the Avengers and Fantastic Four comics.

1992-1995: THE KAMINSKI RUN

A new age of greatness begins for Iron Man when writer Len Kaminski comes on board. He will be assisted by artists Kev Hopgood and Steve Mitchell, and later on by Tom Morgan. Kaminski loses no time and immediately embarks on a most memorable roller coaster ride. The War Machine storyline (issues 282-283) features a dying Stark building himself a new and incredibly powerful suit of armor to strike one last time at one of his most enduring enemies, Justin Hammer. He achieves victory, but at a very high price. In issue 284, Stark seemingly dies and Jim Rhodes once again takes over Iron Man's role, and on top of it, becomes head of Stark Enterprises. But what Rhodey doesn't know, is that Stark is actually being kept alive artificially while scientists attempt to save his life. When Rhodey becomes aware of it (issue 290), he is very unhappy that the whole operation was kept a secret from him and quits. Stark insists that Rhodey keep the War Machine armor. Rhodey soon gets his own series and joins the Avengers West Coast team.

Upon returning, Stark is incapacitated for a while and is forced to use a remote controlled armor to be Iron Man. He is quickly faced with crisis after crisis. In his 300th issue, Iron Man must once again face the unstoppable destructive power of Ultimo. He is helped in his endeavour by many people from his past who accept to wear some of Stark's past suits in order to defeat the giant monster. Then, in the Crash & Burn storyline, Stark Enterprises is falsely accused of corruption and Iron Man must fend off attacks by Deathlok, Venom, the New Warriors, Thunderstrike and the Hulk.

Most Iron Man fans have very fond memories of this chapter of their hero's life, even if the art is sometimes left to be desired. In dark months ahead, past glories such as this will be missed dearly.

In other books, Iron man is instrumental in disbanding the Avengers West Coast team (issue 101) and then creates a new team of heroes; Force Works. It comprises many of the old Avengers West crew; the Scarlet Witch, U.S. Agent, Spider-Woman and a newcomer, the alien Century.

1995-1996: THE END

The first volume of the Iron Man series comes to an end with issue 332, in September of 1996. Fans will actually welcome its end when it comes, because the last year of the series will be every IM fan's worst nightmare come true.

In The Crossing, a storyline that most people would love to forget, it was revealed that Tony Stark had actually been a villain since the early days of his career as Iron Man, infiltritating the Avengers for Kang. After murdering several people, the Avengers decide to travel back through time to enlist the aid of teenager Stark. When the older Stark finally dies, the teenager replaces him as Iron Man for a short while until he is killed by Onslaught.Thus came Iron Man's inglorious and shameful end... for now.

1996-1997: HEROES REBORN

In 1996, Iron Man is relaunched along with the Avengers, Captain America and the Fantastic Four. All of these characters' past history is pushed aside as they are reborn in an entirely new world. This second volume of Iron Man will offer readers beautiful art and new color techniques and very entertaining stories. Many of Iron Man's past enemies are revamped and reintroduced in this new world, such as the Hulk, the Living Laser, the Mandarin, Doctor Doom and Galactus.

In this series, Stark is a dark and selfish man, withdrawn and distant from everyone, until an accident injures him. In order to save himself and his company, he is forced to put on an experimental suit of armor that once caused the death of his best friend.

Aside from the last issue (13) which does not fit with any of the rest, the series is mostly very enjoyable. The art of Whilce Portacio is undoubtedly a great part of the series' success.

1998-2000: HEROES RETURN: THE BUSIEK / CHEN RUN

In this third volume, Tony Stark is brought back into the mainstream Marvel universe by talented writer Kurt Busiek and fantastic artist Sean Chen. During an altogether very good run, Iron Man will face old and new enemies, like the Death Squad (issue 1), the new Firebrand (issues 4-5), a mercenary wearing the War Machine armor (issues 11-12-19-20), the Controller (issue 13) and one of his most powerful and persistent enemies, the giant Ultimo (issues 23-24).

Old supporting characters Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan are reintroduced as they become employees of Stark's new company; Stark Solutions. Tony makes the acquaintance of a beautiful young lady called Rumiko Fujikawa, the daughter of a business competitor and the first of Stark's serious love interests in a very long time. Busiek leaves the title before he can tell the final Madame Masque story he had in store, but he finally lets the cat out of the bag in issues 31 to 34 of the Avengers.

2000: BAD BLOOD

Fans were treated to a short reunion of the legendary Michelinie/Layton team in 2000 when the duo collaborated on the IRON MAN: BAD BLOOD 4-issues mini-series. The story involves the last confrontation between Tony Stark and old arch-rival Justin Hammer, reintroduced Jim Rhodes in the modern IM continuity and also featured a new high-tech space armor. Old melancholic fans were overjoyed to see the duo handle their favourite character once more and new fans discovered them with great delight.

2000-2002: QUESADA, TIERI, GRELL...(will it ever end?)

Since Busiek's departure, every writer who has been assigned to the book has attempted to go his own way with the character and take the title in «a whole new direction». The result has been a great lack of continuity, confusion, loose ends in the plots, poor character development and a lack of stability in the character's life.

Quesada made Stark's armor come to life and reintroduced the old heart problems, Tieri made Stark give up his company and his fortune to start a new life as poor computer consultant «Hogan Potts», only to return everything to normal a few issues later and finally, Grell had Stark reveal to the world that he was Iron Man, in order to save a puppy from being crushed by a speeding car. Many IM fans shudder at the thought of what will happen next and hunger for a new and much needed age of greatness.

(To be continued)

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