#  Iron Man

By [BlackRomi](https://paragraph.com/@blackromi) · 2023-08-11

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_This article is about the fictional character. For the 2008 film based on the character, see_ [_Iron Man (2008 film)_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_\(2008_film\))_. For other uses, see_ [_Iron Man (disambiguation)_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_\(disambiguation\))_._

_"Tony Stark" redirects here. For the film character, see_ [_Tony Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe)_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Stark_\(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe\))_._

**Iron Man** is a [superhero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhero) appearing in [American comic books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_comic_book) published by [Marvel Comics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Comics). Co-created by writer and editor [Stan Lee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee), developed by scripter [Larry Lieber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Lieber), and designed by artists [Don Heck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Heck) and [Jack Kirby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby), the character [first appeared](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_appearance) in [_Tales of Suspense_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Suspense) #39 ([cover dated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_date) March 1963), and received his own title in [_Iron Man_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_\(comic_book\)) #1 (May 1968). In 1963, the character founded the [Avengers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers_\(comics\)) superhero team with [Thor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_\(Marvel_Comics\)), [Ant-Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Pym), [Wasp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasp_\(comics\)) and the [Hulk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk).

A wealthy American [business magnate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_magnate), [playboy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playboy_\(lifestyle\)), [philanthropist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy), [inventor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventor) and ingenious [scientist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientist), **Anthony Edward** "**Tony**" **Stark** suffers a severe chest injury during a kidnapping. When his captors attempt to force him to build a [weapon of mass destruction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon_of_mass_destruction), he instead creates a [mechanized suit of armor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man%27s_armor) to save his life and escape captivity. Later, Stark develops his suit, adding weapons and other technological devices he designed through his company, [Stark Industries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stark_Industries). He uses the suit and successive versions to protect the world as Iron Man. Although at first concealing his true identity, Stark eventually publicly reveals himself to be Iron Man.

Initially, Stan Lee used Iron Man to explore [Cold War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War) themes, particularly the role of American technology and industry in the fight against [communism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism). Subsequent re-imaginings of Iron Man have shifted to contemporary matters.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man#cite_note-1)

Iron Man has headlined various comic book series. Throughout most of the character's publication history, he has been a founding member of the Avengers.

Iron Man has been adapted for several animated television shows and films. In the [Marvel Cinematic Universe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Cinematic_Universe), [Tony Stark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Stark_\(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe\)) was portrayed by [Robert Downey Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Downey_Jr.) in the films [_Iron Man_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_\(2008_film\)) (2008), [_The Incredible Hulk_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Hulk_\(film\)) (2008), [_Iron Man 2_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_2) (2010), [_The Avengers_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Avengers_\(2012_film\)) (2012), [_Iron Man 3_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_3) (2013), [_Avengers: Age of Ultron_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers:_Age_of_Ultron) (2015), [_Captain America: Civil War_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America:_Civil_War) (2016), [_Spider-Man: Homecoming_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man:_Homecoming) (2017), [_Avengers: Infinity War_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers:_Infinity_War) (2018), and [_Avengers: Endgame_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers:_Endgame) (2019); while [Mick Wingert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Wingert) voiced the character in the animated series [_What If...?_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_If...%3F_\(TV_series\)) (2021).

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*Originally published on [BlackRomi](https://paragraph.com/@blackromi/iron-man)*