Iron Man vs. Iron Curtain

Stan Lee created Iron Man during a turbulent time in America. 1963 saw an emerging culture war between conservatives and radicals. The civil rights movement was building as the stage was set for the Vietnam War. With the help of writer, Larry Lieber and artists Jack Kirby and Don Heck, Stan Lee created a character that defied everything the youth movement aimed for. Lee took it as a challenge to see if you could design a hateful character and still make it a success.

Tony Stark embodied everything young America stood against. He was made to be a cold war icon, America's defense against the Soviet Union.

A wealthy industrialist, Tony was a far cry from the bohemian artists, beatniks, and flower people of this era. Tony is very much the capitalist. He buys and sells things. Manufacturing those things is his role in life. This includes everything that comes with capitalism. Supply and demand. Advertising. Competition. Buy outs. Investment. During a generation that turned a wary eye towards wealth, Tony's excesses were just that, excessive.

Moreover, Tony Stark is a hawk. He is pro war. He designs and sells weapons to countries, weapons with the very specific goal of eliminating life. These weapons are aimed primarily at socialists that threaten the free market system Tony represents. In short, Iron Man employs capitalism to defeat socialism.

Ayn Rand keeps making her appearance in this blog. Tony Stark is not that far off from a Gail Wynand or Roark type of character. Tony Stark is a self mover. He is self sufficient. An inventor, he designs the product he sells. He is creator and salesperson in one. He is Stark Industries. Furthermore, he is the epitome of narcissism. Most heros keep their real identity secret. Not Tony Stark. Not content with passing by the publicity and the acclaim, he admits to being Iron Man. The two are synonymous. Based loosely on Howard Hughs, Tony Stark has his eccentricities. He has also had many loves. Indiscriminate sex is just how he rolls.

Despite what appears to be a checklist of things young people hate, Iron Man had gained considerable popularity. As far as superheros, he has received the most female fan letters. Self confidence, intelligence, and wealth speak volumes when it comes to attracting the ladies. But that is not all. Consider his injury, a wounded heart. The metaphor is clear. Here is a great, yet vulnerable man. The technology he builds to protect the world also serves to keep him alive.

However, Tony's rather unique independence caused concern over the years. He founded the illuminati, a society of superheros originally formed to make the various heros answer for their actions. Ironically, Iron Man also went on a rampage, destroying everything based on his tech, including the S.H.I.E.L.D. Mandroids. Furthermore, Tony Stark pushed for the reinstatement of the registration act that led to the Marvel civil war.

Tony is quite the conundrum, having been the head of The Avengers, having been an inquisitor, having been a drunk, having been a soldier for peace. Yet, basic elements of the character remain throughout. At the root of it all he is a playboy industrialist in a shiny, armored suit.