The Ages of Iron Man: Essays on the Armored Avenger in Changing Times

by Joseph J. Darowski (Editor)

Overview

Billionaire industrialist, cold warrior, weapons designer, alcoholic, philanthropist, Avenger—Tony Stark, alter-ego of Marvel Comics' Iron Man, has played many roles in his five decades as a superhero. From his 1963 comics debut in Tales of Suspense to the recent film adaptations—The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013)—hundreds of creators have had a hand in writing the character with evolving depictions and distinct artistic styles. This collection of essays provides an historical overview of an important figure in American popular culture and a close reading of Iron Man's most iconic story lines, including his origin in Vietnam, "Demon in a Bottle," "Civil War," and "Extremis."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786478422
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	07/23/2015
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joseph J. Darowski teaches English at Brigham Young University and has published on comic book superheroes such as the X-Men, Wonder Woman, and Superman as well as on television series such as Chuck and Frasier.

Table of Contents

Introduction Joseph J. Darowski 1

"The Iron-Clad American": Iron Man in the 1960s Brian Patton 5

Tony Stark: Disabled Vietnam Veteran? Craig This 17

"Gorgeous new menace": Black Widow, Gender Roles and the Subversion of Cold War Expectations of Domesticity Natalie R. Sheppard 29

Fu Manchu Meets Maklu-4: The Mandarin and Racial Stereotypes Richard A. Iadonisi 39

Does Khrushchev Tell Kennedy? Superpowered Rivalry and Silver Age Iron Man José Alaniz 51

Ike's Nightmare: Iron Man and the Military-Industrial Complex Will Cooley Mark C. Rogers 77

Socking It to Shell-Head: How Fan Mail Saved a Hero from the Military-Industrial Complex Charles Henebry 95

Countdown to #100: Escapist Heroism and the Challenges of Modernity in the Late 1970s John M. Vohlidka 119

Demon in a Bottle and Feet of Clay: David Michelinie and Bob Layton on Iron Man Jason Sacks 136

War Machine: Blackness, Power and Identity in Iron Man Julian C. Chambliss 148

From Armor Wars to Iron Man 2.0: The Superhero Entrepreneur Jean-Philipe Zanco 164

Cold Warrior at the End of the Cold War: John Byrne's "War Games" in an Era of Transition Joseph J. Darowski 171

"I would be the bad guy": Tony Stark as Villain of Marvel's Civil War John Darowski 181

Feminizing the Iron: Tony Stark's Rescue Jason Michálek 192

Iron Icarus: Comics Futurism and the Man-Machine System Rikk Mulligan 205 205

About the Contributors 221

Index 225

Editorial Reviews

provides engaging and thought-provoking perspectives on Marvel’s most unexpectedly popular superhero”—SFRA Review; “goes into extensive detail about the individual characters starting from their origins and their transition and evolution through the decades...makes for fascinating reading”—Collectors’ Corner.

From the Publisher