Iron Man and all associated characters are the property of Marvel Comics. All articles, interviews, write-ups, photographs, etc. copyright 1996, 2001-2009 Tim Rassbach.

Tales

In 1963, the invincible Iron Man debuted in the comic book TALES OF SUSPENSE #39, the creation of Marvel Comics main maven Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. After running seventy issues, most of which he shared with Captain America, Iron Man made a brief masthead change, appearing in the one-shot: IRON MAN/SUBMARINER #1. Soon, though, the Armored Avenger finally received his own self-titled book, which for more than 440 issues (and now four volumes) has chronicled the adventures of playboy Tony Stark and his alter-ego, Iron Man. In addition, Iron Man has appeared in several other books including: THE AVENGERS, FORCE WORKS, MARVEL ACTION HOUR IRON MAN, and most recently, ULTIMATES and THE NEW AVENGERS.

Volume I

Volume I, which spanned from IRON MAN #1-332 (the '60s to the mid/late '90s), featured Tony Stark's journey from munitions maker/captialistic hero of the good ol' US of A to semi-pacifist/futurist determined to use inventive mind to create a better future. While Iron Man battled foes like the Mandarin, Titanium Man, and Whiplash, Tony Stark found him besieged in the board room by the likes of Justin Hammer and Obidiah Stane. He also found himself victim of his own inner demons. Succumbing to alcoholism at one point, Tony lost his factory and even gave up being Iron Man. Tony eventually made his triumphant return. After one of the greatest story runs in the character's history, he was replaced with a teen version of himself a.k.a. Iron Boy. It seemed that even the power of Iron Man couldn't defeat bad writers and even worse artists, not to mention poor editorial choices... And so Volume I came to an ignominious end . . .

Reborn and Relaunched

Iron Man was remade and relaunched in the Heroes Reborn saga, which restarted the book at issue #1 (and began Volume II). He retained the identity of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, existing in a parrallel universe, similar to, although darker than, the original Marvel Universe (616). This alternate universe reflected the changes in style and tone that had begun to seep into the comics industry at the time. (Heroes were now dark. Heroes were depressed. And they really weren't good--at least not always.) Even though the Heroes Reborn Iron Man's world was as different from his old world, as ours is from the world in which Stan Lee created Iron Man, the essence of the hero remained relatively unchanged. But it didn't last.

A Brief History of the IRON MAN Comic

Iron Man soon reappeared in the Marvel Universe with Heroes Return. While not fully addressing the Iron Boy fiasco, which temporarily robbed the world of the adult Tony Stark, the new Iron Man--again restarted at #1 (Volume III, if you're playing along at home)--revolved around an adult Tony Stark, billionaire/playboy, courageous hero. Upon his return, Tony set up a consulting shingle with a new venture, Stark Solutions. He loaned out his talent to deep pocketed clients, while funneling profits to charitable causes. Recently, however, Stark decided to take back his former companies, getting back to the business of inventing for himself and humanity. Sadly, Iron Man was soon faced his publishing foes, and a really promising run turned into years of poor stories. Volume III couldn't even be saved by a real interesting run near the end that seemed to bring Tony Stark back to his roots, and the series ended somewhat abruptly with #89. Iron Man was relaunched again with a new number one and new Volume (IV). Now imbedded with nanotechnology, and steeled with his fantastic armor, Tony Stark is once again plotting a course toward our future. Today And if you can believe it, they recently re-relaunched Iron Man’s book again. But whatever the Volume, whatever the title of the mag, this hero symbolizes the undauntable human spirit and the forward march of technology. Back to Articles NOTE: After a couple of ill-fated restarts IRON MAN recently celebrated his 400th issue (Volume 3, #55). Tony Stark, returned from the Heroes Reborn Universe and recovered from the writer-induced Iron Boy fiasco, has now reacquired his former companies, dropping his Stark Solutions consulting gig. Despite recently ditching his fortune (don't ask), inheriting someone else's (really, don't ask!), and apparently revealing his secret identity on the five o'clock news (I said, don't ask!!) Tony seems, finally, back to the business of business. But whatever his day job, Tony Stark/Iron Man is a modern day knight, championing good over evil.articles.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0

▪Tales of Suspense #39-99 (March 1963 - March 1968)

▪Iron Man and Sub-Mariner (April 1968)

▪Iron Man Vol. 1, #1-332 (May 1968 - Sept. 1996)

▪Iron Man Annual #1-15 (1970-1994)

▪Giant-Size Iron Man (Oct. 1975)

▪Iron Man: Crash (1988)

▪Iron Manual (1993)

▪Iron Man 2020 (Aug. 1994)

▪Age of Innocence: The Rebirth of Iron Man (Feb. 1996)

▪Iron Man Vol. 2, #1-13 (Nov. 1996 - Nov. 1997)

▪Iron Man Vol. 3, #1-89 (Feb. 1998 - Dec. 2004)

▪Iron Man Annual '98-2001 (1998-2001)

▪Iron Man: The Iron Age #1-2 (Aug.- Sept. 1998)

▪Iron Man: Bad Blood #1-4 (Sept.- Dec. 2000)

▪Iron Man Vol. 4, #1-35 (Jan. 2005 - Jan. 2009)

▪Iron Man #1-16 (Jan. 2005-May 2007)

▪The Invincible Iron Man #17-28 (June 2007-June 2008)

▪Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #29-35 (July 2008-Jan. 2009)

▪Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 1: #1-5 (Mar. 2005 - Dec. 2005)

▪Iron Man: House of M #1-3 (Sep. 2005 - Nov. 2005)

▪Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big In Japan #1-4 (December 2005 - March 2006)

▪Iron Man: The Inevitable #1-6 (Feb. 2006 - July 2006)

▪Iron Man: Hypervelocity #1-6 (March 2007 - Aug. 2007)

▪Marvel Adventures: Iron Man #1-13 (May 2007 - July 2008)

▪Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin #1-6 (Sep. 2007 - March 2008)

▪Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 2: #1-5 (Dec. 2007 - Apr. 2008)

▪Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Annual #1 (Jan. 2008)

▪Iron Man: Legacy Of Doom #1-4 (April - July 2008)

▪Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas #1 - (May 2008 - present)[43]

▪Invincible Iron Man #1 - (July 2008 - present)

▪Iron Man: Golden Avenger #1 (Sep. 2008)

▪Iron Man: The End #1 (Nov. 2008)

As a team Member

▪Avengers Vol. 1 #1-402 (September 1963 - September 1996)

▪West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 # 1-4 (September 1984 - December 1984)

▪West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 # 1-102 (October 1985 - January 1994)

▪West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #1-46 (October 1985 - July 1989)

▪Avengers West Coast #47-102 (August 1989 - January 1994)

▪Force Works #1-22 (July 1994 - April 1996)

▪Avengers Vol. 2 #1-13 (Marvel Comics/Extreme Studios/Wildstorm; November 1996 - November 1997)

▪Avengers Vol. 3 #1-84, 500-503 (February 1998 - December 2004)

▪New Avengers #1-25

▪Mighty Avengers #1-23