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, 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 . . .

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.

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 charitible 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.

Recently, Iron Man has returned 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. But whatever the Volume, whatever the title of the mag, this hero symbolizes the undauntible human spirit and the forward march of technology.