Iron Man

A billionaire engineer in a suit of his own making.

Iron Man is a Marvel Comics superhero co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. He first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover dated March 1963), got his own title with Iron Man #1 in 1968, and soon after his debut became a founding Avenger alongside Thor, Ant-Man, the Wasp and the Hulk.

Quick Facts

Alter ego

Tony Stark

Creators

Stan Lee
Larry Lieber
Don Heck
Jack Kirby

First appearance

Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963)

Lore & Background

Iron Man is Anthony Edward 'Tony' Stark, the businessman and engineer who runs the weapons maker Stark Industries. Captured in a war zone with a serious wound to his heart, Stark built the first Iron Man armor and used it to escape. His suits give him superhuman strength, flight, energy weapons and other abilities.

Reader's Guide

Lee created the character in response to the Vietnam War, as an attempt at a likeable pro-war hero, and early stories were set against the Cold War. Because Stark's arms business proved controversial, Marvel moved away from geopolitics by the 1970s toward themes such as civil unrest, technological change, corporate espionage, alcoholism and government authority. Key Iron Man stories include "Demon in a Bottle" (1979), "Armor Wars" (1987-1988), "Extremis" (2005) and "Iron Man 2020" (2020).