Geek Syndicate Issue 6 | Page 42

Geek Syndicate Back in 1963, Stan Lee wanted to create a new kind of hero. He wanted to create a narrative of capitalism and power. He achieved that and much more, as Iron Man developed into stories of human failings, the nature of relationships and an examination of technology in society. Technology has and always will, evolve with humanity’s growth, although it has only been in relatively recent years that its cultural impact has been examined. Tales of Suspense was first published in January 1959 as a science fiction anthology (note: it eventually became Captain America in 1968). Originally designed as a showcase for the likes of Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby, Tales was the birth place for characters like the aforementioned Cap, The Watcher, and Iron Man. Tony and Iron Man encounter one of their most insiduous foes! Image © Marvel, 1968 Publication In issue 39, Lee (editor and plotter), Larry Lieber (Lee’s brother, who scripted the comic) and artists Kirby and Don Heck revealed one Anthony Edward “Tony” Stark to the world. According to Lee, Stark was a reaction against the Cold War. Of course, Marvel’s young readers were predictably anti-war. In his own words, Lee dared himself to c ??????????????L????M???e?????????????e????????????L??????????????????????????q???????????????????????????????????????????t??(??Q???%?????????%???5????A??????A???????????()%????? ??5??????????()??????????1???????????????%???5?????Q????M????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????=???????????????????????????I???????????q????????t????1????????????????????????????????%???5???????????%???5??????????????????????Q???????M???????????????????????????????????????????Q?????????????????????????????????%???5???????M??5???????????M???e???????????????????????????????????????????????????????5?????????Q???%?????????%???5????%???5?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???1?????????????????5??????????e?%???5???????Q???()Q????M?????%???5???e?????????????()=??????????????M???1???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????%?((??((0