Geek Syndicate Issue 6 | Page 44

Geek Syndicate Image © Marvel, 2008 In Jon Favreau’s 2008 film, Iron Man certainly made an impact in 2010, which had a less favourable response. 2013 sees Shane Black, director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, at the helm for Iron Man 3. Downey Jr also made a brief cameo in The Incredible Hulk (2008). Joss Whedon handled director duties for The Avengers in 2012 (also known as Marvel’s Avengers where Assemble), Iron Man saves New York alongside his fellow superheros. Tony Stark Everyone knows the story of Anthony Edward Stark, son of wealthy industrialist and head of Stark Industries, Howard Stark and his wife, Maria. Lee based the idea of Tony Stark around wealthy inventor, business mogul, and defence contractor Howard Hughes. Tony needed to be a boy genius – how else could he eventually become Iron Man? He achieved his Master’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics after studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is with Stark’s motivations that his ver screen in 2008, when the weapons dealer is brought into the twenty first century by director Jon Favreau. Mirroring US foreign policy and some of the comic book output of the time, Stark is relocated from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Cap- tured by dissidents, he escapes by creating the Iron Man suit. Upon returning to America, he renounces the arms industry. Of course, this act damages his company financially which leads to the major narrative of the film. The sequel followed 44