The Saber and Scroll
the fear of imposters running rampant in the United States . 49 In a later issue , the Fantastic Four fight the Sub-Mariner when he unleashes an atomic bomb over New York City . The group retaliates with its own bomb , inferring that the “ government is not only aware of the intended use of the bomb , but that it is complicit in the bomb ’ s detonation .” 50
The appearance of Marvel Comics ’ Incredible Hulk and Iron Man around the same time as the Fantastic Four directly reflected American opinions of science and atomic energy and the Vietnam War ’ s role within the overall Cold War era . During the detonation of the experimental bomb , Dr . Bruce Banner is exposed to gamma rays , which give him the ability — or rather , instability — of transforming into the monstrous , super strong Incredible Hulk . 51 Hulk is neither hero nor villain and like nuclear energy itself , “ is a complex and often uncontrollable natural force .” 52 Hulk ’ s arch enemy , General Thaddeus “ Thunderbolt ” Ross , wants to contain the nuclear threats , the Hulk , and the military experiments that created him . However , Hulk ’ s stories show the human inability to control human nature and atomic energy . 53 In 1963 ’ s “ Tales of Suspense # 39 ,” Tony Stark and Iron Man are first introduced . Tony Stark is a weapons creator and dealer and is presenting a new weapon to the American war effort in Vietnam . Tony Stark and his group are attacked , he is gravely injured and captured by the “ Red Guerilla Tyrant Wong-Chu ,” and must make a suit of iron to stay alive . Though Tony Stark survives thanks to his genius and technological skill , the early Iron Man stories showed how the Vietnam War made the public doubt America ’ s “ military invincibility .” 54
The fear and anxieties of the 1950s gave way to the decades of the ongoing Cold War marked by youth counterculture and malaise . Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four stories continued to explore national feelings around science , technology , and communism , but also began confronting real-world problems and showcasing the youth point of view of the world . Marvel Comics also added to their list of Cold War comics with Spider-Man in 1962 , which when he appeared in “ Amazing Fantasy # 15 ,” gave teenagers a starring role in a superhero story . The Spider-Man stories also gave America ’ s youth a voice and reflected the tumultuous relationship between teenage immaturity , science-enhanced powers , and community responsibility . The malaise of the 1970s is reflected in prominent characters like the Hulk , Superman , and Iron Man , and new characters like Deathlok and the Inhumans , struggling with who they are and their role in the world . These malaise-themed stories demonstrated that President Jimmy Carter was right in his proclamation that the country was suffering from a “ crisis of confidence .” 55 The Iron Man “ Demon in a Bottle ” storyline from 1979 shows Tony Stark struggling with alcoholism , the “ Secret Empire ” storyline in Captain America comics during 1973 and 1974 allude to President Richard Nixon and Watergate , and Jack Kirby ’ s “ The Eternals ” stories create a mood of “ human insignificance ” and complete powerlessness . 56
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