My first IronMan encounter was in a French translated magazine,besides IronMan, there was Spiderman, Daredevil ( by Gene Colan- don't forget we got a little gap ) and the first episodes of Rom ( the gap ), and he was encountering Ultimo in a very drama issue ( by Geirge Tuska ? ).After that I tended to see Iron Man with a very strange universe of his own, a feeling that didn't stay.
I very much like Robert Downey Jr and I heard a lot of very good echoes, but for what I see in the trailer,but there's a kind of Robocop side with the big bad robot that upset me a little. I know also that it's the first opus so this is implementation.
Loved the Byrne /Romita Jr issue of course.
May I talk about the first impressions I got discovering the cover of STRANGE TALES 135 ( what ? Nick Fury is a tittle ? and Doctor Strange ,in the same pages ? gosh-or something like that )



Posted by notapotatoe on 2008-04-30 02:51:57
I've always wondered why Iron Man, even now with his much higher profile, can never seem to set the comics world alight.

Tom, this is an interesting topic. I'd be keen to hear your thoughts over a few days on how you first encountered Marvel's A-List characters, what you think is at the essence of all of them, and how you think they can move on in the future after almost 50 years of Marvel history.

Posted by keense on 2008-04-30 04:03:19
I started reading Iron Man in a very bad time -- with issue #321, right in the middle of "The Crossing." I had no idea what was going on, and it was all very confusing. That lead into Teen Tony, which sounded like such a good idea when I was 15, but quickly devolved. But I stuck around, and then got to the better-than-it's-reputation "Heroes Reborn" series, followed by the absolutely awesome Kurt Busiek work during "Heroes Return." And Shellhead has been a constant in my life ever since, to the tune of a very large sum of money, and several very full boxes.

I saw the film last night, as my LCS owner hooked me up with a pass to a preview screening, and I must say, that this is Iron Man distilled into cinematic form. Absolutely amazing, and it received a standing ovation at the end.

Posted by ljacone on 2008-04-30 06:36:27
Not an Iron Man comic fan
Much like Tom, Iron Man was never my character growing up. My first introduction to him was actually in a Thor issue (#316 vs. Bi-Beast and Man-Beast) that I bought because I wanted to try out both characters and figured I was getting more for my money. I've always like the design (and my Secret Wars toy), appreciate his new role in the MU, and really like the Ultimate characterization BUT still don't read his books. That said, I am really psyched for the Iron Man movie because it seems to synthesize everything cool about him in one well-produced package.

In terms of his comic status, maybe he's never been enough of an underdog to be a fan favorite. He's either on top of the world or hits the skids. Even his current status is compelling but not necessarily likeable. The BIG superhero stars also have an easy MO for the public to digest. Superman's idealism, Batman's vengeance, Spider-Man's determination, and the Hulk's rage are all pretty direct responses to modern living. Tony's a billionaire futurist/ industrialist with a faceless mask - a little harder to empathize with in comparison.

Posted by hamgravy on 2008-04-30 13:57:06
My first encounter with Iron Man was the Mego doll that my cousin gave me for christmas one year. The sculpted fist-gloves were so much cooler than Batman's stupid oven mitts. Iron Man and Falcon were my favorite toys as a kid even though I didn't know who they were. Then one day my little mind was blown when I saw a comic at the store called The Avengers that had both of them on the cover! Been an Avengers junkie ever since.
Sometime later Iron Man turned my body into pure energy and beamed me into deep space, which I'm still pretty ticked off about.

Posted by livinglaser on 2008-04-30 14:50:25
First Iron Man story I read
was a reprint in Marvel's Greatest Comics. I wouldn't have been interested in Iron Man at all but since it was included along with the reprinted Fantastic Four story I DID want I gave it a try. The fight with
the Titanium man got me hooked on the character but I didn't start buying Iron Man's solo book regularly until a few years down the line when Thanos was first introduced to the Marvel U in Iron Man #55. That particular storyline also got me collecting quite a few other comics so thank you again Jim Starlin.

I'm sure this movie is going to be a big success. I hope Mandarin is in the inevitable sequel.



Posted by izzatrix on 2008-05-02 14:19:45