The Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot is a compilation of
five consecutive Iron Man comic books. These comics were published after the first
Iron Man film. I chose these specific comics because I wanted a set of comics that
started at the beginning, similar to how the first Iron Man film is Tony Stark's
origin story. Tony begins these comics with new armor, as well as new friends and
foes. These new friends and foes are a change from the usual suspects, like Pepper
Potts and James Rhodes (Friends) and Justin Hammer and Whiplash (Foes). These comics
were released as a part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel" event, which was
essentially a revamping of classic characters and an introduction to brand new ones
as well. (SOURCE: Bendis, Brian Michael, et al. Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot.
Marvel Worldwide Inc., a Subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, LLC., 2016.)
The following films are mentioned at times in my analysis: Iron Man
(2008) (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. Iron Man (2008). Performance by Robert Downey,
Paramount, 2008.), Iron Man 2 (2010) (SOURCE: Favreau, Jon,
director. Iron Man 2 (2010). Performance by Robert Downey, Marvel Entertainment, LLC,
2010.), The Avengers (2012) (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. The
Avengers (2012). Performance by Robert Downey, Marvel Entertainment, LLC., 2012.),
Iron Man 3 (2013) (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. Iron Man 3 (2013).
Performance by Robert Downey, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, 2013.), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. Avengers:
Age of Ultron (2015). Performance by Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Marvel Studios,
2015.), Captain America: Civil War (2016) (SOURCE: Feige,
Kevin. Captain America: Civil War (2016). Performance by Chris Evans and Robert
Downey, Marvel Studios, 2016.), and Spider-Man: Homecoming
(2017) (Performance by Tom Holland, and Robert Downey, Walt Disney Studios
Home Entertainment, 2017.)
Beginning the editorial process, I knew that I wanted to compare and
contrast the aforementioned comic books and the Marvel Cinematic Universe films that
featured Iron Man, including: Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron
(2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Keeping this in mind, I decided
to not transcribe all five of the comic books within the Invincible
Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot and instead decided to choose certain frames and
pages from the comic books. In order to compare Robert Downey Jr.'s characterization
of Iron Man to that of the canon comic book characterization, I watched the
aforementioned films that feature Iron Man and take certain interactions in order to
draw parallels to interactions seen within the comic books. I chose not to state
specific scenes or exact times wherein the movie interactions occur, due to the fact
that I felt it would be distracting for the reader. Additionally, I chose to encode
this text as a dramatic work in a sense. There is a Comic Book Markup Language, but I
felt that I wanted to make this work truly my own by utilizing the tools I already
had with the normal TEI encoding guidelines. What I encoded that appears exactly as
it does in the comics are just the spoken parts, so anything stated by a character in
my transcription was said by them within the comic frames and represented as best as
I could. For example, I stated whether or not it was a thought of the character or if
it was spoken aloud. If the speech bubble indicated something was completely
capitalized, italicized, or bolded, I represented that within my transcription. What
doesn't actually appear in the text are the setting descriptions, the speaker names
(to indicate who is speaking, i.e. Tony Stark or Mary Jane Watson), and my notes
themselves. I provided scene and setting descriptions in order to give the reader
some background information and to essentially "set the scene". I didn't provide
images of the pages themselves because I didn't wish to infringe upon copyright and
also because I want my analysis to focus on the text itself, not the illustrations.
While all of the films, excluding Iron Man (2008), have
screenplays available for purchase, I wish to take my viewpoints and feelings towards
these scenes and interactions and utilize them for my analysis. I feel that this
would give the reader a more personalized view of the transcriptions of the comics,
rather than a more technical and literal comparison and contrast between script and
comic books. I want to preface this analysis and research by saying that I have seen
Avengers: Infinity War (2018), but chose not to analyze and
include information regarding this film for two reasons: the first being that I don't
wish to spoil this film (especially since at the time of completion of my research,
the film won't have been out for even a week's time) and secondly because I don't
have a physical or digital copy of the film to refer to when conducting my analysis,
only my memory.
Captain America: Civil War (2016). Zemo's
family was killed in the battle of Sokovia during Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), which he blamed The Avengers
for. Zemo decided to unleash vengeance on The Avengers by framing The
Winter Soldier for the murder of King T'chaka and find footage of Barnes
assassinating Tony Stark's parents, and use it to force Captain America,
The Winter Soldier, and Iron Man to fight and subsequently kill each
other. With the Avengers divided and fighting each other, and with the
truth of Stark's parents murder exposed. Zemo would had brought down The
Avengers, and had his revenge. Tony's parents' deaths in Captain America: Civil War (2016) were originally
staged to look like a car accident, though once their assassinations are
revealed, we can see that they were shot. But in the comics, while Howard
and Maria also perish in a suspicious car crash, who exactly orchestrated
the crash still remains to be seen. Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe,
there's nothing that has implied that Tony's biological parents aren't
actually Howard and Maria Stark, but in the comics it was revealed that
Tony's biological mother is Amanda Armstrong, a former S.H.I.E.L.D.
agent, and his father, Jude, was also a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was
a double agent for HYDRA.Iron Man 2 (2010). Tony finds
himself dying of palladium poisoning caused by his arc reactor, and it
causes him to be introspective at times and wonder what he's truly doing
with his life. Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. at this point in time
in the films, knocks Tony out of that destructive and simultaneously
introspective mindset. He tells Tony that his father theorized the
creation of a new element, but the technology at the time didn't allow
him to actually create it. While watching outtakes of his father when he
was filming promotion for the Stark Expo in 1974. Howard had the
following to say to Tony, even though ironically in an earlier outtake,
he chastised Tony for being in the shot: Howard Stark: Tony, you're too young to understand
this right now, so I thought I would put it on film for you. [Howard
gestures to his model city] Howard Stark: I built
this for you. And some day you'll realize that it represents a whole
lot more than just people's inventions. It represents my life's work.
This is the key to the future. I'm limited by the technology of my
time, but one day you'll figure this out. And when you do, you will
change the world. What is and always will be my greatest creation...
is you. on any level.
J.A.R.V.I.S.: [while Tony is wearing the
Mark II Armor] Test complete. Preparing to power down and begin
diagnostics... Tony
Stark: Uh, yeah, tell you what. Do a
weather and ATC check, start listening in on ground control. J.A.R.V.I.S.: Sir, there are still terabytes of calculations required before an
actual flight is... Tony
Stark: Jarvis... sometimes you gotta
run before you can walk.
Ugh!
you have a date in an
hour.
ever found it charming.
Jesus!
Tony
Stark: [Rhodey has just launched the "ex wife" weapon, which
bounces off Vanko with no effect] Hammer Tech? Col.
James 'Rhodey' Rhodes: [Looks dejected] Yeah.
never interrupt a
scientist in their church. Never.
lot?
I'm sorry.
"Oh man, I almost died tonight.""Yeah? I was almost eaten by Galactus."
"Oh yeah? I died and was resurrected as my own
child."
"aw, poor baby."
days ago? He can
file the report on his way out the door.
Charles
Xavier: Please tell me that this is not why we called this
meeting. Tony Stark: No, actually— Stephen Strange: But she is. Tony
Stark: Hey, I can top all of you. I slept with Madame Masque,
so… Stephen Strange: I don’t know who that is.
Namor: Who? Tony Stark:
Metal face, kind of looks like Doctor Doom. Namor: Why would you sleep with a woman who looks like Doctor
Doom? Tony Stark: Okay, moving
on.
"no" again.
OKAY!!
Tony
Stark.
"Cough it up?"
what up?
armor, duh
armor.
armor?
Tony Stark: I’m getting weird readings. Hulk: We’re not alone. Tony Stark: I
want to say “no duh” but I have seven doctorates and that might be
beneath me and you’re a Hulk and you might squeeze me.
Ironically, Bruce Banner stated in
bunch of
them
Yeah!
Yes!
Dude!
All right! favorite
Avenger.
insanely
short you are.
Harley Keener: Admit
it, you need me. We're connected. Tony Stark:
What I need is for you to go home, be with your mom, keep your trap
shut, guard the suit, and stay connected to the telephone, 'cause if I
call you, you better pick up. Tony Stark: [about
to get in car] Can you feel that? We're done here. Move out of the way
or I'm gonna run you over. Bye, kid. [Tony gets in car, but Harley
continues to stand next to it. Tony rolls down window] Tony Stark: I'm sorry, kid, you did good. Harley Keener: So you're just gonna leave me here? Like my
dad? [Tony pauses] Tony Stark: [Casually] Yeah.
[Tony pauses again] Tony Stark: Wait, you're
guilt tripping me aren't you? [Harley buries head in coat] Harley Keener: [Innocently] I'm cold. Tony Stark: [Mimicking Harley] I can tell. You
know how I can tell? Tony Stark: [Sarcastically]
Cause' we're connected! [Tony drives away] Harley
Keener: [Normal voice] It was worth a shot. These
interactions could be like this for a few reasons. With the way that Tony
was raised and because of his genius intellect, he most likely wasn't
spoken to as the child he was and if he was, it wasn't for long. Or these
interactions, both in the comics and the film, could happen this way
because Tony recognizes kindred spirits in both boys and sees that
interest in the armor as something amazing, and he treats them as peers
for this reason.
Tony Stark:
It's a... electromagnet. You should know. You've got a box of them
right here. [points at box on table] Harley
Keener: What does it power? [Stark points the table lamp
toward the Mark 42 armor sitting on the couch] Harley
Keener: Oh my God! [Harley approaches suit] Harley Keener: That's... is that... Iron Man? Tony Stark: Technically, I am Iron Man.
in there than it is
out here.
kidding me?
untraceable to our system.
Really?!
here?
you?
Spider-Man: Homecoming
(2017) we saw a possible new love interest, Michelle Jones, who
says to call her "MJ" which is an homage to Mary Jane Watson.
Captain America: Civil
War (2016) and subsequently taking Mary Jane Watson under his
wing in these comics as well. After taking these "kids" under his wing,
he immediately feels responsibility for them, just like a father would.
In the films, he tries to assist Peter Parker with his Spider-Man antics
and keep him safe by equipping him with a suit prepared for the worst
case scenario. When Mary Jane's club falls victim to Tony's battle with
Madame Masque, he feels responsible for this and tries to help in any way
that he can. Though he never makes it seem like he's giving out charity
or anything of that nature. Tony feeling responsible for one of his
"strays" is further shown in this dialogue from the Spider-Man film
starring Tom Holland: Tony Stark:
What if somebody had died? That's on you. What if you had died? That's
on me. I don't need that guilt on my conscience. I'm gonna need the
suit back. Peter Parker: For how long? Tony Stark: For ever! Peter
Parker: I'm nothing without the suit! Tony Stark: If you're
nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it. When Tony
takes away Peter's suit and he states "if you're nothing without the
suit, then you shouldn't have it!" This is an allusion to what Tony
learned in
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) he was vocal
about believing that he wasn’t worthy of being a superhero and he wants
Peter Parker to be a better superhero than he ever was. I personally
disagree with Tony on this point. Tony Stark is a hero. He took a nuclear
missile to space in Avengers (2012) and believe
that he would die alone and in space. He suffered endlessly about the
consequences of what happened in Sokovia in Avengers:
Age of Ultron (2015). He lost Pepper Potts in Captain America: Civil War (2016) because she couldn’t deal with
Tony being a hero and losing his life because of it. He found out that
Captain America knew the Winter Solider killed his parents and hid it
from him for years, only for it to be revealed and send Tony into a rage
because he watched his mother and her unborn child be murdered by Captain
America’s best friend.