{"id":110,"date":"2010-05-13T12:25:33","date_gmt":"2010-05-13T17:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/2010\/05\/13\/iron-man-a-classic-superhero-in-the-modern-world\/"},"modified":"2011-03-16T21:33:22","modified_gmt":"2011-03-17T01:33:22","slug":"iron-man-a-classic-superhero-in-the-modern-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/heroes\/2010\/05\/13\/iron-man-a-classic-superhero-in-the-modern-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Iron Man: A Classic Superhero in the Modern World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Iron<\/a>By Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Comic book superheroes have long captured people's imaginations.\u00a0 The prototypical superhero has an extraordinary power or ability, a secret identity, a strong moral code, a striking costume, a sidekick, and a mortal enemy.\u00a0 The world inhabited by the superhero is typically dark and sinister, with a formidable villain posing grave danger to the general population.\u00a0 Only the superhero can save this world.\u00a0 He or she (but usually he) triumphs by overcoming three types of obstacles:\u00a0 family of origin issues, a unique personal vulnerability, and the fearsome villain.<\/p>\n

The latest superhero enjoying great popularity is Iron Man<\/em>, portrayed in two recent movies by Robert Downey, Jr.\u00a0 Iron Man made his first appearance in a Marvel Comic book in 1963, at the height of America's cold war with the Soviet Union.\u00a0 Iron Man's secret identity is Tony Stark, a brilliant weapons designer who suffers a severe heart injury while being kidnapped by a foreign menace.\u00a0 In the original comic version, the kidnappers are Russians; in the first Iron Man<\/em> movie, they are Afghan terrorists.\u00a0 \"Robert<\/a>To save his life and aid his escape, he constructs a powered suit of armor that transforms him into a nearly unstoppable human weapon.<\/p>\n

What accounts for the great critical and box-office success of the Iron Man movies?\u00a0 There are several factors.\u00a0 First, the part of Tony Stark is played superbly by Robert Downey, Jr., who is both charismatic and likeable.\u00a0 Second, as viewers of Stark's remarkable accomplishments, we are especially impressed because he is a man without an innate superpower.\u00a0 \u00a0He relies solely on his superb mind and fierce determination to overcome his enemies.<\/p>\n

Third, the Iron Man movies have successfully put a modern spin on many of the classic superhero themes.\u00a0 For example, narcissism, rather than humility, is seen as a virtue.\u00a0\u00a0 In place of the cold war is the threat of terrorism, to which all modern viewers can relate. \u00a0Modern technological gadgets are portrayed as the solution to the world's problems; we even witness Robert Downey, Jr. use his cell phone to hack into the U. S. government mainframe. \u00a0There is racial and gender diversity, with African-Americans and women showing as much physical prowess and genius as Tony Stark himself.<\/p>\n

But with all these modern trappings, Iron Man owes most of its success to its effective use of the classic elements of the heroic journey.\u00a0 There is a poignant origin story, featuring Stark’s emotionally unavailable father who plants the seeds of greatness in his son.\u00a0 There is adversity for Stark to overcome, namely, his damaged heart that is failing him and requires his genius to \"Iron<\/a>repair.\u00a0 The villain in Iron Man 2<\/em> is an evil Russian physicist, who is nearly Stark's intellectual equal.\u00a0 Stark's inherent goodness is highlighted when he saves a small boy from certain death at the hands of the villain.<\/p>\n

Iron Man 2<\/em> also emphasizes the hero's reliance on social support to achieve his noble goals.\u00a0 Early in the movie, Stark notes with pride that he has no sidekick, yet in the final battle with the villain he concedes that he needs help from his friend, James Rhodes.\u00a0 The movie ends with Stark winning the heart of his beautiful female love interest, Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.\u00a0 Throughout the story, Stark receives important assistance from both Potts and the physically formidable Natalie Rushman, played by Scarlett Johansson.<\/p>\n

Why are we drawn to superheroes?\u00a0 Put simply, we admire their ability to overcome imposing obstacles and triumph over evil.\u00a0 In a dark world, their actions shine the light of hope and promise for a better tomorrow.\u00a0 Below is a movie trailer for Iron Man 2.<\/p>\n