cap_ironman | Question to the comm: the five key moments of Tony Stark

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Question to the comm: the five key moments of Tony Stark

Hail fellow slashers of the iron and shield. I'm girding myself to do a Tony Stark centric fic, and I need to know what do you think are the five key moments of Tony Stark in marvel canon?

For instance, I have:

1. Death of Tony's parents (and him subsequently inheriting Stark Industries)

2. Tony's alcoholism: nuff said.

3. The Crossing; where Tony is mind controlled by Kang the Conqueror (apologies if I get this mixed up, I'm going off memory here) and he becomes a traitor in the Avengers' ranks. It's important because in Avengers Disassembled no one believed him that he was being mind controlled (although it had happened to him a decade before)

4. The death of Rumiko: she was around for 85 issues, and Tony tried to have a relationship with her in a way that he didn't with Cabe or that woman who shot him.

5. Civil War.

These are the ones that I can name off the top of my head, but I might be wrong, and might have overlooked some other key issues, like when Stark faked his own death, or was unable to walk for a time, or when he fell out with Captain America during The Crossing.

So, help?

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NNGAffd sorry but this is one of my biggest pet peeves: Tony did not fake his death. Tony was dying of a nerve degenerative disease, and did die. He had a last ditch plan that might be able to bring his frozen (dead!) body back, that he only told a handful of doctors. His entire body had to be "recoded" from scratch, and in some of the crackiest comic science ever, he used his ~SMART~ to bring himself back to life. It was kept top top secret, and caused a huge rift between Rhodes and Tony.

I couldn't figure out where the confusion came in, until I read the arc with Ty Stone's smear campaign -- they started saying that he faked his own death, as that's what it would appear, to people not in the know.

Issues 285-289, v1. srsly srs.

That was like... *thinks* damn.

I'm scribbling down notes. Cheers for the correction. I seem to remember Ty Stone's stuff and forget the actual event. It's amazing what sticks in my mind when I read.

lol yeah it's understandable. I'm pretty sure even some characters have gotten it mixed up, too.

I wouldn't even really mind, I don't think, if people didn't try make it seem so freaking devious. I'm sure if Tony did decide to fake his own death, he'd have good reason for it.

coughcoughcurrentcanon

You know I have this bunny, that's mostly in hibernation right now, in which Tony fakes his death a few years after Steve's death, because it was either disappear or kill himself and he's slightly curious how the mess sorted itself out. Then a few years after Tony's supposed death Steve comes back to, because of an unknown freak occurence, and goes to find Tony (which is actually the beginning of the story, I think). Steve's certainly not going to be happy with what he finds.

Now that bunny just needs to survive until the semester break, so I can continue writing on it.

you definitely need to finish and post this fic...i demand it...pretty please?

Emily

oh i meant to say last night, or idk whenever this conversation happened, the days are kinda blurring together lately, I'm very excited to see you working on 616 verse again!! :D good luck on the fic!

I'm actually scratching my head at the enormous task I've set myself. I'm still working out the timeline and becoming reaquainted with 616 Stark and Rogers. Rogers is going to be a bug bear to write. For serious.

Thank you for the good wishes. :D'

1. Becoming Iron Man in Vietghanistan.
2. The times that Tony passed on the responsibility for being Iron Man to someone else. Passing the suit to James Rhodes was the second time it happened. The first time was... some guy, whose name escapes me right now. It was back during Tuska's run on the series, I think.
2. Extremis. Until then, Tony was a normal guy in a super-powered suit. After Extremis, Tony was a super-powered guy in a super-powered suit. (He talks to computers...with his mind!)

Thank you. Thank you. I had the extremis and the responsibility down as well.

God, this time line is driving me nuts.

Um... what about when he BECAME Iron Man? It was a brush with death that changed his life.

And as far as modern Tony is concerned, I'd say Extremis is a pretty significant point in his life. He became the human computer.

I agree.

I knew I'd forget the obvious. But cheers, keep pelting me with the clue by fours people, I need this information.

Thank you!

Lol!

At the risk of revealing spoilers, I think Secret Invasion has become a major turning point for Tony again. He's no longer head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and when I was out picking up comics today, I was given a free preview guide of the "Dark Reign" era in Marvel comics, and Iron Man's going to be a fugitive on the run now. But, I guess because this has all just started, we can't really say for sure how significant this is going to be for Tony.

The thing is, I'm contemplating *cough* writing a Tony centric story. I am scared shitless, but it's a story I've always wanted to write, but didn't think I have the talent to.

I still don't think I have the talent to *hysterical laughter*, but SI has forced my hand, and I think I need to, just for my own personal catharsis.

The thing is, I think I'm looking at a ten year span of his life, starting from the death of Rumiko (or The Crossing, I'm unsure) and running up to the cusp of Civil War.

I'm at the point of doing time lines, and trying to reaquaint myself with about 10 years of canon. I'm scared that I'm going to suck, but I tell myself if it's bad, I won't post.

But I need to write the fic, I fear.

I hear you on trying to catch up with ten years of canon. I'm relatively a newbie in the comics world, and the fandom can be pretty cut throat and pretentious sometimes.

I'm relatively a newbie in the comics world, and the fandom can be pretty cut throat and pretentious sometimes.

I hear you. I grew up on comics, from like, early eighties to about mid ninties. I left, and I've only been back a couple of years off and on (read the odd trade in my years of fallow, so I knew about Civil War, etc), and I've only really gotten intensely into comics (in terms of buying and collecting my own) in the last six months or so.

Yeah, the fandom can be catty, especially teh Marvel vs DC fights that people have.

You can only do you, you know?

Yeah, I never really read comics growing up because to me it was always clearly stigmatized as being a boys club sort of thing. Everything I knew about super heroes came from the cartoons in the 90's and even then I only really followed Batman and Spider-man. It was only a few months ago, that I actually got actively involved in comics.

Interesting story... it was when the Iron Man movie came out and my comic book geek friend was spazzing about it and raving about how WE HAD TO SEE THIS MOVIE. I didn't WANT to, but I agreed as long as he'd see Speed Racer with me the following week. As it happens he briefed me on the basics of Iron Man and I loved the movie. And, as I have a particular passion for art, when I was watching the documentary of the comic book character on the DVD back in September and they mentioned Extremis I fell in love. Then one day in the book store I saw the trade sitting on the shelf... and I was completely lost in comics from there.

Personally, as a newbie into comics, I found that getting my hands on a lot of the "Essential" volumes (and I had friends recommend arcs that were available in trade) to help me get a feel for important moments, etc. And Civil War totally devoured my soul...

I'm still afraid of my comic book store though. But that's probably because when there are other people in there, they're all men and they stare at me like they can't believe someone like me is buying comics.

I got into comics via my brother. My mum bought him comics because he just didn't read. So, he got into it and liked it. Then, I got into it and liked it, as well as my younger brothers. It also helped that we had friends at school that collected comics and we traded. So, I was into Daredevil, all the X-titles, all the Spidermen Titles and the odd Iron Man title that I'd pick up.

I didn't really get into DC until high school, when someone gave us an entire backlog of batman and green lantern corps comics because he'd misplaced ours.

I fell out of love with comics in the 90s when image came on the scene, because it was all about the art and less about the story and people were going mad for image, and marvel and DC were just following in their wake. So I stopped reading comics then and only started in 2005, because my library started collecting the trades. When Civil War came around, I was ready.

And now, I'm here.

Oh god, the Crossing. After that whole fiasco with Onslaught, when the heroes all returned alive (Heroes Return), he said he actually remembered being all three versions of Tony--himself, the teenager, and the man he was on Counter-Earth (who was an interestingly messed-up gent in his own right).

And then he court-martialed himself, but didn't seem satisfied with the result (everyone was very understanding and let him off the hook), and that's when he created the telepath-blockers.

So while they did give him a bit of reaction (itself somewhat unusual in comics), they never really went through with it. And the next time they ran into Kang, I sort of expected him to have a Moment, but he didn't react at all.

*cough* Anyway, I told you I was kind of fascinated with it. But the Crossing was the end of volume 1 of the Iron Man comic, and Heroes' Return was the beginning of volume 3, so that's a lot more material than Rumiko's death, which happened near the end of that run. Granted there's some very satisfying stuff in there--Ty Stone and the sentient armor, off the top of my head--but still. That's over 80 issues (1998 to 2005).

By the way, I hunted that stuff up on this link to all the Iron Man covers and their publication dates (http://www.coverbrowser.com/covers/iron-man/7), which might be useful to you.

That helps me a lot. Better than the scribbles I have. I have like, a sort of grid where stuff crosses. I love the crossing, but I wouldn't touch it.

Oh god, the Crossing. After that whole fiasco with Onslaught, when the heroes all returned alive (Heroes Return), he said he actually remembered being all three versions of Tony--himself, the teenager, and the man he was on Counter-Earth (who was an interestingly messed-up gent in his own right).

I read these issues when I was a teen. I'd buy these comics with my allowance - and this was back in the day when money was more of a concern than it is now.

Oh, Tony.

Heh, yeah. I didn't follow Marvel very much at that time, but it looked kind of interesting...till it went all weird near the end and they seemed to begin and then drop three completely different story arcs in a row (which I learned much later was exactly what had happened :D ).

I remember people griping that the X-Men seemed to be the only thing left, though.

Oi, I figured that you're looking for info on technology, and I have a blog that I occasionally post nifty technology news to, so I could actually pay attention to posting stuff to it and give you the link.

http://bluesrat.blogspot.com (http://bluesrat.blogspot.com)

I generally just forward technology news to it, so it's not deep reading or anything. It should be open for anyone to post on, so if you find anything on there potentially useful and/or want to know more about it, I could look into it and point you toward further information.

Because she's going to die horribly, and Tony is going to blame himself... again. And where will we be?

Besides I like the fact that she's one of the few women who's immune to Tony Stark's rakish charm. That should do him some good. Not all panties will dissolve at the mere quirk of your eyebrow, Tony.

Him and Hill? Nah, probably not. I still keep thinking the powers that be are toying with bringing up the Tony/Pepper romance again. She'll be playing a larger part in his life again... and Happy DID die back in Civil War.... (of course, that could be wishful thinking on my part, since I very much love Tony/Pepper)

They had that thing way back in the comics when Pepper and Happy were on the outs, and Tony and Pepper sort of hooked up and Pepper said no. It really didn't work out the first time.

I didn't mind Pepper and Henry Hellrung (he kinda looks like Tony Stark, but he's so laid lack, he'd mold) but she scared him off because she wanted to shag him.

Tony/Pepper.

Pepper knows better.

Fraction loves Tony/Pepper. It's a strong possibility.

Yes, I know. Even though he's said that Pepper is intelligent and knows Tony's an operator and has his number. Even though Pepper calls him a 'bomb', and she's that sort of smart woman that will be wooed by kings and tycoons.

And yet, Fraction wants Tony/Pepper. Marvel has done that before, it didn't work out.

Why are you screwing with me, Marvel?

As much as I loved IM the movie, I winced at the whole Pepper/Tony scenes.

Dammit.

I really loved the movie Tony/Pepper, but I loved it for what it was: real, human affection, sexual tension and co-dependence. Maybe in the next movie they'll resolve the sexual tension, but it won't work out. It can't, because Pepper is not the right woman for Tony, and Tony is not the right man for Pepper. She's awesome, but it's a more human kind of awesome. She needs a guy who can express his love daily, in ordinary ways. Tony, on the other hand, is very much given to relationships on an epic scale. Everything has to be passion! romance! undying love! and then it turns to hatred! vengeance! and so forth. The only kind of 'normal' woman who worked with him was Bethany, because she was a typical adventure girl, but she could also just be with him. Solid relationship, really.

I also have a soft spot for Madame Masque and Rumiko. Not that those relationships went well, but honestly, he's got so many awesome old flames, besides Pepper. And Pepper totally deserves better. ;)

In the comic back in the day when they first got together, Pepper and Happy were having problems, and Pepper hooked up with Tony, but it just. Didn't. Work.

Also, didn't Pepper ask Tony to shut off Happy's life support system.

*awkward*

The only kind of 'normal' woman who worked with him was Bethany, because she was a typical adventure girl, but she could also just be with him. Solid relationship, really.

Bethany was wise enough to leave Tony. Goddamit, I like Tony, and I'm one of his biggest fans, but the man doesn't have it in him to give the women in his life what they want - which is more of him.

He'd have to retire from being IM for it to have a chance. There was this one shot that explored it (Bethany Cabe was a Senator, I think). It was rather sweet, because Tony had gotten older (in his fifties, I think) and had to retire from being Iron Man.

*big sighs at Rumiko. Looks at her and sighs again*

I always thought that Madam Masque understood Stark because she had her own super villainy to get on with. The alterego tends to feed into the civilian life.

In the Illuminati, Namor was ribbing Tony over dating Lady Masque, that was so random. Never mind the fact that Namor is still hung up over Susan Storm.

Never change.

Ah, so he's taking it on the lam, then? Well, I guess it's better than prison.

(I've been bracing for Tony to end up in prison for months, but now that it's a real possibility, I so don't want it to happen.)

Him and *snickers* Maria Hill. Together.

Because that will end well.

Am I a bad person for really looking forward to that?

Because however it ends, the snark factor in the meantime is going to be off the scale.

To *fall in love* with each other, because it's good that Maria doesn't fall for Tony's game. It's good that she sees him as she sees him and that she's tough and no nonsense (she isn't my favourite character, but I have no hate on for her either).

I think Fraction could write an amusing triangle with Pepper, Hill and Tony. Pepper as the madonna he worships from the other side of whatever UST barrier they erected long ago, and Hill as the frenemy in arms who happens to look bangin' in her SHEILD suit (okay, wait, she won't be wearing it anymore but you know what I mean).

Hill has been Tony's dark mirror for a while -- same dark coloring, same hairstyle, even, (except for her inexplicable blondness in Invincible, sigh) -- so seeing them trying to cooperate as fugitives could be really entertaining. I can't say I'd like to see them have a physical thing, but, well, Tony's inability to keep his pants on is legendary, so I wouldn't be surprised. It's not like they'd fall in luuuuurve or anything -- neither strikes me as capable of it.

But I guess, Tony is a man, I guess they must. I'll see what Fraction does. I know that he's promised that Tony's life is going to get darker, yeah.

It's not like they'd fall in luuuuurve or anything -- neither strikes me as capable of it.

Ouch. Yeah, Tony's lingering link to humanity died some time ago. He's just like... totally and uncomfortably Numb, Pink Floyd stylie. Anita Hill... she's just career minded and tough. It will be interesting to see how she copes out of the strictures of career and routine. She seems to be one of these people who had a plan for herself, and it was working swimmingly so far (until she got promoted beyond her competence, then demoted herself yadda yadda, yadda).

This arc has the potential to go well, providing that it isn't

a) too long
and

b) avoids the cliches.

So, when are you posting your art your LJ then?

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That's hella gorge!

Ouch. Yeah, Tony's lingering link to humanity died some time ago. He's just like... totally and uncomfortably Numb, Pink Floyd stylie. Anita Hill... she's just career minded and tough.

I think I should have been more specific... I don't think they're capable of falling in lurve right now -- separately or with each other. (And I do think Tony can still love -- Fraction is writing Tony as clearly gaga for Potts, in that classic, clueless, lonely, never-shall-I-speak-my-heart Tony way.)

Hill? Maybe she can fall in love with somebody, maybe, although I can't imagine her getting OMG passionate about Tony of all people.

However lack of romantic love never stopped people from getting busy, so I think it's possible. Again, I'm not rooting for it or anything, but if they went there it wouldn't surprise me. :)

I don't want them to get involved either. I'm not a shipper at the best of times, and I'm especially resistant to paring off male and female characters who have an interesting non-romantic relationship in canon.

Though I suppose I could deal with one bout of angry sex that they both spend the rest of their lives pretending never happened. :-P

Extremis. For me it's a turning point.
And it's a my impression or Steve is really very bothered with it? (reference in The Confession)

No, it freaked Steve the heck out. He kept prodding Tony for being emotionless and calculating, and mentioned more than once that he was worried the Extremis was making it worse.

Tony got proper ruthless, like when he stopped someone's heart, and Steve is like, "Did you do that just because it was interesting Tony?"

In Extremis execute you actually saw how it changed Stark, and that's what made him open to the idea of the SHRA.

Tony was like, "I brought him BACK TO LIFE STEVE GEEZ"

XD

and Tony was like, "Fantastic!" and people are like "Bzwuh?" and he's like, "I won a Roman statue at an auction."

Oh, Tony...

But people seem to forget that Tony stopped his heart to save Steve when he was in the crux of the execute programme.

Ohhh multitasking via Extremis. So so awesome.

Oh man, Those are good ones. I totally agree on The Crossing, and obviously the alcoholism.

Let's see, what else:

When he got shot by his girlfriend and paralyzed.

Armor Wars

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In the sense that Tony was the one who broke up the Avengers (after the mansion was wrecked) because he couldn't afford it. Wanda literally wiped out most of his personal fortune with that little stunt. It's also important because his teammates didn't believe that Tony was being mind controlled - apart from Captain America.

So later, when Steve and Tony met up again fighting the superpowered criminals on The Raft, I think Tony said yes to Steve, because Steve believed in him at that dark time.

What the hell am I taking on?

That scene in Breakout makes me chortle, because Tony never actually said yes to Steve. Tony was all, whoa, this is really coming out of left field, let me think about it, and Steve was all, Great! I'll go assemble the team! *backslap*

It was so endearing.

No=Maybe=Yes

I just love that part of the dynamic, how Steve often KNOW when Tony really does mean yes, I mean, Tony does have a giant portrait of him in his private resident after all, it's gonna make bluffing pretty damn impossible.

Tony does have a giant portrait of him in his private resident after all

Ha i just noticed that when i was re-reading New Avengers, that's not even slightly subtle is it.

Now i have the mental image of Steve giving him a classical naked portrait of himself for Tony's private viewing pleasure

Aside from ones mention above, I would say something like simply meeting Bethany Cabe. Beth, despite her absence from the comics since The Crossing, is a rock in Tony's life. She was the one that led him to confront him alcoholism and was his support afterward, not to mention she was probably one of his most, if not THE most, healthy relationships he's been in. I imagine the moment they met might hold a special place in his heart.

She was the body guard, right? Yes, a red head. *screwing up eyes in memory*. Yeah, she was a very capable and strong woman. Wasn't she the one who got involved with Tony (thinking that her husband was dead) only to find out that he was alive? I think she went back to her husband. That was sadness.

In this random one shot, they got married in the future, and she was a Senator. I think that's when Tony decided to retire from being Iron Man.

Yeah, Bethany. I remember liking her.

Yup, that's the one. I haven't actually gotten to reading any of this myself, but I think her husband ended up dying later on and she went back to Tony. She hasn't been seen since The Crossing, though, something about Tony waking up in her apartment, the entire thing being trashed. She left him a note saying that she was going back to Germany.

There was also something about Rhodey asking her do don one of the old suits of armor to defend Stark Industries interests during Heroes Reborn.

Either way, she's pretty much awesome.

but I think her husband ended up dying later on and she went back to Tony.

LOL, whut? How convenient.

though, something about Tony waking up in her apartment, the entire thing being trashed

LOL. What again?? I must admit, Tony gave Cabe a hard time, what with his drinking and such. Like, I think he drank so much (it's implied) that he wasn't up to his physical best in bed the first time they slept together.

Oh Tony.

Either way, she's pretty much awesome

Yeah, she's pretty cool. One of the few love interests for Stark that I hoped for one of two things, that 1. it worked out or 2. she was smart enough to live him.

Good to see that she chose 2. Stark has bad luck with women.

I'm just telling you what Wiki told me XD And yeah, poor Tony. He's got worse luck with women than Daredevil.

All his women end up dying for him. Jesus, to think I used to love that comic in the 80s/90s. I could never go back to it now.

Civil War is a pretty big instance. Out of curiosity, anything specific pop to mind?

I'm contemplating doing a fic on a period of Stark's life. I'm thinking that it's going to be a span of say eight to ten years - from say... the death of Rumiko to the cusp of Civil War.

So, I guess I'm looking at five key moments in those ten years, but I don't want to limit people to the suggestions, you know what I mean? It's good, because people are telling me stuff that I haven't thought of, or would have overlooked.

Ah, okay. That makes sense. Awesome. I myself am just starting to read Civil War, so I can't help ya.

Wow. I think everyone covered it all already. I'm a bit late, I guess. Huh. Well, if I had posted earlier, my comments would have been very helpful. As it is, not so much. I'll friend you though.

I'll always vote for the Sentient Armor, myself. But I'm trying to think if it brought about any lasting changes in Tony's life and.... nahh. It was just a wonderfully entertaining, cracktastic arc.

1. Extremis. Because he is no longer "THE DUDE IN THE SUIT"

2. Getting back the Avengers with Steve. Just because it seemed so promising... for a couple of arcs.

3. *sob* Which brings us to the death of Cap.

4. Becoming Director of SHIELD.

5. No longer the Director of SHIELD (Although seriously I am waiting outside Marvel with a pitchfork while I see what Marvel is planning for Tony next...)

Getting back the Avengers with Steve. Just because it seemed so promising... for a couple of arcs.

Yeah, *sniffles and wipes a tear* it did.

*sob* Which brings us to the death of Cap.

I really don't think I have the strength in me to write anything to do with Civil War. I really don't.

Ya'll are making me feel like I'm some sort of masochist for wanting to read Civil War. >D Though do I have my six boxes of tissues and 1 ton of chocolate to help me through it...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Question to the comm: the five key moments of Tony Stark

no subject

Oy, I need to reread that

Re: Oy, I need to reread that

Re: Oy, I need to reread that

Re: Oy, I need to reread that

Re: Oy, I need to reread that

LOL.

no subject

Yeah, cheers.

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Well, yeah

Re: Well, yeah

Yeah

Re: Yeah

I hear you.

Re: I hear you.

Oh zeen

Re: Yeah

Yayy, you're a star

Re: Yayy, you're a star

Re: Yayy, you're a star

I just hope he doesn't hook up with Hill

Re: I just hope he doesn't hook up with Hill

Noooo, not Tony/Pepper

Re: Noooo, not Tony/Pepper

Ugh

Re: Ugh

This.

Re: Well, yeah

Yeah he's on the lam

Re: Yeah he's on the lam

I just don't want them to get involved

Re: Yeah he's on the lam

No, not the UST

Oh my!

Re: No, not the UST

Re: I just don't want them to get involved

no subject

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Steve was bothered by it

Re: Steve was bothered by it

LOL, yeah I remember

Re: LOL, yeah I remember

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Avengers Dissambled is big

Re: Avengers Dissambled is big

Re: Avengers Dissambled is big

Re: Avengers Dissambled is big

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Yeah, Bethany Cabe

Re: Yeah, Bethany Cabe

What?

Re: What?

No, Daredevil is special

no subject

Well, yeah, I should probably explain myself

Re: Well, yeah, I should probably explain myself

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Yeah, yeah.

Re: Yeah, yeah.