<P> Historian Robert Genter, in The Journal of Popular Culture, writes that Tony Stark specifically presents an idealized portrait of the American inventor . Where earlier decades had seen important technological innovations come from famous individuals (e.g., Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, the Wright brothers), the 1960s saw new technologies (including weapons) being developed mainly by the research teams of corporations . As a result, little room remained for the inventor who wanted credit for, and creative and economic control over, his / her own creations . </P> <P> Issues of entrepreneurial autonomy, government supervision of research, and ultimate loyalty figured prominently in early Iron Man stories--the same issues affecting American scientists and engineers of that era . Tony Stark, writes Genter, is an inventor who finds motive in his emasculation as an autonomous creative individual . This blow is symbolized by his chest wound, inflicted at the moment he is forced to invent things for the purposes of others, instead of just himself . To Genter, Stark's transformation into Iron Man represents Stark's effort to reclaim his autonomy, and thus his manhood . The character's pursuit of women in bed or in battle, writes Genter, represents another aspect of this effort . The pattern finds parallels in other works of 1960s popular fiction by authors such as "Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond), Mickey Spillane (Mike Hammer), and Norman Mailer, who made unregulated sexuality a form of authenticity ." </P> <P> After issue #99 (March 1968), the Tales of Suspense series was renamed Captain America . An Iron Man story appeared in the one - shot comic Iron Man and Sub-Mariner (April 1968), before the "Golden Avenger" made his solo debut with The Invincible Iron Man #1 (May 1968). The series' indicia gives its copyright title Iron Man, while the trademarked cover logo of most issues is The Invincible Iron Man . Artist George Tuska began a decade long association with the character with Iron Man #5 (Sept. 1968). Writer Mike Friedrich and artist Jim Starlin's brief collaboration on the Iron Man series introduced Mentor, Starfox, and Thanos in issue #55 (Feb. 1973). Friedrich scripted a metafictional story in which Iron Man visited the San Diego Comic Convention and met several Marvel Comics writers and artists . He then wrote the multi-issue "War of the Super-Villains" storyline which ran through 1975 . </P> <P> Writer David Michelinie, co-plotter / inker Bob Layton, and penciler John Romita Jr. became the creative team on the series with Iron Man #116 (Nov. 1978). Micheline and Layton established Tony Stark's alcoholism with the story "Demon in a Bottle", and introduced several supporting characters, including Stark's bodyguard girlfriend Bethany Cabe; Stark's personal pilot and confidant James Rhodes, who later became the superhero War Machine; and rival industrialist Justin Hammer, who was revealed to be the employer of numerous high - tech armed enemies Iron Man fought over the years . The duo also introduced the concept of Stark's specialized armors as he acquired a dangerous vendetta with Doctor Doom . The team worked together through #154 (Jan. 1982), with Michelinie writing three issues without Layton . </P>

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