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WhileIron Manis a household name these day , thanks to his magnetic depicting by Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , he was n’t always the publishing house ’s most democratic character . Despite his sorcerous personality , he was always a billionaire weapons manufacturer and state of war profiteer – but that all changed withone 1979 story arc : " Demon in a Bottle . "
fall out inThe Invincible Iron Man(Volume 1 ) # 120 - 128 – written by David Michelinie , with art by John Romita Jr. – " Demon in a Bottle " addressed the real - world ramifications of Tony Stark ’s world-wide character personation , by enquire how Tony could keep being Iron Man when otherwise he would be too intoxicated to drive .
As his friends and have it off I worried about him , Iron Man ’s most powerful enemy was revealed to be Tony Stark himself , in a story that essentially change the character , and arguably Marvel Comics as a whole , everlastingly .
Marvel Comics' Definitive Iron Man Storyline, “Demon in a Bottle,” Explained
Beginning InThe Invincible Iron Man(1968) #120 – Written By David Michelinie; Art By John Romita Sr. & Bob Layton
" Demon in a Bottle " is a slow burn ; while the arc takes space over nine issues , the first eight number play out in relatively familiar Bronze Age mirthful storytelling fashion . A fly cooler hit the commercial super acid he ’s in ; Iron Man faces off against Namor ; he battles a group ofRoxxon Oil mercenary ; his Iron Man armor malfunction on his flight home , though he ca n’t witness anything unseasonable ; later , it malfunctions again and shockingly causes the death of a alien diplomat . afterward , on an Atlantic City date with Bethany Cabe is interrupt by Whiplash , Blizzard , and the Melter .
If risible book of account up to this dot had been criticized as frivolous , at bad , and at good , were considered metaphors for real issues , " Demon in a Bottle " point it was potential to tell a serious story in the medium .
Notably , the story premise one of Tony Stark ’s billionaire nemeses : Justin Hammer . Hammer is the ride force behind Tony ’s problems , as he stimulate the armour malfunctions , sent the trey of villains to Atlantic City , and otherwise assay to destroy his life . His company lost out on a lucrative bid to Stark International , so none of this was personal ; it was purely business . While Tony does n’t havehis Iron Man armour with him , he still has his wits : he miss his room , destroys the automobile that operate his armor , and evades a theme full of costume villains until the police arrive .
What made the " Demon in a Bottle " bow place upright out at the sentence , and in retrospect , puddle it an crucial part of comic book story , was that it say a fledged , meaningful news report about a real - world subject , using an established comic book of account fighter as its protagonist . If comic books up to this point had been criticise as frivolous , at bad , and at best , were considered metaphors for real issues , " Demon in a Bottle " showed it was possible to assure a serious story in the sensitive .
Iron Man’s Battle With Alcoholism Defined “Demon In A Bottle” – And Tony Stark’s Character Trajectory For Years After
The Story’s Pivotal Beats, Explained
In a sense , " Demon in a Bottle " was the start of a switch in amusing book storytelling that took cargo area in the 1980s ; it can be argued that the discharge arrange the stage for Alan Moore’sWatchmen , published just seven year later . In fact , risible devotee knowMoore ’s original aim was to do with DC Comics characterswhat David Michiline did with Iron Man – utilizing their untapped potential to tell serious , dramatic stories . For Michiline himself , this was n’t an intentional project , but rather a " happy " fortuity of recognise the narrative potential in Tony Stark ’s family relationship with alcohol .
Throughout all of these adventures there is one throughline – Tony Stark is drinking too much . His standoff with Namor is strangle by the four martini he had on the plane . On his engagement , Bethany endeavor to stop him from give a bottle of champagne , saying he ’s had enough . When a Stark International employee asks Iron Man to comprise the company for the embassador ’s sojourn , Tony pours himself a drink at 9:30 in the morning , excuse himself with a variation on , " it ’s 5 o’clock somewhere . " The last straw is when he drunkenly insults Jarvis so badly that the close butler quits .
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One of the best vista of the story is thatTony ’s exuberant drinkingis framed as almost understandable . He was well-disposed with Nick Fury and SHIELD , until he discovered the government was grease one’s palms ensure portion of Stark International . Justin Hammer framed Iron Man for murdering a foreign ambassador in front of hundreds of witnesser . In this geological era , Iron Man was still a surreptitious identity for Stark , so not only was his double life exhausting , but he could n’t talk about his fuss with anyone . Every fourth dimension Tony said that he want a beverage , the reader was undercoat to hold with him .
Tony Stark Learned To Take His Recovery One Day At A Time
The Invincible Iron Man(1968) #128 – Written By David Michelinie; Art By John Romita Jr. & Bob Layton
All of this comes to a top dog inThe Invincible Iron Man(1968 ) # 128 . Tony ’s girl Bethany let out that she ’s a widow woman ; her husband Alex go after his addiction to pills caused him to swerve off the road . She know what habituation looks like , and sees it in Tony , begging him to get sedate . The panel of the self-important Tony Stark holding out his hand and require for her aid made a powerful effigy ; the next page is full of vignettes without panels , minute that blend together of Tony going through withdrawal , and come out the other side all right .
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A single Thomas Nelson Page of getting clean seems potentially overpowering , but the comic does n’t end there . After rationalise to Jarvis and getting him to come back , Tony discovers that Jarvis sold his two ploughshare in Stark International – two shares that Tony was certain would never get into SHIELD ’s hands . Control in his company is pulled out from under him , and it is his own geological fault . Returning home , he achieve instinctively for the bottle , as Bethany and Jarvis tap him to call back everything else good in his life . Tony does n’t retrogress , and puts the cap back on , before having a loving cup of burnt umber .
“Demon in a Bottle” Shaped Iron Man’s Future As A Leading Marvel Hero
The Invincible Iron Man(2022) #14 – Written By Gerry Duggan; Art By Andrea Di Vito & Bryan Valenza
Like many in recovery , Tony Stark ’s struggle with inebriation did n’t end in this takings . The storyline was wide praise , and fall the limelight to a character whose popularity had been lag . Other writers over the next four decades picked up the baton and ran with it . Writer Denny O’Neill famously had Stark relapsing in issue # 168 ’s " The Empty Shell " , leading toRhodey pose on the Iron Man suitfor the first time , when Tony was too intoxicated to function . Iron Man ’s fight with alcohol is still part of the persona today ; it has been woven into his modern story effectively by author such as Gerry Duggan .
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang prepared Robert Downey Jr. for his momentous purpose Iron Man and Harry Lockhart was comical than anything he did as Tony Stark
Interestingly , actor Robert Downey Jr. had his own struggle with addiction , which was one of the reasonsRDJ was a perfect IronMan . Writer / director Jon Favreau say he did n’t retrieve dependance would work with the lighter smell of the movies , but elements from " Demon in a Bottle " still set up their style into the MCU . InIron Man 2 , Tony drinks too much and stymy himself ; inIron Man 3 , Tony is separated from his suit and has to save the day as just a man . Luckily , the comics show the true depth ofIron Man , and how his problems are what define his strengths .
Iron Man : Demon in a Bottleis useable now from Marvel Comics .
Anthony " Tony " Edward Stark , AKA Iron Man , is a Marvel Comics superhero who has enjoyed several years of the glare and has become a anchor in several Marvel media franchises . After suffering a decisive injury , Tony make a specialized panoplied courting powered by an arc nuclear reactor , which keeps him alive . Egotistical but good - hearted , Tony utilize his A-one intellectual and inventions to fight to protect man from various terror , eventually becoming a found member of the Avengers . In 2008 , the Marvel Cinematic Universe was kicked off with the picture show Iron Man , which star Robert Downey Jr. as the superhero .
Anthony “Tony” Edward Stark, AKA Iron Man, is a Marvel Comics superhero who has enjoyed several years of the spotlight and has become a mainstay in several Marvel media franchises. After suffering a critical injury, Tony creates a specialized armored suit powered by an arc reactor, which keeps him alive. Egotistical but good-hearted, Tony utilizes his super intellect and inventions to fight to protect humanity from various threats, eventually becoming a founding member of the Avengers. In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was kicked off with the film Iron Man, which starred Robert Downey Jr. as the superhero.
