#3. Comic Book Analysis

Vertical Tabs

Reader
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml-model href="http://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_all.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://relaxng.org/ns/structure/1.0"?>
<?xml-model href="http://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_all.rng" type="application/xml"
	schematypens="http://purl.oclc.org/dsdl/schematron"?>
<TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0">
   <teiHeader>
      <fileDesc>
         <titleStmt>
            <title><hi><hi rend="bold">A Tale of Two Redemptions: A Comparison of Iron Man in the
                     Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Invincible Iron Man Comic
               Books</hi></hi></title>
            <author><persName>Brian Michael Bendis</persName></author>
            <editor><persName>Alanna Smith</persName></editor>
            <editor><persName>Tom Brevoort</persName></editor>
            <editor><persName>Katie Kubert</persName></editor>
            <respStmt>
               <resp>Encoding &amp; Analysis by,</resp>
               <persName>Cecelia Takara Kimes</persName>
            </respStmt>
            <sponsor> University of New Haven's (ENGL 4484) Digital Editing &amp; Literature
               Course</sponsor>
         </titleStmt>
         <editionStmt>
            <edition>The <hi rend="italic">Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi> contains material
               that was originally published in singular comic form as the <hi rend="italic"
                  >Invincible Iron Man</hi> #1-6, though this edition and compilation only contains
                  <hi rend="italic">Invincible Iron Man</hi> #1-5. These comics were first printed
               and published in 2016 by MARVEL WORLDWIDE, INC. which is a subsidary of MARVEL
               ENTERTAINMENT.</edition>
         </editionStmt>
         <publicationStmt>
            <publisher>MARVEL WORLDWIDE, INC. a subsidiary of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. Office of
               Publication.</publisher>
            <pubPlace>135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020</pubPlace>
            <date>2016</date>
         </publicationStmt>
         <sourceDesc>
            <p>The <hi rend="italic">Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi> 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.)</p>
            <p>The following films are mentioned at times in my analysis: <hi rend="italic">Iron Man
                  (2008)</hi> (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. Iron Man (2008). Performance by Robert Downey,
               Paramount, 2008.), <hi rend="italic">Iron Man 2 (2010)</hi> (SOURCE: Favreau, Jon,
               director. Iron Man 2 (2010). Performance by Robert Downey, Marvel Entertainment, LLC,
               2010.), <hi rend="italic">The Avengers (2012)</hi> (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. The
               Avengers (2012). Performance by Robert Downey, Marvel Entertainment, LLC., 2012.),
                  <hi rend="italic">Iron Man 3 (2013)</hi> (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. Iron Man 3 (2013).
               Performance by Robert Downey, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, 2013.), <hi
                  rend="italic">Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)</hi> (SOURCE: Feige, Kevin. Avengers:
               Age of Ultron (2015). Performance by Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Marvel Studios,
               2015.), <hi rend="italic">Captain America: Civil War (2016)</hi> (SOURCE: Feige,
               Kevin. Captain America: Civil War (2016). Performance by Chris Evans and Robert
               Downey, Marvel Studios, 2016.), and <hi rend="italic">Spider-Man: Homecoming
                  (2017)</hi> (Performance by Tom Holland, and Robert Downey, Walt Disney Studios
               Home Entertainment, 2017.)</p>
         </sourceDesc>
      </fileDesc>
      <encodingDesc>
         <editorialDecl>
            <p rend="indent">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: <hi rend="italic">Iron Man (2008)</hi>, <hi
                  rend="italic">Iron Man 2 (2010)</hi>, <hi rend="italic">Avengers (2012)</hi>, <hi
                  rend="italic">Iron Man 3 (2013)</hi>, <hi rend="italic">Avengers: Age of Ultron
                  (2015)</hi>, <hi rend="italic">Captain America: Civil War (2016)</hi>, and <hi
                  rend="italic">Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)</hi>. Keeping this in mind, I decided
               to not transcribe all five of the comic books within the <hi rend="italic">Invincible
                  Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi> 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 <hi rend="italic">Iron Man (2008)</hi>, 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
                  <hi rend="italic">Avengers: Infinity War (2018)</hi>, 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.</p>
         </editorialDecl>
      </encodingDesc>
      <profileDesc>
         <particDesc>
            <listPerson>
               <person xml:id="Tony_Stark">
                  <note>AKA Iron Man. Anthony Edward Stark is the a self titled "genius,
                     billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". He is present in both the comics I am
                     transcribing as well as the films, especially due to the fact that he is the
                     main character. Iron Man was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and
                     Jack Kirby in 1963. Iron Man, and his armor, came into being when Tony Stark,
                     while consulting with the United States military in Afghanistan, was injured
                     when his convoy was attacked and he was taken hostage. In the original comics
                     whereing Iron Man first made his debut, Tony Stark served in the Vietnam War
                     and became Iron Man during that time. Later on, it was adapted to the Gulf War.
                     In the first Iron Man film, Tony is kidnapped in Afghanistan while after
                     performing a weapons demonstration. Jon Favreau, director of the film, stated
                     that this happened because he didn't want the film to be a period piece. He is
                     present in both the comics that I am transcribing as well as the movie, due to
                     the fact that he is the main character. The Iron Man armor is piloted by Tony
                     Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, thus he is portrayed by Robert
                     Downey Jr. as well. Tony Stark is portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in all of the
                     Marvel Cinematic Universe films wherein Tony Stark is present. SOURCE: “Iron
                     Man (Anthony Stark) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for
                     Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS,
                     https://marvel.com/universe/Iron_Man_(Anthony_Stark)#axzz57Bq8Bt44.</note>
               </person>
               <person xml:id="Friday">
                  <note>(FRIEND) J.A.R.V.I.S.'s predecessor, F.R.I.D.A.Y. is Tony Stark's right hand
                     woman (his girl Friday, some could say) and A.I. She not only assists with
                     matters concerning Stark Industries, but also assists Tony in piloting the Iron
                     Man armor. She is ever-present in the comics that I am transcribing, though she
                     does come into being later on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films after
                     J.A.R.V.I.S.'s demise. (J.A.R.V.I.S. began out as a natural-language user
                     interface computer system, which then further developed into an artifically
                     intelligent system. Before the creation of the Iron Man armor, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s
                     main purpose was to run business for Stark Industries while also taking care of
                     security for Tony's mansion and Stark Tower. Though once the Mark II armor was
                     created, with the Mark I armor being the one that Tony created during his
                     captivity, J.A.R.V.I.S. became uploaded during all of the Iron Man armors.) She
                     was one of many back-up programs that Tony, always a futurist, had created in
                     the event that he lost J.A.R.V.I.S., beating out J.O.C.A.S.T.A. and
                     T.A.D.A.S.H.I. which were two other back-up programs. She is featured in
                     Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, and Spider-Man:
                     Homecoming. In comparison to J.A.R.V.I.S.'s English accent (a derivation from
                     Edwin Jarvis himself), F.R.I.D.A.Y. has an Irish accent. F.R.I.D.A.Y., in the
                     Marvel Cinematic Universe, doesn't quite care for the other Avengers and only
                     takes orders from Tony. Fun fact: While F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the Marvel Cinematic
                     Universe movies doesn't have a holographic form, in the comic books she is an
                     A.I. hologram, created by Tony in order to be his secretary. In addition, she
                     is also the first female A.I. to be featured in the MCU. SOURCE: “F.R.I.D.A.Y.”
                     Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki,
                     http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/F.R.I.D.A.Y.</note>
               </person>
               <person xml:id="Giuletta_Nefaria">
                  <note>AKA Madame Masque (FOE). She is present in the comics that I'm transcribing,
                     but not in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, though Whitney Frost takes on
                     the mantle of Madame Masque in the second season of Marvel's Agent Carter.
                     Though in Agent Carter the mantle of Madame Masque has been taken on by Whitney
                     Frost, not Giuletta Nefaria. Whereas within the comics Giuletta Nefaria takes
                     on the mantle of Madame Masque. SOURCE: “Giuletta Nefaria (Earth-616).” Marvel
                     Database, http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Giuletta_Nefaria_(Earth-616).</note>
               </person>
               <person xml:id="Victor_von_Doom">
                  <note>AKA Doctor Doom (FOE). He is present in the comics that I'm transcribing,
                     but not in any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. He does not make an
                     appearance in any Marvel Cinematic Universe films this is due to an issue of
                     ownership of the rights of this character, not because he wouldn't be a welcome
                     addition, though he is present in two Fantastic Four films that were created
                     and distributed by 20th Century Fox. SOURCE: “Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom) -
                     Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero
                     Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS,
                     https://marvel.com/universe/Doctor_Doom.</note>
               </person>
               <person xml:id="Mary_Jane_Watson">
                  <note>(FRIEND) While she is most famously known for being Spider-Man's love
                     interest in both the comics and the films, Mary Jane Watson is also a
                     stand-alone character within Marvel Comics. She is present in the comics that I
                     am transcribing, though not within any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
                     SOURCE: “Mary Jane Watson - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source
                     for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS,
                     https://marvel.com/universe/Watson,_Mary_Jane.</note>
               </person>
               <person xml:id="Amara_Perera">
                  <note>(FRIEND) She is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in any
                     of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. She serves as Tony's love interest for
                     these comics, which is a vast difference from that of his love interest of
                     Pepper Potts within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. SOURCE: “Amara Perera
                     (Earth-616).” Marvel Database,
                     http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Amara_Perera_(Earth-616).</note>
               </person>
            </listPerson>
         </particDesc>
         <settingDesc>
            <listPlace>
               <place xml:id="Workshop_of_Tony_Stark">
                  <note>This is where Tony creates the various versions of his armor while also
                     working on projects for Stark Industries. SOURCE: "Tony Stark's Mansion" Marvel
                     Cinematic Universe Wiki,
                     http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/Tony_Stark%27s_Mansion</note>
               </place>
               <place xml:id="Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology">
                  <note>A non-fictional university in a fictional story. MIT or the Massachusetts
                     Institute of Technology was founded in 1861. This university is known for both
                     its research and education in the STEM fields. Tony Stark entered MIT at age 15
                     and went on to study electrical engineering. He then received Master's degrees
                     in both physics and electrical engineering. In Iron Man (2008) it was
                     incorrectly stated that Stark graduated from MIT summa cum laude, but MIT does
                     not actually graduate students with honors. SOURCE: “MIT History.” MIT
                     Libraries Archives | MIT Facts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
                     www.libraries.mit.edu/mithistory/mit-facts/.</note>
               </place>
            </listPlace>
         </settingDesc>
      </profileDesc>
   </teiHeader>
   <text>
      <body>
         <div n="1" type="frame">
            <head rend="uppercase"><persName ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony
                  Stark</hi></persName><hi rend="bold">'s Internal Monologue in </hi><hi
                  rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi></hi></head>
            <stage type="setting">Tony Stark is seen sitting alone in his <placeName
                  ref="#Workshop_of_Tony_Stark">workshop</placeName>, which is referred to sometimes
               as his "church" and is often simultaneously both a place of solace and great
               distress. In both the films and the comic books, it's canon that Tony goes to his
               workshop when he needs an escape from the real world, whether it's issues within the
               Avengers or a mission gone wrong. His desk is in disarray, covered with fast food,
               various blueprints for the Iron Man armor, and even a tablet displaying a news
               article titled "TONY STARK YESTERDAY'S FUTURE: Is the Iron Age over?". Tony's only
               company while he solders and adjusts his armor are his numerous versions of the Iron
               Man armor, some of the versions of the armor include: Mark XXXIII, Mark XXX, Mark IV,
               Mark XXXIX, Mark XVI, Mark XXV, Mark XXXVII, Mark VII, War Machine Mark II, War
               Machine Mark III, War Machine Mark VI, and War Machine Armor Mark I. Though even
               those aforementioned armors seem to be separated from the space which Tony is
               occupying during this excerpt.</stage>
            <stage type="action">Throughout this division of the comic, Tony is seen modifying a
               version of his Iron Man armor<note>“Heroes aren’t born, they’re built,” was the
                  tag-line for the first Iron Man film when the trailer was released in
               2007.</note>. He is seen soldering as well as adjusting the armor directly onto his
               body. At the end of the excerpt the reader's viewpoint is changed and we see Tony
               Stark admiring his newly finished armor, seen displayed on a pedestal and removed
               from the wall of armors in his <placeName ref="#Workshop_of_Tony_Stark"
                  >workshop</placeName>, singled out. This armor is a more streamlined version,
               though not to the extent of the Bleeding Edge armor. The Bleeding Edge armor is an
               armor that is actually stored inside of Tony Stark's body using neurokinetic
               user-controlled morphologic nanoparticle bundles until he mentally commands the armor
               to form to his body, taking any form he commands. This armor can also dissociate from
               Tony's body and transform into the Iron Man armor whenever Tony wishes it to. He
               monologues throughout this entire excerpt, only interrupted by F.R.I.D.A.Y. at the
               very end, which then leads into the next excerpt which is Tony bantering with his
               aforementioned A.I., F.R.I.D.A.Y., in his workshop.</stage>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="false">
                     <l>I get so busy.</l>
                     <l>Saving the world<note>Some naysayers believe that since Tony being a part of
                           the military industrial complex and selling weapons was disgusting and
                           irredeemable, something which Tony is aware of. He knows that he can
                           never wash the blood off of his hand, but he does try to consistently
                           change his ways and is truly sorry.</note>.</l>
                     <l>Avenging<note>If Tony was as self-serving as many Marvel fans claim he is,
                           then why wouldn’t he have just gone back into his workshop after being
                           rescued and improved his weapons so that the U.S. military could fight
                           those terrorists and blow them off of the face of the planet?</note>.
                           Guarding<note>Iron Man and his subsequent stories show that sometimes
                           those men who are on top are the ones who truly fuel terrorism and
                           terrorist organizations, not just the terrorists themselves.</note>.</l>
                     <l>Putting out fires<note>Stark stopped making weapons when he finally saw all
                           the destruction that they caused, yes he was incredibly ignorant to it
                           beforehand but he learned and grew from it. He was aware of what weapons
                           do and he took the criticism that he faced and countered it using jokes
                           and false confidence. He was called the “da Vinci of Death” and took on
                           that mantle proudly because it was Howard’s legacy and Tony felt that he
                           had to fill those shoes. But when he experienced his weapons in the wrong
                           hands, then he knew. He knew that the military wasn’t doing what it
                           should to protect people (like Americans often say) and he knew that
                           innocent lives were being lost during the skirmishes between terrorist
                           groups and the U.S. military, and his weapons were helping, this is when
                           he truly learned accountability.</note>.</l>
                     <l>(Metaphorical and real actual fires.)</l>
                     <l>Reeling from the fact that my parents aren't really my parents<note>Howard
                           and Maria Stark, who're believed to be Tony's parents both in the films
                           and in the comics, are revealed to not actually be Tony's biological
                           parents. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was revealed that the
                           Winter Soldier assassinated Howard and Maria Stark on HYDRA's orders in
                              <hi rend="italic">Captain America: Civil War (2016)</hi>. Zemo's
                           family was killed in the battle of Sokovia during <hi rend="italic"
                              >Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)</hi>, 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 <hi
                              rend="italic">Captain America: Civil War (2016)</hi> 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.</note>.</l>
                     <l>Then completely not dealing with the fact that my parents<note>In the Marvel
                           Cinematic Universe, Tony's relationship with his parents (but Howard
                           Stark, his father, specifically) is touched upon in most of the films,
                           but specifically in <hi rend="italic">Iron Man 2 (2010)</hi>. 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: <hi rend="italic"><hi
                                 rend="bold">Howard Stark:</hi> 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] <hi rend="bold">Howard Stark:</hi> 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.</hi></note> aren't really my parents <hi rend="italic"><hi
                              rend="bold">on any level</hi></hi>.</l>
                     <l>I'm out there--giving the people what they want.</l>
                     <l>(Or what they think they want...)</l>
                     <l>Saving the world, punching the bad guy<note>In my personal opinion, Tony
                           Stark and Thor are the two characters with the most character development
                           in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony went from being an ignorant
                           weapons seller to a superhero who takes his intellect and uses it for the
                           better and lays his life down on the line countless times. Thor went from
                           being an unworthy prince to a king worthy of leading his people, no
                           matter where they may be. Both men have suffered great loss, they’ve lost
                           their parents, their homes, been betrayed by those they believed to be
                           their friends, yet they still fight for the greater good. They both
                           could’ve become disillusioned and dropped of the radar and done their own
                           thing, but they didn’t, they continued fighting the good fight. In the
                           end they have become the two greatest heroes in the Marvel Cinematic
                           Universe.</note>...and before I know it this
                        once-groundbreaking-piece-of-tech suit that defines me is old hat.</l>
                     <l>It's cliche.</l>
                     <l>Some 15-year-old at <placeName ref="#Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology"
                           >M.I.T.</placeName><note>This is a reference to Riri Williams, which is
                           especially fitting due to the fact that Riri's own comic series to
                           published shortly after these comics that I'm transcribing. Riri is a
                           certified super genius and was certified as so when she was only
                           five-years-old. When Riri was eleven-years-old she was given a
                           scholarship at M.I.T., the university wherein Tony Stark received his
                           education. She, much like Tony, enjoys challenging herself and decided to
                           reverse-engineer the Iron Man armor Mark XLI, thus leading into her
                           creating her own prototype version of the armor. When Riri eventually
                           returned home, she was approached by Tony Stark himself and endorsed Riri
                           as a superhero. Though, this endorsement occurs after the events in
                           Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot.</note> reverse engineers it on a dare
                        and posts it online.</l>
                     <l>(Dick.)</l>
                     <l>I'm supposed to be so ahead of the curve no one else can even see the
                           curve<note>Stark is a known futurist, meaning someone who is concerned
                           with events and trends of the future or which anticipate the future.
                           Tony, as a scientist and a mechanic and a businessman, must always keep
                           the future in mind. In the third Iron Man film, he even states: "Some
                           people say progress is a bad thing. But try having a magnet in your chest
                           keeping you alive."</note>.</l>
                     <l>But it's my fault.</l>
                     <l>I <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">promised</hi></hi> myself I would spend
                        some shop time every week<note>During all three solo Iron Man films,
                           especially Iron Man 3 (2013), Tony is seen pushing his limits and doing
                           what would be considered unhealthy by most, at times going days without
                           sleep solely to work on and improve his suits.</note>.</l>
                     <l>I <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">promised</hi></hi>.</l>
                     <l>First of all, I'm a better person to be around when I spend a little time in
                        my church.</l>
                     <l>This is my meditation.</l>
                     <l>This is alone time with my favorite person. Me.</l>
                     <l>(If only that were true<note>Tony, both in the films and in the comic books,
                           displays "textbook narcissism" while also being self-deprecating and
                           displaying signs of self-loathing. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Iron
                           Man encompasses comic Tony Stark's narcissism, especially within the
                           first Iron Man film. Though as time progresses alongside the films, you
                           see Tony begin to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders, leaning
                           more towards self-loathing than narcissitic. Initially learning about the
                           shady arms deals done using his company's weapons and seeing them used by
                           terrorist groups, you can see Downey Jr.'s portrayal go from playboy to
                           CEO who holds himself responsible for the dealings of his company. Tony
                           Stark takes it upon himself to track down his illegally sold weapons and
                           destroy them and the terrorist groups who have them in their
                           possession.</note>.)</l>
                     <l>But I need this time for me and I need it for him<note>Referring to the Iron
                           Man armor and a living being, i.e. "him", is something that's done in
                           both the films as well as the comics. Tony treating his armor as a
                           sentient being is something that is in all of the films, but is truly
                           evident and obvious in the third Iron Man film. He refers to the various
                           armors he's created as his prodigal son ("I'll be damned. The prodigal
                           son returns." When referring to the Mark XLII.), During the third film,
                           we see Tony experiencing an on-going struggle with mental illnesses,
                           specifically Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. Tony tries to
                           take the anxiety he feels and channel it into his work, thus explaining
                           the extreme influx of armors he created during the third Iron Man
                           film.</note>.</l>
                     <l>My armor<note>In the third Iron Man film, which is by far the most
                           introspective and gives the viewers the biggest insight into Tony's mind,
                           Tony narrates the following line: "My armor was never a distraction or a
                           hobby, it was a cocoon, and now I'm a changed man. You can take away my
                           house, all my tricks and toys, but one thing you can't take away - I am
                           Iron Man." This something that many tend to forget when discussing Tony
                           Stark as Iron Man. Even without the armor (referred to as "the suit" at
                           times as well, the films usually refer to it as such), Tony is still Iron
                           Man. He created the armor from nothing, and it's his resilience and
                           passion for the greater good that makes him Iron Man.</note> needs to
                        grow and evolve. It needs to surprise everyone and at the same time be that
                        thing everyone can count on.</l>
                     <l>It's all my metaphors.</l>
                     <l>And I've had these new ideas for this guy rolling around in my head for
                        months and it's well past time I--</l>
                     <l>Oh...</l>
                     <l>I--I think I did it.</l>
                     <l>This--This will work, won't it?</l>
                     <l>Damn.</l>
                     <l>I would totally kiss me right now if not for my fear of beard burn.</l>
                     <l>My new armor.</l>
                     <l>I finally found a way to merge all my different armor modes into
                           one<note>Throughout both the original comics and the films, you see
                           Tony's armor develop from the Mark I armor made in a cave during his time
                           in captivity, to the Bleeding Edge armor. The Bleeding Edge armor is an
                           armor that is actually stored inside of Tony Stark's body using
                           neurokinetic user-controlled morphologic nanoparticle bundles until he
                           mentally commands the armor to form to his body, taking any form he
                           commands. This armor can also dissociate from Tony's body and transform
                           into the Iron Man armor whenever Tony wishes it to. His original Mark I
                           was clunky and resembled a metal rendition of the Michelin Man, though
                           that quip isn't meant to belittle the ingenuity and intellect it takes to
                           make a weaponized armor in a cave with little to no supplies.</note>.</l>
                     <l>Armor that can change shape and color scheme based on mission stats.</l>
                     <l>Armor not attached to my biology in that way that freaks just about
                        everybody out but is completely attached to my brain synapses.</l>
                     <l>I have to take this out.</l>
                  </said></p>
               <said aloud="true">
                  <p>
                     <l>I'm going to take this out.</l>
                  </p>
               </said>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName><note>It is my personal
                     belief that if Tony had J.A.R.V.I.S. in the suit when he saw the footage of his
                     parents being killed by the Winter Soldier instead of F.R.I.D.A.Y. that the no
                     holds barred fight between Iron Man and Captain America and the Winter Soldier
                     would’ve ended very differently or not happened at all.</note></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No you're not.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
         </div>
         <div n="2" type="frame">
            <head rend="uppercase"><hi rend="bold">Banter Between </hi><persName ref="#Friday"><hi
                     rend="bold">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</hi></persName><hi rend="bold"> &amp; </hi><persName
                  ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony Stark</hi></persName><hi rend="bold"> in
                  </hi><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1:
                  Reboot</hi></hi></head>
            <stage type="setting">F.R.I.D.A.Y. is shown sitting (in her holographic form) on a bench
               in Tony Stark's <placeName ref="#Workshop_of_Tony_Stark">workshop</placeName>. She is
               seen reading through her, also holographic, tablet. Seen hovering throughout the
               entire workshop are holograms displaying various data, though what they are exactly
               is unknown. Within the Iron Man films, the holograms within the workshop usually
               contain blueprints of the armors or any current R&amp;D project<note>In the third
                  Iron Man film, Tony even places a sticky note on the glass door of his workshop
                  that states "Stark Industries R&amp;D Dept.".</note> that Tony is working on for
               Stark Industries. The reader is given a viewpoint not seen in the first excerpt,
               offering a new perspective which displays the vastness of the workshop. Tony Stark
               mostly stays near his aforementioned armor during this excerpt, but is seen running
               from the workshop after F.R.I.D.A.Y. informs him that he'll be late for his date with
               Amara Perera, a biophysicist who shares a similar level of intellect in comparison to
               Tony.</stage>
            <stage type="action">F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s body language doesn't change throughout the entire
               excerpt, she is seen on the bench scrolling through her tablet for the entirety of
               the excerpt, looking unaffected even when Tony runs out of the workshop in disarray.
               Whereas Tony is seen pacing around the pedestal wherein his armor is displayed.
               Tony's body language has an air of being chastised after F.R.I.D.A.Y. reminds him of
               his date with Amara Perera. In the last frame of the excerpt, Tony is seen running
               out of the workshop looking visibly distressed due to the fact that he's not close to
               being ready for his date and is already running behind schedule.</stage>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Friday, how long have you been not really sitting there?<note>While Tony
                           seems to treat F.R.I.D.A.Y. as purely an A.I. with this flippant quip, he
                           actually treats F.R.I.D.A.Y., J.A.R.V.I.S., and his bots (Butterfingers,
                           U, and DUM-E) as members of his family; maybe even more so than Howard
                           and Maria Stark were. It is canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that
                           Tony has had his bots since he was at M.I.T., and hasn’t upgraded them or
                           try to rid them of any imperfections. Tony, both in the movies and the
                           comics, isn't the greatest at displaying affection. This could be
                           credited to growing up in a household wherein his butler, Edwin Jarvis,
                           was his biggest parental figure or due to the fact that he had to grow up
                           too quickly due to the death of his parents and having to take up the
                           company mantle. When it comes to both giving and receiving affection,
                           specifically platonic affection, Stark either shrugs it off or uses
                           sarcasm as a defense mechanism. Tony's banter with F.R.I.D.A.Y. and
                           J.A.R.V.I.S. and the bots in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems like an
                           offhanded thing to focus on, but these nuanced interactions are as
                           crucial to the characterization of Tony Stark as his iconic facial hair
                           is.</note></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>The entire time.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I didn't create your holo-A.I. to creep me out<note>In sharp contrast of the
                           films, in the comics there is a somewhat physical form of Tony's A.I.s,
                           whereas in the films there are no physical forms of either of the A.I.s,
                           the only somewhat physical form either of them have is when some of
                           J.A.R.V.I.S.'s coding is used to create Vision, though that's not
                           actually a physical form of the A.I., just a way to preserve some of the
                           code.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No, you created me to be a little pal who helps you keep your head screwed
                        on straight<note>This use of an A.I. differs from the use of both
                           J.A.R.V.I.S. and F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the films. F.R.I.D.A.Y., in this
                           iteration of the comics, encompasses the role of what both J.A.R.V.I.S.
                           and Pepper Potts do in the films. While F.R.I.D.A.Y. serves as a system
                           and second set of eyes to assist with calibration and calculations for
                           the armor (just like film-J.A.R.V.I.S. and film-F.R.I.D.A.Y.) while also
                           helping Stark with his commitments to Stark Industries (like Pepper Potts
                           does in the films). While Tony may be the CEO of Stark Industries and it
                           is his family's business, he's not a business man at heart. He's a
                           mechanic.</note>.</l>
                     <l>You can't go out now.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I can.</l>
                     <l>I have free will and everything.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You have to charge the armor from scratch<note>Both F.R.I.D.A.Y. and
                           J.A.R.V.I.S. try and keep Tony grounded (though Stark's stubborness
                           sometimes wins out). In the first Iron Man film when Tony tries out the
                           Mark II armor for the first time, he and J.A.R.V.I.S. have the following
                           conversation: <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic"
                              >J.A.R.V.I.S.:</hi></hi><hi rend="italic"> [while Tony is wearing the
                              Mark II Armor] Test complete. Preparing to power down and begin
                              diagnostics... </hi><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Tony
                              Stark:</hi></hi><hi rend="italic"> Uh, yeah, tell you what. Do a
                              weather and ATC check, start listening in on ground control. </hi><hi
                              rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">J.A.R.V.I.S.:</hi></hi><hi rend="italic"
                              > Sir, there are still terabytes of calculations required before an
                              actual flight is... </hi><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Tony
                                 Stark:</hi></hi><hi rend="italic"> Jarvis... sometimes you gotta
                              run before you can walk.</hi></note>.</l>
                     <l>That will take at least three hours.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Ugh!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>And <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">you</hi></hi> have a date in an
                        hour.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>A date?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Dr. Amara Perera.</l>
                     <l>The lovely Sri Lankan biophysicist that you met at the Dubai Conference
                        for--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Amara Perera.</l>
                     <l>Oh, I liked her.<note>Stark has a reputation in both the comics and the
                           movies as being a playboy. Though his title of playboy, at least in the
                           Marvel Cinematic Universe, seems a lot less deserved after the first Iron
                           Man film installment. Some fans even say that after Tony became Iron Man,
                           he had something of a reversed mid-life crisis, wherein he went on a
                           straight and narrow path instead of going off the rails like some other
                           middle-aged men do. Though Tony does refer to himself as a playboy in the
                           Avengers (2012) film when Steve Rogers AKA Captain America asks what
                           Stark would be without the Iron Man armor ("Take the suit away and what
                           are you?") and Tony responds with the iconic line of "genius,
                           billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". At this point in the comics, Tony
                           and Pepper are no longer together, something alluded to in Captain
                           America: Civil War, but then reconciled in Spider-Man:
                        Homecoming.</note></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Yes.</l>
                     <l>You'll be late soon.</l>
                     <l>Don't be late. Women do not find it cute.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, like you know.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No woman on the planet Earth<note>It is actually canon in the comics that
                           Tony slept with non-human women, specifically Gamora, a member of the
                           Guardians of the Galaxy.</note> has <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic"
                              >ever </hi></hi>found it charming.</l>
                     <l>They call it strike one.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
         </div>
         <div n="3" type="frame">
            <head rend="uppercase"><hi rend="bold">Conversation Between </hi><persName
                  ref="#Amara_Perera"><hi rend="bold">Amara Perera</hi></persName><hi rend="bold">
                  &amp; </hi><persName ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony
                  Stark</hi></persName><hi rend="bold"> in </hi><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold"
                     >Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi></hi></head>
            <stage type="setting">This scene takes place in Amara Perera's office at the <placeName
                  ref="#Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology">Massachusetts Institute of
                  Technology</placeName>, where she works. Tony Stark is an alumnus of the
               Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which could bring up the point that we go back
               to somewhere familiar from our past in times of turmoil. The biophysicist's office is
               quite tidy and Tony Stark was easily able to find a space on her office floor to sit
               himself down on, not taking the available chair at her desk.</stage>
            <stage type="action">Before the excerpt begins, Dr. Perera is finishing up her work in
               one of the MIT labratories and then begins her trek back to her office. She is seen
               using fingerprint recognition software in order to unlock her office door, hence her
               surprise when she stumbles across Tony Stark is dejectedly sitting on her floor.
               Tony's body language is closed off, while Amara stands with her arms crossed somewhat
               defensively, possibly due to the failed date that occurred earlier in this
               compilation of comics. During their entire exchange, Tony stays on the floor and
               Amara remains standing, essentially towering above him.</stage>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Don't scream, Amara...</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Jesus!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Sorry.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Tony!</l>
                     <l>What are you doing in here?!</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I wanted to talk to you.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You could call or you could--Wait, how did you even get in here? There's a
                        security pad.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, uh, sorry.</l>
                     <l>I let myself in.</l>
                     <l>But...cute security pad<note>Tony's mentality about the greatness of his
                           creations and their superiority over other technology is something that's
                           well deserved. He's not merely being cocky, he knows that his creations
                           are great, especially in comparison to some of his competition. Justin
                           Hammer, one of the villains in the second Iron Man film, produces
                           HammerTech (a supposed competitor of Stark Industries, but there's
                           honestly no competition) and here's some snarky dialogue between Rhodey
                           and Tony from that film: <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Tony
                                 Stark:</hi> [Rhodey has just launched the "ex wife" weapon, which
                              bounces off Vanko with no effect] Hammer Tech? <hi rend="bold">Col.
                                 James 'Rhodey' Rhodes:</hi> [Looks dejected] Yeah.</hi></note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I was right next door in my lab.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I would <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">never</hi></hi> interrupt a
                        scientist in their church. Never.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>What happened to you?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I almost died tonight<note>Tony does have a lack of self-preservation at
                           times, especially illustrated when he was being held at gunpoint in the
                           third Iron Man film and was focused on Harley’s sister’s watch that he
                           was borrowing. Stark was told it was a limited edition Dora the Explorer
                           watch and it was his first priority that that watch made it out of this
                           in one piece so that he could return it to Harley Keener.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm sorry.</l>
                     <l>Wait, don't you almost die a <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic"
                           >lot?</hi></hi><note>She's not wrong...</note></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Yeah, but I don't much care for it.<note>Tony may seem flippant with this
                           statement, but both readers of the comics and viewers of the films can
                           tell the toll that being a superhero has taken on Tony. Robert Downey
                           Jr.'s portrayal in the first Iron Man film has a stark contrast to that
                           of the Tony Stark we see in later films. The portrayal of Stark that we
                           see in the first Iron Man film is that of a man who has been betrayed by
                           his "uncle" and essentially his last living relative, but throughout the
                           overall film you see his passion for creating the armor and his fierce
                           desire to help those in need, specifically people hurt by the illegal
                           trading of his company's weapons. As time progresses in the Marvel
                           Cinematic Universe, we see Tony become more and more disillusioned with
                           being a hero. That's not to say that Tony no longer wishes to help those
                           in need, its just that the real world begins to play a huge role. After
                           Tony Stark reveals he's Iron Man at the end of the 2008 film, he seems to
                           be "in the clear" more or less. But, once we see him again in the Iron
                           Man sequel, we see Tony struggling with palladium poisoning caused by his
                           arc reactor and exacerbated by using the Iron Man armor. J.A.R.V.I.S.
                           even points out the irony that the thing supposed to save his life is in
                           actuality killing him. In addition to palladium poisoning, Stark faces
                           pressure from the U.S. government and the United Nations in later films,
                           specifically when it comes to Captain America: Civil and the Sokovia
                           Accords. These accords are created in order to make superheroes and
                           vigilantes more accountable for the damage they cause when they try and
                           do good. These accords cause tension within the Avengers, and Tony, who
                           has inevitably been doing this superhero business the longest, is well
                           aware of the need for accountability. Stark himself experienced being
                           held accountable for his actions on a large scale, even before he was
                           officially Iron Man and saw that his weapons business was illegally
                           trading with terrorist organizations. Being accountable is a huge aspect
                           of being a superhero, though since it doesn't have the sexiness that many
                           other aspects have, it is often pushed to the side until it can no longer
                           be ignored.</note></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You came here to tell me you almost died running around in your suit of
                        armor that you put on specifically to get into fights with bad guys and
                        monsters?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Well, when you put it that way, I sound insane.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm sorry if I sound flip.</l>
                     <l>You've rattled me, coming in here like this.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No, <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">I'm</hi></hi> sorry.</l>
                     <l>I've been thinking about you all day, and...when the adrenaline subsided
                        from today's near-death experience...</l>
                     <l>(Which in itself is never easy...)</l>
                     <l>...I just wanted to see you.</l>
                     <l>I wanted to tell you I didn't run out on our date because you wouldn't kiss
                        me.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I didn't think that.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Not even a little?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Only a little.</l>
                     <l>Can I get you some tea?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I absolutely hate tea<note>Tony's love for coffee is canon in all forms of
                           his characterization. From the films, to the comics, and even in
                           fanfiction, Stark's science binges are always accompanied by a mug (or
                           even an entire pot) of coffee. Even DUM-E, one of Tony's bots, tries to
                           make coffee for his "father", but often adds in inedible ingredients he
                           finds within the workshop, such as motor oil.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Would you like some anyhow?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Sure.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Don't you have other super hero friends<note>This could be referring to any
                           number of heroes within the Marvel Comics: Wasp, Captain America,
                           Princess Shuri, Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and many more.</note>
                        that you can commiserate with when things like this happen?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>In my line of work...there's always somebody with a much worse
                           story<note>Throughout both the films and the comics, Tony tries to use
                           his own struggle with grief and trauma in order to find solutions that
                           would benefit others as well. In the films, he even explicitly stated
                           that he wanted to stop the cycle of abuse and neglect that Howard
                           started.</note>.</l>
                     <l><hi rend="italic">"Oh man, I almost died tonight."</hi><note>This could be
                           literally referring to any superhero or anti-hero within the Marvel
                           universe.</note></l>
                     <l><hi rend="italic">"Yeah? I was almost eaten by Galactus."</hi>
                        <hi rend="italic">"Oh yeah? I died and was resurrected as my own
                           child."</hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>And you found yourself thinking about me?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I might not actually have a lot of friends<note>While many believe that Tony
                           is constantly surrounded by friends, this didn’t really seem to be the
                           case in the second Iron Man film. Stark was dying of palladium poisoning
                           while simultaneously displaying signs of suicide (i.e. acting restless,
                           getting rid of his possessions, increasing the use of alcohol,
                           withdrawing, showing rage, etc.) but no one seemed to realize. Everyone
                           around him considered this to be normal and just saw these signs as Tony
                           acting out. In this second film, essentially the whole shtick is that
                           Tony’s too unstable and self-destructive to wear the suit, but then
                           people still go to his birthday party and drunkenly cheers him on as he
                           destroys his own home with the armor. People treat this as a amusement
                           park attraction and run close and try to snap photos, and his closest
                           friends just see this as him being difficult and just belligerent, but
                           aren't actually all that concerned for him.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You do.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I know a lot of people, but...</l>
                     <l>...People don't want to hear me talk about any of my problems
                        because--Well...</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You're rich<note>While Tony is often thought of as the richest superhero,
                           often saddled with Bruce Wayne AKA Batman, he is actually not the
                           wealthiest comic book character in either the Marvel Universe or even DC
                           Comics. T'Challa AKA Black Panther is actually said to be worth about $90
                           trillion, which is vastly more than Tony's $12 billion net
                        worth.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I can see their eyes glaze over.</l>
                     <l>I can hear the <hi rend="italic">"aw, poor baby."</hi></l>
                     <l>Like my problems aren't problems.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Money can't buy happiness? That is disappointing to hear.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Sorry to be the one to break it to you.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Maybe you don't know a lot of people that challenge you intellectually.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>A few. But they are very, I want to say--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Amara_Perera">AMARA PERERA</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Cocky?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Insane<note>This is referring to Doctor Doom, specifically for this
                           iteration of the comic, but could also be referring to Magneto, Madame
                           Hydra, and even the Trickster God Loki.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
         </div>
         <div n="4" type="frame">
            <head rend="uppercase"><persName ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony
                  Stark</hi></persName><hi rend="bold">'s Internal Monologue/Conversation Between
                  </hi><persName ref="#Friday"><hi rend="bold">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</hi></persName><hi
                  rend="bold"> &amp; </hi><persName ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony
                     Stark</hi></persName><hi rend="bold"> in </hi><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold"
                     >Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi></hi></head>
            <stage type="setting">Tony Stark and the holographic version of F.R.I.D.A.Y. are seen
               back in Tony's <placeName ref="#Workshop_of_Tony_Stark">workshop</placeName>. Again,
               we see an additional view of the workshop, not seen in the first two excerpts. Tony
               and F.R.I.D.A.Y. are surrounded with holograms and seem to be deep in discussion.
               They seem to be standing on some sort of platform and are surrounded by cases
               containing various versions of the Iron Man armor. The way that the armor is
               displayed is reminiscent of a doll or bobblehead collector, a stark contrast to how
               all the armors were bunch together and put against the wall in an earlier portion of
               the comic.</stage>
            <stage type="action">Tony's body language displays his frustration caused by not
               understanding the two separate situations regarding Madame Masque and Doctor Doom.
               F.R.I.D.A.Y. tries to keep him calm and focused while also simultaneously reminding
               him of his other responsibilities aside from being a superhero. Tony looks
               disgruntled throughout the entire excerpt and makes this more than known to
               F.R.I.D.A.Y. both with what he says and with how he acts.</stage>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="false">
                     <l><persName ref="#Giuletta_Nefaria">Madame Masque</persName> is on a mad tear
                        power quest.</l>
                     <l>Biohack ninjas with no connections to anything and anyone are after her.</l>
                     <l>And now, if there are any more, and there's always more, they'll be after
                        me.</l>
                     <l><persName ref="#Doctor_Doom">Doctor Doom</persName> is up to completely
                        Un-Doom-like shenanigans and thinks we're best friends now.</l>
                  </said></p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Hey, <persName ref="#Friday">Friday</persName>, any <persName
                           ref="#Doctor_Doom">Doctor Doom</persName> sightings?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I would have told you.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I like asking.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>We are getting reports that someone broke into the Tokyo Stark Tower.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I see it.</l>
                     <l>And they completely scrambled all my fancy security systems to do so.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>This happened a couple of days ago and the Tokyo Stark Tower Security Chief
                        is just filing the report now.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>A couple of <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">days</hi></hi> ago? He can
                        file the report on his way out the door.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Yes, sir.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Not for the break-in. For the ass-covering.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I got that.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Make sure everyone over there gets it, too.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, they will.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>And I want his accounts and house searched. And I want the entire building
                        inventoried.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Already on it.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I can't figure this out, Friday. Where is <persName ref="#Giuletta_Nefaria"
                           >Madame Masque</persName><note>It is canon in the comics that Tony slept
                           with Madame Masque: <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Charles
                                 Xavier:</hi> Please tell me that this is not why we called this
                              meeting. <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> No, actually— <hi
                                 rend="bold">Stephen Strange:</hi> But she is. <hi rend="bold">Tony
                                 Stark:</hi> Hey, I can top all of you. I slept with Madame Masque,
                              so… <hi rend="bold">Stephen Strange:</hi> I don’t know who that is.
                                 <hi rend="bold">Namor:</hi> Who? <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi>
                              Metal face, kind of looks like Doctor Doom. <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Namor:</hi> Why would you sleep with a woman who looks like Doctor
                              Doom? <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> Okay, moving
                        on.</hi></note>?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>What is the simplest answer?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, I have no idea.</l>
                     <l>You programed me to say that.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Well, take that phrase out of the program. That is entirely annoying of
                        me.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>The good news is you get to put this away and come back to it.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Absolutely not.</l>
                     <l>This is everything until further notice.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You have St. Jude's in 45 minutes.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I have a doctor's appointment?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>The children.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm visiting sick kids?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>In 45 minutes.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You'll have to bump it.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>There's that <hi rend="italic">"no"</hi> again.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You told me no canceling this no matter what.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Well, now I'm telling you--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>PAST <persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName> HOLOGRAM</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Listen, Tony, this is Tony from three days ago.</l>
                     <l>We're not canceling on the sick kids. You already bumped them three times
                        for the Avengers/Saving-The-World-Related emergencies, but...</l>
                     <l>I don't care if <persName ref="#Whiplash">Whiplash</persName>, <persName
                           ref="#Blackout">Blackout</persName> and <persName ref="#Paladin"
                           >Paladin</persName> magically fuse into one decent criminal
                        adversary...</l>
                     <l>...You are not canceling on these kids.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Okay.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>PAST <persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName> HOLOGRAM</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I don't care if Thanos is marrying Pepper in Times Square and Justin Hammer
                        is giving the bride away. You do not cancel.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Okay.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>PAST <persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName> HOLOGRAM</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I don't care if Scarlet Witch says "No More Tonys" and--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">OKAY!!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
         </div>
         <div n="5" type="frame">
            <head rend="uppercase"><hi rend="bold">Conversation Between St. Jude's Patients &amp;
                  </hi><persName ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony Stark</hi></persName><hi
                  rend="bold"> in </hi><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1:
                     Reboot</hi></hi><hi rend="bold"> &amp; Tony Stark's Interactions with
                  </hi><persName ref="#Victor_von_Doom"><hi rend="bold">Victor von
                  Doom</hi></persName><hi rend="bold"> in </hi><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold"
                     >Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot </hi></hi></head>
            <stage type="setting">Tony is seen walking into St. Jude's Childrens Hospital in New
               York. He walks into a treatment room of sorts and is greeted by a gaggle of sick
               children and their parents. The majority of this excerpt takes place within that
               treatment room, until Doctor Doom confronts Tony and they make their way onto the
               rooftop of the hospital.</stage>
            <stage type="action">Despite Tony's earlier reluctance to come to this event due to the
               fact that he wanted to continue his investigations into Madame Masque and Doctor
               Doom, he seems genuinely enthusiastic to be there with the kids. He banters and
               smiles with the kids and acts like a proud father when some of his suits make an
               appearance for the kids. His easy-going attitude and openness don't last long due to
               the fact that Doctor Doom interrupts this session. Children are seen standing with
               their parents, sitting on beds, and when the armors come out, investigating those and
               standing closely.</stage>
            <sp>
               <speaker>ST. JUDE'S DOCTOR</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>And here he is...</l>
                     <l>The Invincible Iron Man...<hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Tony
                           Stark</hi></hi>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Hey, kids!</l>
                     <l>Hi!</l>
                     <l>Hi!</l>
                     <l>Hi, guys...</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Yay!</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Wait! Where is it?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Where is what?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You know...</l>
                     <l>Cough it up.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="italic">"Cough it up?"</hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Max...</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Cough <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">what</hi></hi> up?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>The <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">armor</hi></hi>, duh<note>The
                           interactions between Tony and Max are eerily reminiscent of the
                           conversations during <hi rend="italic">Iron Man 3 (2013)</hi> between
                           Tony and Harley Keener. Tony happens upon Harley when he breaks into his
                           family's garage with the Iron Man armor needing to repair it. Harley has
                           a great interest in the armor, even more so than Tony himself. Harley's
                           so interested in the armor that he even suggests changes to make: <hi
                              rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Harley Keener:</hi> Anyways, I would
                              have added in, um, the retro... <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi>
                              Retro-reflective panels? <hi rend="bold">Harley Keener:</hi> To make
                              him stealth mode. <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> You want a stealth
                              mode. <hi rend="bold">Harley Keener:</hi> Cool, right? <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Tony Stark:</hi> That's actually a good idea. Maybe I'll build
                              one.</hi> In addition to this interaction with Harley, there's also a
                           moment wherein Harley accidentally breaks a finger off of the armor while
                           fiddling with it. He chastises Harley and you can almost see his thought
                           process and see that he realizes that he sounds like Howard. Realizing
                           this, he composes himself and tells Harley that it's okay and he'll fix
                           it. This chastisement is an almost parallel to scene in the second Iron
                           Man film wherein Tony watches old film footage of his father and sees his
                           father berating the younger version of himself for messing with a display
                           model.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, the <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">armor</hi></hi>.</l>
                     <l>You guys wanted to see the <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic"
                        >armor</hi></hi>.</l>
                     <l>Oh man, it's not here.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>What?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>It's being cleaned.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You didn't bring the <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">armor</hi></hi>?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Who cleans it?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>The car wash.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You're so lying.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Max.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I like this kid.</l>
                     <l>Reminds me of a young Hulk<note>It is comically canon, though not stated in
                           the comics I’m transcribing, that Tony has seven doctorates. He and the
                           Hulk had the following conversation: <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold"
                                 >Tony Stark:</hi> I’m getting weird readings. <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Hulk:</hi> We’re not alone. <hi rend="italic">Tony Stark:</hi> 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.</hi>
                           Ironically, Bruce Banner stated in <hi rend="italic">Thor: Ragnarok
                              (2017)</hi> that he also has seven doctorates.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Dude, come on, where is it?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I didn't bring my armor.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Awww...</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I brought a <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">bunch</hi></hi> of
                           them<note>This vast array of armors that Tony brings for the children
                           isn't something that we really see in the films until the third
                           installment of the Iron Man films. He dubs it the "Iron Legion", and
                           these armors are a product of Tony's tinkering. The creation of these
                           armors stems from Tony struggling with the attack on Manhattan in <hi
                              rend="italic">Avengers (2012)</hi> and dealing with the PTSD and
                           anxiety that he struggles with post-attack. He channels this anxiety he
                           feels into creating armor and tinkering, and if these work binges prevent
                           him from sleeping which means no nightmares, then Tony sees little issue
                           with it.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Yeah!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Yes!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Dude!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">All right!</hi></hi></l>
                     <l>You're, like, my <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">favorite</hi></hi>
                        Avenger.</l>
                     <l>I'm not just saying that because Spider-Man isn't here.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You want to try one on?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>One what?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>The armor.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm too small for that.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Hmm, you're right.</l>
                     <l>I'm just noticing how <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">insanely</hi></hi>
                        short you are.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm eight<note/>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Don't tell me your problems<note>This banter between the two, especially
                           Tony essentially speaking to Max like an adult and treating him as a
                           peer, again is just like the interactions between Harley and Stark in the
                           third film. <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Harley Keener:</hi> Admit
                              it, you need me. We're connected. <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi>
                              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. <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> [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] <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Tony Stark:</hi> I'm sorry, kid, you did good. <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Harley Keener:</hi> So you're just gonna leave me here? Like my
                              dad? [Tony pauses] <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> [Casually] Yeah.
                              [Tony pauses again] <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> Wait, you're
                              guilt tripping me aren't you? [Harley buries head in coat] <hi
                                 rend="bold">Harley Keener:</hi> [Innocently] I'm cold. <hi
                                 rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> [Mimicking Harley] I can tell. You
                              know how I can tell? <hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> [Sarcastically]
                              Cause' we're connected! [Tony drives away] <hi rend="bold">Harley
                                 Keener:</hi> [Normal voice] It was worth a shot.</hi> 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.</note>.</l>
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Armor!<note>While the armor does
                                 transition Tony from businessman to superhero, there's something to
                                 keep in mind. The hero is the man, the fragile thing of flesh and
                                 blood and genius and courage, inside of the armor. The armor
                                 doesn't fight all these battles on its own with Tony piloting it
                                 from his workshop, he is inside the suit. A regular man trying his
                                 best.</note> Reconfigure!</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Whoa...</l>
                     <l>Oh.</l>
                     <l>Man.</l>
                     <l>Can I<note>This cautiousness that Max exhibits after badgering Tony and that
                           awe-inspired look that he displays in the comics is just like Harley
                           Keener in the third film. Both boys are brash at times, but they still
                           feel awe-inspired by the armor and what it can do. Plus they both take
                           Tony down a few pegs by focusing on the Iron Man armor, and not so much
                           the genius billionaire. The following passage of text highlights the
                           feeling of disbelief that both boys feel when seeing the armor up close
                           for the first time. <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi>
                              It's a... electromagnet. You should know. You've got a box of them
                              right here. [points at box on table] <hi rend="bold">Harley
                                 Keener:</hi> What does it power? [Stark points the table lamp
                              toward the Mark 42 armor sitting on the couch] <hi rend="bold">Harley
                                 Keener:</hi> Oh my God! [Harley approaches suit] <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Harley Keener:</hi> That's... is that... Iron Man? <hi rend="bold"
                                 >Tony Stark:</hi> Technically, I am Iron Man.</hi></note>?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Hop in.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Is it safe?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Sure.</l>
                     <l>It's safer <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">in there</hi></hi> than it is
                        out here.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Speaking of which...</l>
                     <l>Friday?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Clear skies.</l>
                     <l>No sign of <persName ref="#Giuletta_Nefaria">Madame Masque</persName>...</l>
                     <l>No sign of ninjas...</l>
                     <l>No sign of Doctor--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, come on...</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>--<persName ref="#Victor_von_Doom">Doom</persName>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Victor_von_Doom">Doctor Doom</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You can finish whatever this is you're doing...</l>
                     <l>I'll wait.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Are you <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">kidding</hi></hi> me?</l>
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Really?</hi></hi></l>
                     <l>In front of sick kids?</l>
                     <l>What <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">are</hi></hi> you?</l>
                     <l>Oh, yeah, you're Doctor Doom. You're a <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic"
                              >complete tool</hi></hi>.</l>
                     <l>Friday?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Doom clearly has a hybrid of mystic power and tech that makes him <hi
                           rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">untraceable</hi></hi> to our system.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Really?!</hi></hi></l>
                     <l>I swear to God, I liked you better when you were a masked<note>Fans of the
                           Fantastic Four films and comics know that Doctor Doom is often seen
                           donning a metal mask, a somewhat terrifying covering for his face
                           considering that there's only two slits for his eyes and one for his
                           mouth.</note>, maniacal maniac.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>Doctor Doom</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Maniacal maniac is redund--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Rooftop<note>Tony needing to have the villain leave the vicinity of the
                           innocents, specifically children, and bring the attention to only himself
                           is something that is done within both the films and the comics. When
                           Harley Keener is taken by one of Aldrich Killian's armed goons, Stark
                           quickly tries to free Harley and turns the attention onto himself. This
                           self-sacrificing mentality is something that directly offsets his
                           apparent narcissim. If he was so narcisstic, would he even both being a
                           superhero?</note>. Now.</l>
                     <l>Why are you <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">here?</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>Doctor Doom</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Why are <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">you?</hi></hi></l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Sick kids, you sick #$&amp;#%!</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker>Doctor Doom</speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>If you want to help them, cure them.</l>
                     <l>You're not a clown, you're a scientist.</l>
                     <l>A robotic systems scientist, but still, technically, a scientist.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Why are you here?</l>
                     <l>What do you want from me?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
         </div>
         <div n="6" type="frame">
            <head rend="uppercase"><hi rend="bold">Conversation Between </hi><persName
                  ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson"><hi rend="bold">Mary Jane Watson</hi></persName><hi
                  rend="bold"> &amp; </hi><persName ref="#Tony_Stark"><hi rend="bold">Tony
                     Stark</hi></persName><hi rend="bold"> in </hi><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold"
                     >Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot</hi></hi></head>
            <stage type="setting">Mary Jane Watson is seen sitting on a park bench in Central Park
               in New York City. The entirety of this excerpt takes place within the park. Tony only
               leaves the park after their conversation comes to a close, though that does end on
               his terms.</stage>
            <stage type="action">Mary Jane Watson is seen looking dejected and unsure of herself
               while on the park bench. Her look of dejection continues throughout the beginning of
               her conversation with Tony Stark and her mood doesn't seem to lift until Tony offers
               her a job at Stark Industries. At that point she merely looks concerned and confused,
               until she becomes accepting of Stark's antics and essentially rolls with it for the
               time being. Tony keeps a respectable distance between himself and Mary Jane while
               they're both seated on the park bench, a clear confirmation of his statements
               regarding his lack of attraction to Watson.</stage>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="false">
                     <l>Super heroes.<note>Mary Jane Watson was present within the original
                           Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey MacGuire. Spider-Man's love interest in
                           the reboot starring Andrew Garfield was actually Gwen Stacy. Finally the
                           reboot of the reboot, <hi rend="italic">Spider-Man: Homecoming
                              (2017)</hi> we saw a possible new love interest, Michelle Jones, who
                           says to call her "MJ" which is an homage to Mary Jane Watson. </note></l>
                     <l>Again.</l>
                     <l>Super--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Hi.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="false">
                     <l>Oh, no.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>No what?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Whatever this is. No.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm Tony Stark<note>In the third Iron Man film, there is a flashback to 1999
                           and we Tony at a science conference in Bern. He wears a name-tag that
                           merely states "You Know Who I Am", funnily enough, this was also Robert
                           Downey Jr.'s biography on Twitter for a time.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I know.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I came by to say I'm sorry I messed up your club<note>In both the films and
                           the comics, Tony finds himself taking in "strays" so to speak. He takes
                           Peter Parker under his wing in <hi rend="italic">Captain America: Civil
                              War (2016)</hi> 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: <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi>
                              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. <hi rend="bold">Peter Parker:</hi> For how long? <hi
                                 rend="bold">Tony Stark:</hi> For ever! <hi rend="bold">Peter
                                 Parker:</hi> I'm nothing without the suit! Tony Stark: If you're
                              nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it.</hi> 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 <hi rend="italic">Iron Man 3 (2013)</hi> when he was forced to
                           take on The Mandarin without the use of his armor. This is a further
                           illustration of how he wants Peter to be a better hero than Tony and he
                           wants Peter to learn from his mistakes.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Please tell me you didn't come here to hit on me at my lowest point.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>What? No.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Yes, you did.</l>
                     <l>That's what guys do.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Well, they do.</l>
                     <l>But that's not what this is.</l>
                     <l>First of all, I am seeing someone.</l>
                     <l>And, frankly, I'm not sure this is your lowest point.</l>
                     <l>If it is, congrats, it's not The-End-Of-The-World-Low.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Well, tell that to my soul.</l>
                     <l>Even if you offer to rebuild my club because you're a fancy billionaire, my
                        club-owning days are kablooey.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I'm sorry.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I can't--I can't recover from a P.R. nightmare like this<note>Tony, in both
                           the comics and the films, knows all about P.R. nightmares and he's
                           recovered (eventually), though he has definitely gained a reputation
                           because of those nightmares.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Either way, my insurance will cover the club. Damage control is already on
                        the case.</l>
                     <l>But I was wondering if you'd like a career change<note>In one iteration of
                           the Iron Man comics, Pepper Potts was a part of the secretarial pool of
                           Stark Industries, and gained Tony's attention by pointing out a grave
                           accounting error that would've cost the company millions. Stark felt that
                           something with an eye like hers should be his right hand (wo)man. In the
                           films, Pepper goes from being Stark's P.A. to eventually becoming CEO of
                           Stark Industries. Tony goes from wasting his life away to saving lives,
                           so it's safe to say he knows something about career changes.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Uh...</l>
                     <l>...I don't want to be Iron Man<note>In the first Iron Man film, Tony stated
                           that him being a superhero would be “outlandish and fantastic”, but he
                           doesn’t truly believe that he’s the type to actually be a hero and up
                           through <hi rend="italic">Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)</hi> 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 <hi rend="italic">Avengers (2012)</hi> and believe
                           that he would die alone and in space. He suffered endlessly about the
                           consequences of what happened in Sokovia in <hi rend="italic">Avengers:
                              Age of Ultron (2015)</hi>. He lost Pepper Potts in <hi rend="italic"
                              >Captain America: Civil War (2016)</hi> 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.</note>.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Would you like to work for him?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>In what capacity?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I know you can't tell by looking at me, but my life is, well, out of
                        control.</l>
                     <l>I need someone to organize it.</l>
                     <l>The important stuff that keeps slipping through the chaos cracks.</l>
                     <l>My charity stuff, my philanthropic stuff, my life goal stuff...</l>
                     <l>...Someone who is used to the crazy of the super hero world, someone who
                        could put a club like that together, and would whack a demon-possessed
                        master super villain in the back of the head with a microphone stand.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Is that what she was?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I have a super-awesome A.I.<note>In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony
                           coded an A.I. for Peter Parker that was deeply invested in the kid’s
                           well-being.</note> to handle all my genius/business stuff.</l>
                     <l>But my life, my brand, is in shambles.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Why me?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>I felt bad about the club<note>While Tony began out in both the comics and
                           the films as someone who wasn't responsible and someone who didn't hold
                           themselves accountable for their actions, you can see the drastic change,
                           specifically with interactions such as these. Tony taking responsibility
                           for a fight he didn't start and the damage caused, while additionally
                           looking out for this young girl he doesn't even know and trying to give
                           her a second chance is quintessential Tony Stark. With Peter Parker in
                           the films and Mary Jane Watson in the comics, you can see that the poor
                           parenting on Howard Stark's behalf has resonated with Tony throughout his
                           entire life. This may seem like a reach to some, but I believe that
                           Howard's absent-at-best and abusive-at-worst parenting is always at the
                           back of Tony's mind and changes the way that he interacts with people,
                           specifically those he takes under his wings and is a father-figure to.
                           Whether it's Peter Parker or Mary Jane or even his A.I.s and the bots, he
                           acts in a way that will benefit his "kids" and shows that he cares, even
                           if it isn't in the conventional way.</note>.</l>
                     <l>I asked around about you and I hear you are the real deal.</l>
                     <l>I don't have to know exactly what your superhero connections<note>This is an
                           allusion to Mary Jane's past with Peter Parker AKA Spider-Man.</note>
                        are, but--</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You're really not hitting on me?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Does, like, everyone hit on you?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Yes!</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Well, you used to be a model. I suppose it happens.</l>
                     <l>Think about it.</l>
                     <l>Offer is in your e-mail.</l>
                     <l>It's flattering.</l>
                     <l>Give it a try.</l>
                     <l>If you don't like the job or me, you can bail.</l>
                     <l>But you'll like me.</l>
                     <l>What's not to like?</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Oh, I have a prepared list.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Tony_Stark">TONY STARK</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>Friday!</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Friday">F.R.I.D.A.Y.</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="true">
                     <l>You asked the question.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
            <sp>
               <speaker><persName ref="#Mary_Jane_Watson">MARY JANE WATSON</persName></speaker>
               <p><said aloud="false">
                     <l>Super heroes<note>Many non-superhero characters within both the comics and
                           the films share this mentality. While initially knowing a superhero can
                           seem amazing, it quickly loses its allure. Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy,
                           Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Agent Phil Coulson, Betty Ross, Agent Peggy
                           Carter, and even James Rhodes (at times).</note>.</l>
                     <l>Again.</l>
                     <l>I remain so completely and entirely screwed.</l>
                  </said>
               </p>
            </sp>
         </div>
      </body>
   </text>
</TEI>
A Tale of Two Redemptions: A Comparison of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Invincible Iron Man Comic Books Brian Michael Bendis Alanna Smith Tom Brevoort Katie Kubert Encoding & Analysis by, Cecelia Takara Kimes University of New Haven's (ENGL 4484) Digital Editing & Literature Course The Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot contains material that was originally published in singular comic form as the Invincible Iron Man #1-6, though this edition and compilation only contains Invincible Iron Man #1-5. These comics were first printed and published in 2016 by MARVEL WORLDWIDE, INC. which is a subsidary of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT. MARVEL WORLDWIDE, INC. a subsidiary of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. Office of Publication. 135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020 2016

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.

Tony Stark 's Internal Monologue in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Tony Stark is seen sitting alone in his workshop, which is referred to sometimes as his "church" and is often simultaneously both a place of solace and great distress. In both the films and the comic books, it's canon that Tony goes to his workshop when he needs an escape from the real world, whether it's issues within the Avengers or a mission gone wrong. His desk is in disarray, covered with fast food, various blueprints for the Iron Man armor, and even a tablet displaying a news article titled "TONY STARK YESTERDAY'S FUTURE: Is the Iron Age over?". Tony's only company while he solders and adjusts his armor are his numerous versions of the Iron Man armor, some of the versions of the armor include: Mark XXXIII, Mark XXX, Mark IV, Mark XXXIX, Mark XVI, Mark XXV, Mark XXXVII, Mark VII, War Machine Mark II, War Machine Mark III, War Machine Mark VI, and War Machine Armor Mark I. Though even those aforementioned armors seem to be separated from the space which Tony is occupying during this excerpt. Throughout this division of the comic, Tony is seen modifying a version of his Iron Man armor01 “Heroes aren’t born, they’re built,” was the tag-line for the first Iron Man film when the trailer was released in 2007.. He is seen soldering as well as adjusting the armor directly onto his body. At the end of the excerpt the reader's viewpoint is changed and we see Tony Stark admiring his newly finished armor, seen displayed on a pedestal and removed from the wall of armors in his workshop, singled out. This armor is a more streamlined version, though not to the extent of the Bleeding Edge armor. The Bleeding Edge armor is an armor that is actually stored inside of Tony Stark's body using neurokinetic user-controlled morphologic nanoparticle bundles until he mentally commands the armor to form to his body, taking any form he commands. This armor can also dissociate from Tony's body and transform into the Iron Man armor whenever Tony wishes it to. He monologues throughout this entire excerpt, only interrupted by F.R.I.D.A.Y. at the very end, which then leads into the next excerpt which is Tony bantering with his aforementioned A.I., F.R.I.D.A.Y., in his workshop. TONY STARK

I get so busy. Saving the world02 Some naysayers believe that since Tony being a part of the military industrial complex and selling weapons was disgusting and irredeemable, something which Tony is aware of. He knows that he can never wash the blood off of his hand, but he does try to consistently change his ways and is truly sorry.. Avenging03 If Tony was as self-serving as many Marvel fans claim he is, then why wouldn’t he have just gone back into his workshop after being rescued and improved his weapons so that the U.S. military could fight those terrorists and blow them off of the face of the planet?. Guarding04 Iron Man and his subsequent stories show that sometimes those men who are on top are the ones who truly fuel terrorism and terrorist organizations, not just the terrorists themselves.. Putting out fires05 Stark stopped making weapons when he finally saw all the destruction that they caused, yes he was incredibly ignorant to it beforehand but he learned and grew from it. He was aware of what weapons do and he took the criticism that he faced and countered it using jokes and false confidence. He was called the “da Vinci of Death” and took on that mantle proudly because it was Howard’s legacy and Tony felt that he had to fill those shoes. But when he experienced his weapons in the wrong hands, then he knew. He knew that the military wasn’t doing what it should to protect people (like Americans often say) and he knew that innocent lives were being lost during the skirmishes between terrorist groups and the U.S. military, and his weapons were helping, this is when he truly learned accountability.. (Metaphorical and real actual fires.) Reeling from the fact that my parents aren't really my parents06 Howard and Maria Stark, who're believed to be Tony's parents both in the films and in the comics, are revealed to not actually be Tony's biological parents. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was revealed that the Winter Soldier assassinated Howard and Maria Stark on HYDRA's orders in 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.. Then completely not dealing with the fact that my parents07 In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony's relationship with his parents (but Howard Stark, his father, specifically) is touched upon in most of the films, but specifically in 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. aren't really my parents on any level . I'm out there--giving the people what they want. (Or what they think they want...) Saving the world, punching the bad guy08 In my personal opinion, Tony Stark and Thor are the two characters with the most character development in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony went from being an ignorant weapons seller to a superhero who takes his intellect and uses it for the better and lays his life down on the line countless times. Thor went from being an unworthy prince to a king worthy of leading his people, no matter where they may be. Both men have suffered great loss, they’ve lost their parents, their homes, been betrayed by those they believed to be their friends, yet they still fight for the greater good. They both could’ve become disillusioned and dropped of the radar and done their own thing, but they didn’t, they continued fighting the good fight. In the end they have become the two greatest heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe....and before I know it this once-groundbreaking-piece-of-tech suit that defines me is old hat. It's cliche. Some 15-year-old at M.I.T.09 This is a reference to Riri Williams, which is especially fitting due to the fact that Riri's own comic series to published shortly after these comics that I'm transcribing. Riri is a certified super genius and was certified as so when she was only five-years-old. When Riri was eleven-years-old she was given a scholarship at M.I.T., the university wherein Tony Stark received his education. She, much like Tony, enjoys challenging herself and decided to reverse-engineer the Iron Man armor Mark XLI, thus leading into her creating her own prototype version of the armor. When Riri eventually returned home, she was approached by Tony Stark himself and endorsed Riri as a superhero. Though, this endorsement occurs after the events in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot. reverse engineers it on a dare and posts it online. (Dick.) I'm supposed to be so ahead of the curve no one else can even see the curve10 Stark is a known futurist, meaning someone who is concerned with events and trends of the future or which anticipate the future. Tony, as a scientist and a mechanic and a businessman, must always keep the future in mind. In the third Iron Man film, he even states: "Some people say progress is a bad thing. But try having a magnet in your chest keeping you alive.". But it's my fault. I promised myself I would spend some shop time every week11 During all three solo Iron Man films, especially Iron Man 3 (2013), Tony is seen pushing his limits and doing what would be considered unhealthy by most, at times going days without sleep solely to work on and improve his suits.. I promised . First of all, I'm a better person to be around when I spend a little time in my church. This is my meditation. This is alone time with my favorite person. Me. (If only that were true12 Tony, both in the films and in the comic books, displays "textbook narcissism" while also being self-deprecating and displaying signs of self-loathing. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Iron Man encompasses comic Tony Stark's narcissism, especially within the first Iron Man film. Though as time progresses alongside the films, you see Tony begin to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders, leaning more towards self-loathing than narcissitic. Initially learning about the shady arms deals done using his company's weapons and seeing them used by terrorist groups, you can see Downey Jr.'s portrayal go from playboy to CEO who holds himself responsible for the dealings of his company. Tony Stark takes it upon himself to track down his illegally sold weapons and destroy them and the terrorist groups who have them in their possession..) But I need this time for me and I need it for him13 Referring to the Iron Man armor and a living being, i.e. "him", is something that's done in both the films as well as the comics. Tony treating his armor as a sentient being is something that is in all of the films, but is truly evident and obvious in the third Iron Man film. He refers to the various armors he's created as his prodigal son ("I'll be damned. The prodigal son returns." When referring to the Mark XLII.), During the third film, we see Tony experiencing an on-going struggle with mental illnesses, specifically Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. Tony tries to take the anxiety he feels and channel it into his work, thus explaining the extreme influx of armors he created during the third Iron Man film.. My armor14 In the third Iron Man film, which is by far the most introspective and gives the viewers the biggest insight into Tony's mind, Tony narrates the following line: "My armor was never a distraction or a hobby, it was a cocoon, and now I'm a changed man. You can take away my house, all my tricks and toys, but one thing you can't take away - I am Iron Man." This something that many tend to forget when discussing Tony Stark as Iron Man. Even without the armor (referred to as "the suit" at times as well, the films usually refer to it as such), Tony is still Iron Man. He created the armor from nothing, and it's his resilience and passion for the greater good that makes him Iron Man. needs to grow and evolve. It needs to surprise everyone and at the same time be that thing everyone can count on. It's all my metaphors. And I've had these new ideas for this guy rolling around in my head for months and it's well past time I-- Oh... I--I think I did it. This--This will work, won't it? Damn. I would totally kiss me right now if not for my fear of beard burn. My new armor. I finally found a way to merge all my different armor modes into one15 Throughout both the original comics and the films, you see Tony's armor develop from the Mark I armor made in a cave during his time in captivity, to the Bleeding Edge armor. The Bleeding Edge armor is an armor that is actually stored inside of Tony Stark's body using neurokinetic user-controlled morphologic nanoparticle bundles until he mentally commands the armor to form to his body, taking any form he commands. This armor can also dissociate from Tony's body and transform into the Iron Man armor whenever Tony wishes it to. His original Mark I was clunky and resembled a metal rendition of the Michelin Man, though that quip isn't meant to belittle the ingenuity and intellect it takes to make a weaponized armor in a cave with little to no supplies.. Armor that can change shape and color scheme based on mission stats. Armor not attached to my biology in that way that freaks just about everybody out but is completely attached to my brain synapses. I have to take this out.

I'm going to take this out.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.16 It is my personal belief that if Tony had J.A.R.V.I.S. in the suit when he saw the footage of his parents being killed by the Winter Soldier instead of F.R.I.D.A.Y. that the no holds barred fight between Iron Man and Captain America and the Winter Soldier would’ve ended very differently or not happened at all.

No you're not.

Banter Between F.R.I.D.A.Y. & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot F.R.I.D.A.Y. is shown sitting (in her holographic form) on a bench in Tony Stark's workshop. She is seen reading through her, also holographic, tablet. Seen hovering throughout the entire workshop are holograms displaying various data, though what they are exactly is unknown. Within the Iron Man films, the holograms within the workshop usually contain blueprints of the armors or any current R&D project17 In the third Iron Man film, Tony even places a sticky note on the glass door of his workshop that states "Stark Industries R&D Dept.". that Tony is working on for Stark Industries. The reader is given a viewpoint not seen in the first excerpt, offering a new perspective which displays the vastness of the workshop. Tony Stark mostly stays near his aforementioned armor during this excerpt, but is seen running from the workshop after F.R.I.D.A.Y. informs him that he'll be late for his date with Amara Perera, a biophysicist who shares a similar level of intellect in comparison to Tony. F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s body language doesn't change throughout the entire excerpt, she is seen on the bench scrolling through her tablet for the entirety of the excerpt, looking unaffected even when Tony runs out of the workshop in disarray. Whereas Tony is seen pacing around the pedestal wherein his armor is displayed. Tony's body language has an air of being chastised after F.R.I.D.A.Y. reminds him of his date with Amara Perera. In the last frame of the excerpt, Tony is seen running out of the workshop looking visibly distressed due to the fact that he's not close to being ready for his date and is already running behind schedule. TONY STARK

Friday, how long have you been not really sitting there?18 While Tony seems to treat F.R.I.D.A.Y. as purely an A.I. with this flippant quip, he actually treats F.R.I.D.A.Y., J.A.R.V.I.S., and his bots (Butterfingers, U, and DUM-E) as members of his family; maybe even more so than Howard and Maria Stark were. It is canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Tony has had his bots since he was at M.I.T., and hasn’t upgraded them or try to rid them of any imperfections. Tony, both in the movies and the comics, isn't the greatest at displaying affection. This could be credited to growing up in a household wherein his butler, Edwin Jarvis, was his biggest parental figure or due to the fact that he had to grow up too quickly due to the death of his parents and having to take up the company mantle. When it comes to both giving and receiving affection, specifically platonic affection, Stark either shrugs it off or uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism. Tony's banter with F.R.I.D.A.Y. and J.A.R.V.I.S. and the bots in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems like an offhanded thing to focus on, but these nuanced interactions are as crucial to the characterization of Tony Stark as his iconic facial hair is.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

The entire time.

TONY STARK

I didn't create your holo-A.I. to creep me out19 In sharp contrast of the films, in the comics there is a somewhat physical form of Tony's A.I.s, whereas in the films there are no physical forms of either of the A.I.s, the only somewhat physical form either of them have is when some of J.A.R.V.I.S.'s coding is used to create Vision, though that's not actually a physical form of the A.I., just a way to preserve some of the code..

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No, you created me to be a little pal who helps you keep your head screwed on straight20 This use of an A.I. differs from the use of both J.A.R.V.I.S. and F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the films. F.R.I.D.A.Y., in this iteration of the comics, encompasses the role of what both J.A.R.V.I.S. and Pepper Potts do in the films. While F.R.I.D.A.Y. serves as a system and second set of eyes to assist with calibration and calculations for the armor (just like film-J.A.R.V.I.S. and film-F.R.I.D.A.Y.) while also helping Stark with his commitments to Stark Industries (like Pepper Potts does in the films). While Tony may be the CEO of Stark Industries and it is his family's business, he's not a business man at heart. He's a mechanic.. You can't go out now.

TONY STARK

I can. I have free will and everything.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You have to charge the armor from scratch21 Both F.R.I.D.A.Y. and J.A.R.V.I.S. try and keep Tony grounded (though Stark's stubborness sometimes wins out). In the first Iron Man film when Tony tries out the Mark II armor for the first time, he and J.A.R.V.I.S. have the following conversation: 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. . That will take at least three hours.

TONY STARK

Ugh!

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

And you have a date in an hour.

TONY STARK

A date?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Dr. Amara Perera. The lovely Sri Lankan biophysicist that you met at the Dubai Conference for--

TONY STARK

Amara Perera. Oh, I liked her.22 Stark has a reputation in both the comics and the movies as being a playboy. Though his title of playboy, at least in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seems a lot less deserved after the first Iron Man film installment. Some fans even say that after Tony became Iron Man, he had something of a reversed mid-life crisis, wherein he went on a straight and narrow path instead of going off the rails like some other middle-aged men do. Though Tony does refer to himself as a playboy in the Avengers (2012) film when Steve Rogers AKA Captain America asks what Stark would be without the Iron Man armor ("Take the suit away and what are you?") and Tony responds with the iconic line of "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". At this point in the comics, Tony and Pepper are no longer together, something alluded to in Captain America: Civil War, but then reconciled in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Yes. You'll be late soon. Don't be late. Women do not find it cute.

TONY STARK

Oh, like you know.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No woman on the planet Earth23 It is actually canon in the comics that Tony slept with non-human women, specifically Gamora, a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. has ever found it charming. They call it strike one.

Conversation Between Amara Perera & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot This scene takes place in Amara Perera's office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she works. Tony Stark is an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which could bring up the point that we go back to somewhere familiar from our past in times of turmoil. The biophysicist's office is quite tidy and Tony Stark was easily able to find a space on her office floor to sit himself down on, not taking the available chair at her desk. Before the excerpt begins, Dr. Perera is finishing up her work in one of the MIT labratories and then begins her trek back to her office. She is seen using fingerprint recognition software in order to unlock her office door, hence her surprise when she stumbles across Tony Stark is dejectedly sitting on her floor. Tony's body language is closed off, while Amara stands with her arms crossed somewhat defensively, possibly due to the failed date that occurred earlier in this compilation of comics. During their entire exchange, Tony stays on the floor and Amara remains standing, essentially towering above him. TONY STARK

Don't scream, Amara...

AMARA PERERA

Jesus!

TONY STARK

Sorry.

AMARA PERERA

Tony! What are you doing in here?!

TONY STARK

I wanted to talk to you.

AMARA PERERA

You could call or you could--Wait, how did you even get in here? There's a security pad.

TONY STARK

Oh, uh, sorry. I let myself in. But...cute security pad24 Tony's mentality about the greatness of his creations and their superiority over other technology is something that's well deserved. He's not merely being cocky, he knows that his creations are great, especially in comparison to some of his competition. Justin Hammer, one of the villains in the second Iron Man film, produces HammerTech (a supposed competitor of Stark Industries, but there's honestly no competition) and here's some snarky dialogue between Rhodey and Tony from that film: 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. .

AMARA PERERA

I was right next door in my lab.

TONY STARK

I would never interrupt a scientist in their church. Never.

AMARA PERERA

What happened to you?

TONY STARK

I almost died tonight25 Tony does have a lack of self-preservation at times, especially illustrated when he was being held at gunpoint in the third Iron Man film and was focused on Harley’s sister’s watch that he was borrowing. Stark was told it was a limited edition Dora the Explorer watch and it was his first priority that that watch made it out of this in one piece so that he could return it to Harley Keener..

AMARA PERERA

I'm sorry. Wait, don't you almost die a lot? 26 She's not wrong...

TONY STARK

Yeah, but I don't much care for it.27 Tony may seem flippant with this statement, but both readers of the comics and viewers of the films can tell the toll that being a superhero has taken on Tony. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal in the first Iron Man film has a stark contrast to that of the Tony Stark we see in later films. The portrayal of Stark that we see in the first Iron Man film is that of a man who has been betrayed by his "uncle" and essentially his last living relative, but throughout the overall film you see his passion for creating the armor and his fierce desire to help those in need, specifically people hurt by the illegal trading of his company's weapons. As time progresses in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we see Tony become more and more disillusioned with being a hero. That's not to say that Tony no longer wishes to help those in need, its just that the real world begins to play a huge role. After Tony Stark reveals he's Iron Man at the end of the 2008 film, he seems to be "in the clear" more or less. But, once we see him again in the Iron Man sequel, we see Tony struggling with palladium poisoning caused by his arc reactor and exacerbated by using the Iron Man armor. J.A.R.V.I.S. even points out the irony that the thing supposed to save his life is in actuality killing him. In addition to palladium poisoning, Stark faces pressure from the U.S. government and the United Nations in later films, specifically when it comes to Captain America: Civil and the Sokovia Accords. These accords are created in order to make superheroes and vigilantes more accountable for the damage they cause when they try and do good. These accords cause tension within the Avengers, and Tony, who has inevitably been doing this superhero business the longest, is well aware of the need for accountability. Stark himself experienced being held accountable for his actions on a large scale, even before he was officially Iron Man and saw that his weapons business was illegally trading with terrorist organizations. Being accountable is a huge aspect of being a superhero, though since it doesn't have the sexiness that many other aspects have, it is often pushed to the side until it can no longer be ignored.

AMARA PERERA

You came here to tell me you almost died running around in your suit of armor that you put on specifically to get into fights with bad guys and monsters?

TONY STARK

Well, when you put it that way, I sound insane.

AMARA PERERA

I'm sorry if I sound flip. You've rattled me, coming in here like this.

TONY STARK

No, I'm sorry. I've been thinking about you all day, and...when the adrenaline subsided from today's near-death experience... (Which in itself is never easy...) ...I just wanted to see you. I wanted to tell you I didn't run out on our date because you wouldn't kiss me.

AMARA PERERA

I didn't think that.

TONY STARK

Not even a little?

AMARA PERERA

Only a little. Can I get you some tea?

TONY STARK

I absolutely hate tea28 Tony's love for coffee is canon in all forms of his characterization. From the films, to the comics, and even in fanfiction, Stark's science binges are always accompanied by a mug (or even an entire pot) of coffee. Even DUM-E, one of Tony's bots, tries to make coffee for his "father", but often adds in inedible ingredients he finds within the workshop, such as motor oil..

AMARA PERERA

Would you like some anyhow?

TONY STARK

Sure.

AMARA PERERA

Don't you have other super hero friends29 This could be referring to any number of heroes within the Marvel Comics: Wasp, Captain America, Princess Shuri, Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and many more. that you can commiserate with when things like this happen?

TONY STARK

In my line of work...there's always somebody with a much worse story30 Throughout both the films and the comics, Tony tries to use his own struggle with grief and trauma in order to find solutions that would benefit others as well. In the films, he even explicitly stated that he wanted to stop the cycle of abuse and neglect that Howard started.. "Oh man, I almost died tonight."31 This could be literally referring to any superhero or anti-hero within the Marvel universe. "Yeah? I was almost eaten by Galactus." "Oh yeah? I died and was resurrected as my own child."

AMARA PERERA

And you found yourself thinking about me?

TONY STARK

I might not actually have a lot of friends32 While many believe that Tony is constantly surrounded by friends, this didn’t really seem to be the case in the second Iron Man film. Stark was dying of palladium poisoning while simultaneously displaying signs of suicide (i.e. acting restless, getting rid of his possessions, increasing the use of alcohol, withdrawing, showing rage, etc.) but no one seemed to realize. Everyone around him considered this to be normal and just saw these signs as Tony acting out. In this second film, essentially the whole shtick is that Tony’s too unstable and self-destructive to wear the suit, but then people still go to his birthday party and drunkenly cheers him on as he destroys his own home with the armor. People treat this as a amusement park attraction and run close and try to snap photos, and his closest friends just see this as him being difficult and just belligerent, but aren't actually all that concerned for him..

AMARA PERERA

You do.

TONY STARK

I know a lot of people, but... ...People don't want to hear me talk about any of my problems because--Well...

AMARA PERERA

You're rich33 While Tony is often thought of as the richest superhero, often saddled with Bruce Wayne AKA Batman, he is actually not the wealthiest comic book character in either the Marvel Universe or even DC Comics. T'Challa AKA Black Panther is actually said to be worth about $90 trillion, which is vastly more than Tony's $12 billion net worth..

TONY STARK

I can see their eyes glaze over. I can hear the "aw, poor baby." Like my problems aren't problems.

AMARA PERERA

Money can't buy happiness? That is disappointing to hear.

TONY STARK

Sorry to be the one to break it to you.

AMARA PERERA

Maybe you don't know a lot of people that challenge you intellectually.

TONY STARK

A few. But they are very, I want to say--

AMARA PERERA

Cocky?

TONY STARK

Insane34 This is referring to Doctor Doom, specifically for this iteration of the comic, but could also be referring to Magneto, Madame Hydra, and even the Trickster God Loki..

Tony Stark 's Internal Monologue/Conversation Between F.R.I.D.A.Y. & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Tony Stark and the holographic version of F.R.I.D.A.Y. are seen back in Tony's workshop. Again, we see an additional view of the workshop, not seen in the first two excerpts. Tony and F.R.I.D.A.Y. are surrounded with holograms and seem to be deep in discussion. They seem to be standing on some sort of platform and are surrounded by cases containing various versions of the Iron Man armor. The way that the armor is displayed is reminiscent of a doll or bobblehead collector, a stark contrast to how all the armors were bunch together and put against the wall in an earlier portion of the comic. Tony's body language displays his frustration caused by not understanding the two separate situations regarding Madame Masque and Doctor Doom. F.R.I.D.A.Y. tries to keep him calm and focused while also simultaneously reminding him of his other responsibilities aside from being a superhero. Tony looks disgruntled throughout the entire excerpt and makes this more than known to F.R.I.D.A.Y. both with what he says and with how he acts. TONY STARK

Madame Masque is on a mad tear power quest. Biohack ninjas with no connections to anything and anyone are after her. And now, if there are any more, and there's always more, they'll be after me. Doctor Doom is up to completely Un-Doom-like shenanigans and thinks we're best friends now.

TONY STARK

Hey, Friday, any Doctor Doom sightings?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

I would have told you.

TONY STARK

I like asking.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

We are getting reports that someone broke into the Tokyo Stark Tower.

TONY STARK

I see it. And they completely scrambled all my fancy security systems to do so.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

This happened a couple of days ago and the Tokyo Stark Tower Security Chief is just filing the report now.

TONY STARK

A couple of days ago? He can file the report on his way out the door.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Yes, sir.

TONY STARK

Not for the break-in. For the ass-covering.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

I got that.

TONY STARK

Make sure everyone over there gets it, too.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Oh, they will.

TONY STARK

And I want his accounts and house searched. And I want the entire building inventoried.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Already on it.

TONY STARK

I can't figure this out, Friday. Where is Madame Masque35 It is canon in the comics that Tony slept with Madame Masque: 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. ?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer.

TONY STARK

What is the simplest answer?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Oh, I have no idea. You programed me to say that.

TONY STARK

Well, take that phrase out of the program. That is entirely annoying of me.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

The good news is you get to put this away and come back to it.

TONY STARK

Absolutely not. This is everything until further notice.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No.

TONY STARK

No?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You have St. Jude's in 45 minutes.

TONY STARK

I have a doctor's appointment?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

The children.

TONY STARK

I'm visiting sick kids?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

In 45 minutes.

TONY STARK

You'll have to bump it.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No.

TONY STARK

There's that "no" again.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You told me no canceling this no matter what.

TONY STARK

Well, now I'm telling you--

PAST TONY STARK HOLOGRAM

Listen, Tony, this is Tony from three days ago. We're not canceling on the sick kids. You already bumped them three times for the Avengers/Saving-The-World-Related emergencies, but... I don't care if Whiplash, Blackout and Paladin magically fuse into one decent criminal adversary... ...You are not canceling on these kids.

TONY STARK

Okay.

PAST TONY STARK HOLOGRAM

I don't care if Thanos is marrying Pepper in Times Square and Justin Hammer is giving the bride away. You do not cancel.

TONY STARK

Okay.

PAST TONY STARK HOLOGRAM

I don't care if Scarlet Witch says "No More Tonys" and--

TONY STARK

OKAY!!

Conversation Between St. Jude's Patients & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot & Tony Stark's Interactions with Victor von Doom in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Tony is seen walking into St. Jude's Childrens Hospital in New York. He walks into a treatment room of sorts and is greeted by a gaggle of sick children and their parents. The majority of this excerpt takes place within that treatment room, until Doctor Doom confronts Tony and they make their way onto the rooftop of the hospital. Despite Tony's earlier reluctance to come to this event due to the fact that he wanted to continue his investigations into Madame Masque and Doctor Doom, he seems genuinely enthusiastic to be there with the kids. He banters and smiles with the kids and acts like a proud father when some of his suits make an appearance for the kids. His easy-going attitude and openness don't last long due to the fact that Doctor Doom interrupts this session. Children are seen standing with their parents, sitting on beds, and when the armors come out, investigating those and standing closely. ST. JUDE'S DOCTOR

And here he is... The Invincible Iron Man... Tony Stark .

TONY STARK

Hey, kids! Hi! Hi! Hi, guys...

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Yay!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Wait! Where is it?

TONY STARK

Where is what?

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

You know... Cough it up.

TONY STARK

"Cough it up?"

UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE

Max...

TONY STARK

Cough what up?

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

The armor , duh36 The interactions between Tony and Max are eerily reminiscent of the conversations during Iron Man 3 (2013) between Tony and Harley Keener. Tony happens upon Harley when he breaks into his family's garage with the Iron Man armor needing to repair it. Harley has a great interest in the armor, even more so than Tony himself. Harley's so interested in the armor that he even suggests changes to make: Harley Keener: Anyways, I would have added in, um, the retro... Tony Stark: Retro-reflective panels? Harley Keener: To make him stealth mode. Tony Stark: You want a stealth mode. Harley Keener: Cool, right? Tony Stark: That's actually a good idea. Maybe I'll build one. In addition to this interaction with Harley, there's also a moment wherein Harley accidentally breaks a finger off of the armor while fiddling with it. He chastises Harley and you can almost see his thought process and see that he realizes that he sounds like Howard. Realizing this, he composes himself and tells Harley that it's okay and he'll fix it. This chastisement is an almost parallel to scene in the second Iron Man film wherein Tony watches old film footage of his father and sees his father berating the younger version of himself for messing with a display model..

TONY STARK

Oh, the armor . You guys wanted to see the armor . Oh man, it's not here.

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

What?

TONY STARK

It's being cleaned.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

You didn't bring the armor ?

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Who cleans it?

TONY STARK

The car wash.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

You're so lying.

UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE

Max.

TONY STARK

I like this kid. Reminds me of a young Hulk37 It is comically canon, though not stated in the comics I’m transcribing, that Tony has seven doctorates. He and the Hulk had the following conversation: 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 Thor: Ragnarok (2017) that he also has seven doctorates..

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Dude, come on, where is it?

TONY STARK

I didn't bring my armor.

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Awww...

TONY STARK

I brought a bunch of them38 This vast array of armors that Tony brings for the children isn't something that we really see in the films until the third installment of the Iron Man films. He dubs it the "Iron Legion", and these armors are a product of Tony's tinkering. The creation of these armors stems from Tony struggling with the attack on Manhattan in Avengers (2012) and dealing with the PTSD and anxiety that he struggles with post-attack. He channels this anxiety he feels into creating armor and tinkering, and if these work binges prevent him from sleeping which means no nightmares, then Tony sees little issue with it..

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Yeah!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Yes!

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Dude!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

All right! You're, like, my favorite Avenger. I'm not just saying that because Spider-Man isn't here.

TONY STARK

You want to try one on?

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

One what?

TONY STARK

The armor.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

I'm too small for that.

TONY STARK

Hmm, you're right. I'm just noticing how insanely short you are.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

I'm eight39 .

TONY STARK

Don't tell me your problems40 This banter between the two, especially Tony essentially speaking to Max like an adult and treating him as a peer, again is just like the interactions between Harley and Stark in the third film. 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.. Armor!41 While the armor does transition Tony from businessman to superhero, there's something to keep in mind. The hero is the man, the fragile thing of flesh and blood and genius and courage, inside of the armor. The armor doesn't fight all these battles on its own with Tony piloting it from his workshop, he is inside the suit. A regular man trying his best. Reconfigure!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Whoa... Oh. Man. Can I42 This cautiousness that Max exhibits after badgering Tony and that awe-inspired look that he displays in the comics is just like Harley Keener in the third film. Both boys are brash at times, but they still feel awe-inspired by the armor and what it can do. Plus they both take Tony down a few pegs by focusing on the Iron Man armor, and not so much the genius billionaire. The following passage of text highlights the feeling of disbelief that both boys feel when seeing the armor up close for the first time. 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. ?

TONY STARK

Hop in.

UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE

Is it safe?

TONY STARK

Sure. It's safer in there than it is out here.

TONY STARK

Speaking of which... Friday?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Clear skies. No sign of Madame Masque... No sign of ninjas... No sign of Doctor--

TONY STARK

Oh, come on...

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

--Doom.

Doctor Doom

You can finish whatever this is you're doing... I'll wait.

TONY STARK

Are you kidding me? Really? In front of sick kids? What are you? Oh, yeah, you're Doctor Doom. You're a complete tool . Friday?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Doom clearly has a hybrid of mystic power and tech that makes him untraceable to our system.

TONY STARK

Really?! I swear to God, I liked you better when you were a masked43 Fans of the Fantastic Four films and comics know that Doctor Doom is often seen donning a metal mask, a somewhat terrifying covering for his face considering that there's only two slits for his eyes and one for his mouth., maniacal maniac.

Doctor Doom

Maniacal maniac is redund--

TONY STARK

Rooftop44 Tony needing to have the villain leave the vicinity of the innocents, specifically children, and bring the attention to only himself is something that is done within both the films and the comics. When Harley Keener is taken by one of Aldrich Killian's armed goons, Stark quickly tries to free Harley and turns the attention onto himself. This self-sacrificing mentality is something that directly offsets his apparent narcissim. If he was so narcisstic, would he even both being a superhero?. Now. Why are you here?

Doctor Doom

Why are you?

TONY STARK

Sick kids, you sick #$&#%!

Doctor Doom

If you want to help them, cure them. You're not a clown, you're a scientist. A robotic systems scientist, but still, technically, a scientist.

TONY STARK

Why are you here? What do you want from me?

Conversation Between Mary Jane Watson & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Mary Jane Watson is seen sitting on a park bench in Central Park in New York City. The entirety of this excerpt takes place within the park. Tony only leaves the park after their conversation comes to a close, though that does end on his terms. Mary Jane Watson is seen looking dejected and unsure of herself while on the park bench. Her look of dejection continues throughout the beginning of her conversation with Tony Stark and her mood doesn't seem to lift until Tony offers her a job at Stark Industries. At that point she merely looks concerned and confused, until she becomes accepting of Stark's antics and essentially rolls with it for the time being. Tony keeps a respectable distance between himself and Mary Jane while they're both seated on the park bench, a clear confirmation of his statements regarding his lack of attraction to Watson. MARY JANE WATSON

Super heroes.45 Mary Jane Watson was present within the original Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey MacGuire. Spider-Man's love interest in the reboot starring Andrew Garfield was actually Gwen Stacy. Finally the reboot of the reboot, 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. Again. Super--

TONY STARK

Hi.

MARY JANE WATSON

Oh, no.

MARY JANE WATSON

No.

TONY STARK

No what?

MARY JANE WATSON

Whatever this is. No.

TONY STARK

I'm Tony Stark46 In the third Iron Man film, there is a flashback to 1999 and we Tony at a science conference in Bern. He wears a name-tag that merely states "You Know Who I Am", funnily enough, this was also Robert Downey Jr.'s biography on Twitter for a time..

MARY JANE WATSON

I know.

TONY STARK

I came by to say I'm sorry I messed up your club47 In both the films and the comics, Tony finds himself taking in "strays" so to speak. He takes Peter Parker under his wing in 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 Iron Man 3 (2013) when he was forced to take on The Mandarin without the use of his armor. This is a further illustration of how he wants Peter to be a better hero than Tony and he wants Peter to learn from his mistakes..

MARY JANE WATSON

Please tell me you didn't come here to hit on me at my lowest point.

TONY STARK

What? No.

MARY JANE WATSON

Yes, you did. That's what guys do.

TONY STARK

Well, they do. But that's not what this is. First of all, I am seeing someone. And, frankly, I'm not sure this is your lowest point. If it is, congrats, it's not The-End-Of-The-World-Low.

MARY JANE WATSON

Well, tell that to my soul. Even if you offer to rebuild my club because you're a fancy billionaire, my club-owning days are kablooey.

TONY STARK

I'm sorry.

MARY JANE WATSON

I can't--I can't recover from a P.R. nightmare like this48 Tony, in both the comics and the films, knows all about P.R. nightmares and he's recovered (eventually), though he has definitely gained a reputation because of those nightmares..

TONY STARK

Either way, my insurance will cover the club. Damage control is already on the case. But I was wondering if you'd like a career change49 In one iteration of the Iron Man comics, Pepper Potts was a part of the secretarial pool of Stark Industries, and gained Tony's attention by pointing out a grave accounting error that would've cost the company millions. Stark felt that something with an eye like hers should be his right hand (wo)man. In the films, Pepper goes from being Stark's P.A. to eventually becoming CEO of Stark Industries. Tony goes from wasting his life away to saving lives, so it's safe to say he knows something about career changes..

MARY JANE WATSON

Uh... ...I don't want to be Iron Man50 In the first Iron Man film, Tony stated that him being a superhero would be “outlandish and fantastic”, but he doesn’t truly believe that he’s the type to actually be a hero and up through 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..

TONY STARK

Would you like to work for him?

MARY JANE WATSON

In what capacity?

TONY STARK

I know you can't tell by looking at me, but my life is, well, out of control. I need someone to organize it. The important stuff that keeps slipping through the chaos cracks. My charity stuff, my philanthropic stuff, my life goal stuff... ...Someone who is used to the crazy of the super hero world, someone who could put a club like that together, and would whack a demon-possessed master super villain in the back of the head with a microphone stand.

MARY JANE WATSON

Is that what she was?

TONY STARK

I have a super-awesome A.I.51 In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony coded an A.I. for Peter Parker that was deeply invested in the kid’s well-being. to handle all my genius/business stuff. But my life, my brand, is in shambles.

MARY JANE WATSON

Why me?

TONY STARK

I felt bad about the club52 While Tony began out in both the comics and the films as someone who wasn't responsible and someone who didn't hold themselves accountable for their actions, you can see the drastic change, specifically with interactions such as these. Tony taking responsibility for a fight he didn't start and the damage caused, while additionally looking out for this young girl he doesn't even know and trying to give her a second chance is quintessential Tony Stark. With Peter Parker in the films and Mary Jane Watson in the comics, you can see that the poor parenting on Howard Stark's behalf has resonated with Tony throughout his entire life. This may seem like a reach to some, but I believe that Howard's absent-at-best and abusive-at-worst parenting is always at the back of Tony's mind and changes the way that he interacts with people, specifically those he takes under his wings and is a father-figure to. Whether it's Peter Parker or Mary Jane or even his A.I.s and the bots, he acts in a way that will benefit his "kids" and shows that he cares, even if it isn't in the conventional way.. I asked around about you and I hear you are the real deal. I don't have to know exactly what your superhero connections53 This is an allusion to Mary Jane's past with Peter Parker AKA Spider-Man. are, but--

MARY JANE WATSON

You're really not hitting on me?

TONY STARK

Does, like, everyone hit on you?

MARY JANE WATSON

Yes!

TONY STARK

Well, you used to be a model. I suppose it happens. Think about it. Offer is in your e-mail. It's flattering. Give it a try. If you don't like the job or me, you can bail. But you'll like me. What's not to like?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Oh, I have a prepared list.

TONY STARK

Friday!

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You asked the question.

MARY JANE WATSON

Super heroes54 Many non-superhero characters within both the comics and the films share this mentality. While initially knowing a superhero can seem amazing, it quickly loses its allure. Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Agent Phil Coulson, Betty Ross, Agent Peggy Carter, and even James Rhodes (at times).. Again. I remain so completely and entirely screwed.

Tony_Stark

AKA Iron Man. Anthony Edward Stark is the a self titled "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". He is present in both the comics I am transcribing as well as the films, especially due to the fact that he is the main character. Iron Man was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby in 1963. Iron Man, and his armor, came into being when Tony Stark, while consulting with the United States military in Afghanistan, was injured when his convoy was attacked and he was taken hostage. In the original comics whereing Iron Man first made his debut, Tony Stark served in the Vietnam War and became Iron Man during that time. Later on, it was adapted to the Gulf War. In the first Iron Man film, Tony is kidnapped in Afghanistan while after performing a weapons demonstration. Jon Favreau, director of the film, stated that this happened because he didn't want the film to be a period piece. He is present in both the comics that I am transcribing as well as the movie, due to the fact that he is the main character. The Iron Man armor is piloted by Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, thus he is portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. as well. Tony Stark is portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films wherein Tony Stark is present. SOURCE: “Iron Man (Anthony Stark) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS, https://marvel.com/universe/Iron_Man_(Anthony_Stark)#axzz57Bq8Bt44.

Workshop_of_Tony_Stark

This is where Tony creates the various versions of his armor while also working on projects for Stark Industries. SOURCE: "Tony Stark's Mansion" Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/Tony_Stark%27s_Mansion

Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology

A non-fictional university in a fictional story. MIT or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded in 1861. This university is known for both its research and education in the STEM fields. Tony Stark entered MIT at age 15 and went on to study electrical engineering. He then received Master's degrees in both physics and electrical engineering. In Iron Man (2008) it was incorrectly stated that Stark graduated from MIT summa cum laude, but MIT does not actually graduate students with honors. SOURCE: “MIT History.” MIT Libraries Archives | MIT Facts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, www.libraries.mit.edu/mithistory/mit-facts/.

Friday

(FRIEND) J.A.R.V.I.S.'s predecessor, F.R.I.D.A.Y. is Tony Stark's right hand woman (his girl Friday, some could say) and A.I. She not only assists with matters concerning Stark Industries, but also assists Tony in piloting the Iron Man armor. She is ever-present in the comics that I am transcribing, though she does come into being later on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films after J.A.R.V.I.S.'s demise. (J.A.R.V.I.S. began out as a natural-language user interface computer system, which then further developed into an artifically intelligent system. Before the creation of the Iron Man armor, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s main purpose was to run business for Stark Industries while also taking care of security for Tony's mansion and Stark Tower. Though once the Mark II armor was created, with the Mark I armor being the one that Tony created during his captivity, J.A.R.V.I.S. became uploaded during all of the Iron Man armors.) She was one of many back-up programs that Tony, always a futurist, had created in the event that he lost J.A.R.V.I.S., beating out J.O.C.A.S.T.A. and T.A.D.A.S.H.I. which were two other back-up programs. She is featured in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. In comparison to J.A.R.V.I.S.'s English accent (a derivation from Edwin Jarvis himself), F.R.I.D.A.Y. has an Irish accent. F.R.I.D.A.Y., in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, doesn't quite care for the other Avengers and only takes orders from Tony. Fun fact: While F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies doesn't have a holographic form, in the comic books she is an A.I. hologram, created by Tony in order to be his secretary. In addition, she is also the first female A.I. to be featured in the MCU. SOURCE: “F.R.I.D.A.Y.” Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Amara_Perera

(FRIEND) She is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. She serves as Tony's love interest for these comics, which is a vast difference from that of his love interest of Pepper Potts within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. SOURCE: “Amara Perera (Earth-616).” Marvel Database, http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Amara_Perera_(Earth-616).

Giuletta_Nefaria

AKA Madame Masque (FOE). She is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, though Whitney Frost takes on the mantle of Madame Masque in the second season of Marvel's Agent Carter. Though in Agent Carter the mantle of Madame Masque has been taken on by Whitney Frost, not Giuletta Nefaria. Whereas within the comics Giuletta Nefaria takes on the mantle of Madame Masque. SOURCE: “Giuletta Nefaria (Earth-616).” Marvel Database, http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Giuletta_Nefaria_(Earth-616).

Victor_von_Doom

AKA Doctor Doom (FOE). He is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. He does not make an appearance in any Marvel Cinematic Universe films this is due to an issue of ownership of the rights of this character, not because he wouldn't be a welcome addition, though he is present in two Fantastic Four films that were created and distributed by 20th Century Fox. SOURCE: “Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS, https://marvel.com/universe/Doctor_Doom.

Mary_Jane_Watson

(FRIEND) While she is most famously known for being Spider-Man's love interest in both the comics and the films, Mary Jane Watson is also a stand-alone character within Marvel Comics. She is present in the comics that I am transcribing, though not within any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. SOURCE: “Mary Jane Watson - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS, https://marvel.com/universe/Watson,_Mary_Jane.

Toolbox

Themes:

A Tale of Two Redemptions: A Comparison of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Invincible Iron Man Comic Books Brian Michael Bendis Alanna Smith Tom Brevoort Katie Kubert Encoding & Analysis by, Cecelia Takara Kimes University of New Haven's (ENGL 4484) Digital Editing & Literature Course The Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot contains material that was originally published in singular comic form as the Invincible Iron Man #1-6, though this edition and compilation only contains Invincible Iron Man #1-5. These comics were first printed and published in 2016 by MARVEL WORLDWIDE, INC. which is a subsidary of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT. MARVEL WORLDWIDE, INC. a subsidiary of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. Office of Publication. 135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020 2016

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.

AKA Iron Man. Anthony Edward Stark is the a self titled "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". He is present in both the comics I am transcribing as well as the films, especially due to the fact that he is the main character. Iron Man was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby in 1963. Iron Man, and his armor, came into being when Tony Stark, while consulting with the United States military in Afghanistan, was injured when his convoy was attacked and he was taken hostage. In the original comics whereing Iron Man first made his debut, Tony Stark served in the Vietnam War and became Iron Man during that time. Later on, it was adapted to the Gulf War. In the first Iron Man film, Tony is kidnapped in Afghanistan while after performing a weapons demonstration. Jon Favreau, director of the film, stated that this happened because he didn't want the film to be a period piece. He is present in both the comics that I am transcribing as well as the movie, due to the fact that he is the main character. The Iron Man armor is piloted by Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, thus he is portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. as well. Tony Stark is portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films wherein Tony Stark is present. SOURCE: “Iron Man (Anthony Stark) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS, https://marvel.com/universe/Iron_Man_(Anthony_Stark)#axzz57Bq8Bt44. (FRIEND) J.A.R.V.I.S.'s predecessor, F.R.I.D.A.Y. is Tony Stark's right hand woman (his girl Friday, some could say) and A.I. She not only assists with matters concerning Stark Industries, but also assists Tony in piloting the Iron Man armor. She is ever-present in the comics that I am transcribing, though she does come into being later on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films after J.A.R.V.I.S.'s demise. (J.A.R.V.I.S. began out as a natural-language user interface computer system, which then further developed into an artifically intelligent system. Before the creation of the Iron Man armor, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s main purpose was to run business for Stark Industries while also taking care of security for Tony's mansion and Stark Tower. Though once the Mark II armor was created, with the Mark I armor being the one that Tony created during his captivity, J.A.R.V.I.S. became uploaded during all of the Iron Man armors.) She was one of many back-up programs that Tony, always a futurist, had created in the event that he lost J.A.R.V.I.S., beating out J.O.C.A.S.T.A. and T.A.D.A.S.H.I. which were two other back-up programs. She is featured in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. In comparison to J.A.R.V.I.S.'s English accent (a derivation from Edwin Jarvis himself), F.R.I.D.A.Y. has an Irish accent. F.R.I.D.A.Y., in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, doesn't quite care for the other Avengers and only takes orders from Tony. Fun fact: While F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies doesn't have a holographic form, in the comic books she is an A.I. hologram, created by Tony in order to be his secretary. In addition, she is also the first female A.I. to be featured in the MCU. SOURCE: “F.R.I.D.A.Y.” Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/F.R.I.D.A.Y. AKA Madame Masque (FOE). She is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, though Whitney Frost takes on the mantle of Madame Masque in the second season of Marvel's Agent Carter. Though in Agent Carter the mantle of Madame Masque has been taken on by Whitney Frost, not Giuletta Nefaria. Whereas within the comics Giuletta Nefaria takes on the mantle of Madame Masque. SOURCE: “Giuletta Nefaria (Earth-616).” Marvel Database, http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Giuletta_Nefaria_(Earth-616). AKA Doctor Doom (FOE). He is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. He does not make an appearance in any Marvel Cinematic Universe films this is due to an issue of ownership of the rights of this character, not because he wouldn't be a welcome addition, though he is present in two Fantastic Four films that were created and distributed by 20th Century Fox. SOURCE: “Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS, https://marvel.com/universe/Doctor_Doom. (FRIEND) While she is most famously known for being Spider-Man's love interest in both the comics and the films, Mary Jane Watson is also a stand-alone character within Marvel Comics. She is present in the comics that I am transcribing, though not within any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. SOURCE: “Mary Jane Watson - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Superhero Biographies.” Marvel Universe Wiki RSS, https://marvel.com/universe/Watson,_Mary_Jane. (FRIEND) She is present in the comics that I'm transcribing, but not in any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. She serves as Tony's love interest for these comics, which is a vast difference from that of his love interest of Pepper Potts within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. SOURCE: “Amara Perera (Earth-616).” Marvel Database, http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Amara_Perera_(Earth-616). This is where Tony creates the various versions of his armor while also working on projects for Stark Industries. SOURCE: "Tony Stark's Mansion" Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/Tony_Stark%27s_Mansion A non-fictional university in a fictional story. MIT or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded in 1861. This university is known for both its research and education in the STEM fields. Tony Stark entered MIT at age 15 and went on to study electrical engineering. He then received Master's degrees in both physics and electrical engineering. In Iron Man (2008) it was incorrectly stated that Stark graduated from MIT summa cum laude, but MIT does not actually graduate students with honors. SOURCE: “MIT History.” MIT Libraries Archives | MIT Facts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, www.libraries.mit.edu/mithistory/mit-facts/.
Tony Stark 's Internal Monologue in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Tony Stark is seen sitting alone in his workshop, which is referred to sometimes as his "church" and is often simultaneously both a place of solace and great distress. In both the films and the comic books, it's canon that Tony goes to his workshop when he needs an escape from the real world, whether it's issues within the Avengers or a mission gone wrong. His desk is in disarray, covered with fast food, various blueprints for the Iron Man armor, and even a tablet displaying a news article titled "TONY STARK YESTERDAY'S FUTURE: Is the Iron Age over?". Tony's only company while he solders and adjusts his armor are his numerous versions of the Iron Man armor, some of the versions of the armor include: Mark XXXIII, Mark XXX, Mark IV, Mark XXXIX, Mark XVI, Mark XXV, Mark XXXVII, Mark VII, War Machine Mark II, War Machine Mark III, War Machine Mark VI, and War Machine Armor Mark I. Though even those aforementioned armors seem to be separated from the space which Tony is occupying during this excerpt. Throughout this division of the comic, Tony is seen modifying a version of his Iron Man armor“Heroes aren’t born, they’re built,” was the tag-line for the first Iron Man film when the trailer was released in 2007.. He is seen soldering as well as adjusting the armor directly onto his body. At the end of the excerpt the reader's viewpoint is changed and we see Tony Stark admiring his newly finished armor, seen displayed on a pedestal and removed from the wall of armors in his workshop, singled out. This armor is a more streamlined version, though not to the extent of the Bleeding Edge armor. The Bleeding Edge armor is an armor that is actually stored inside of Tony Stark's body using neurokinetic user-controlled morphologic nanoparticle bundles until he mentally commands the armor to form to his body, taking any form he commands. This armor can also dissociate from Tony's body and transform into the Iron Man armor whenever Tony wishes it to. He monologues throughout this entire excerpt, only interrupted by F.R.I.D.A.Y. at the very end, which then leads into the next excerpt which is Tony bantering with his aforementioned A.I., F.R.I.D.A.Y., in his workshop. TONY STARK

I get so busy. Saving the worldSome naysayers believe that since Tony being a part of the military industrial complex and selling weapons was disgusting and irredeemable, something which Tony is aware of. He knows that he can never wash the blood off of his hand, but he does try to consistently change his ways and is truly sorry.. AvengingIf Tony was as self-serving as many Marvel fans claim he is, then why wouldn’t he have just gone back into his workshop after being rescued and improved his weapons so that the U.S. military could fight those terrorists and blow them off of the face of the planet?. GuardingIron Man and his subsequent stories show that sometimes those men who are on top are the ones who truly fuel terrorism and terrorist organizations, not just the terrorists themselves.. Putting out firesStark stopped making weapons when he finally saw all the destruction that they caused, yes he was incredibly ignorant to it beforehand but he learned and grew from it. He was aware of what weapons do and he took the criticism that he faced and countered it using jokes and false confidence. He was called the “da Vinci of Death” and took on that mantle proudly because it was Howard’s legacy and Tony felt that he had to fill those shoes. But when he experienced his weapons in the wrong hands, then he knew. He knew that the military wasn’t doing what it should to protect people (like Americans often say) and he knew that innocent lives were being lost during the skirmishes between terrorist groups and the U.S. military, and his weapons were helping, this is when he truly learned accountability.. (Metaphorical and real actual fires.) Reeling from the fact that my parents aren't really my parentsHoward and Maria Stark, who're believed to be Tony's parents both in the films and in the comics, are revealed to not actually be Tony's biological parents. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was revealed that the Winter Soldier assassinated Howard and Maria Stark on HYDRA's orders in 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.. Then completely not dealing with the fact that my parentsIn the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony's relationship with his parents (but Howard Stark, his father, specifically) is touched upon in most of the films, but specifically in 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. aren't really my parents on any level . I'm out there--giving the people what they want. (Or what they think they want...) Saving the world, punching the bad guyIn my personal opinion, Tony Stark and Thor are the two characters with the most character development in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony went from being an ignorant weapons seller to a superhero who takes his intellect and uses it for the better and lays his life down on the line countless times. Thor went from being an unworthy prince to a king worthy of leading his people, no matter where they may be. Both men have suffered great loss, they’ve lost their parents, their homes, been betrayed by those they believed to be their friends, yet they still fight for the greater good. They both could’ve become disillusioned and dropped of the radar and done their own thing, but they didn’t, they continued fighting the good fight. In the end they have become the two greatest heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe....and before I know it this once-groundbreaking-piece-of-tech suit that defines me is old hat. It's cliche. Some 15-year-old at M.I.T. This is a reference to Riri Williams, which is especially fitting due to the fact that Riri's own comic series to published shortly after these comics that I'm transcribing. Riri is a certified super genius and was certified as so when she was only five-years-old. When Riri was eleven-years-old she was given a scholarship at M.I.T., the university wherein Tony Stark received his education. She, much like Tony, enjoys challenging herself and decided to reverse-engineer the Iron Man armor Mark XLI, thus leading into her creating her own prototype version of the armor. When Riri eventually returned home, she was approached by Tony Stark himself and endorsed Riri as a superhero. Though, this endorsement occurs after the events in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot. reverse engineers it on a dare and posts it online. (Dick.) I'm supposed to be so ahead of the curve no one else can even see the curveStark is a known futurist, meaning someone who is concerned with events and trends of the future or which anticipate the future. Tony, as a scientist and a mechanic and a businessman, must always keep the future in mind. In the third Iron Man film, he even states: "Some people say progress is a bad thing. But try having a magnet in your chest keeping you alive.". But it's my fault. I promised myself I would spend some shop time every weekDuring all three solo Iron Man films, especially Iron Man 3 (2013), Tony is seen pushing his limits and doing what would be considered unhealthy by most, at times going days without sleep solely to work on and improve his suits.. I promised . First of all, I'm a better person to be around when I spend a little time in my church. This is my meditation. This is alone time with my favorite person. Me. (If only that were trueTony, both in the films and in the comic books, displays "textbook narcissism" while also being self-deprecating and displaying signs of self-loathing. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Iron Man encompasses comic Tony Stark's narcissism, especially within the first Iron Man film. Though as time progresses alongside the films, you see Tony begin to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders, leaning more towards self-loathing than narcissitic. Initially learning about the shady arms deals done using his company's weapons and seeing them used by terrorist groups, you can see Downey Jr.'s portrayal go from playboy to CEO who holds himself responsible for the dealings of his company. Tony Stark takes it upon himself to track down his illegally sold weapons and destroy them and the terrorist groups who have them in their possession..) But I need this time for me and I need it for himReferring to the Iron Man armor and a living being, i.e. "him", is something that's done in both the films as well as the comics. Tony treating his armor as a sentient being is something that is in all of the films, but is truly evident and obvious in the third Iron Man film. He refers to the various armors he's created as his prodigal son ("I'll be damned. The prodigal son returns." When referring to the Mark XLII.), During the third film, we see Tony experiencing an on-going struggle with mental illnesses, specifically Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. Tony tries to take the anxiety he feels and channel it into his work, thus explaining the extreme influx of armors he created during the third Iron Man film.. My armorIn the third Iron Man film, which is by far the most introspective and gives the viewers the biggest insight into Tony's mind, Tony narrates the following line: "My armor was never a distraction or a hobby, it was a cocoon, and now I'm a changed man. You can take away my house, all my tricks and toys, but one thing you can't take away - I am Iron Man." This something that many tend to forget when discussing Tony Stark as Iron Man. Even without the armor (referred to as "the suit" at times as well, the films usually refer to it as such), Tony is still Iron Man. He created the armor from nothing, and it's his resilience and passion for the greater good that makes him Iron Man. needs to grow and evolve. It needs to surprise everyone and at the same time be that thing everyone can count on. It's all my metaphors. And I've had these new ideas for this guy rolling around in my head for months and it's well past time I-- Oh... I--I think I did it. This--This will work, won't it? Damn. I would totally kiss me right now if not for my fear of beard burn. My new armor. I finally found a way to merge all my different armor modes into oneThroughout both the original comics and the films, you see Tony's armor develop from the Mark I armor made in a cave during his time in captivity, to the Bleeding Edge armor. The Bleeding Edge armor is an armor that is actually stored inside of Tony Stark's body using neurokinetic user-controlled morphologic nanoparticle bundles until he mentally commands the armor to form to his body, taking any form he commands. This armor can also dissociate from Tony's body and transform into the Iron Man armor whenever Tony wishes it to. His original Mark I was clunky and resembled a metal rendition of the Michelin Man, though that quip isn't meant to belittle the ingenuity and intellect it takes to make a weaponized armor in a cave with little to no supplies.. Armor that can change shape and color scheme based on mission stats. Armor not attached to my biology in that way that freaks just about everybody out but is completely attached to my brain synapses. I have to take this out.

I'm going to take this out.

F.R.I.D.A.Y. It is my personal belief that if Tony had J.A.R.V.I.S. in the suit when he saw the footage of his parents being killed by the Winter Soldier instead of F.R.I.D.A.Y. that the no holds barred fight between Iron Man and Captain America and the Winter Soldier would’ve ended very differently or not happened at all.

No you're not.

Banter Between F.R.I.D.A.Y. & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot F.R.I.D.A.Y. is shown sitting (in her holographic form) on a bench in Tony Stark's workshop. She is seen reading through her, also holographic, tablet. Seen hovering throughout the entire workshop are holograms displaying various data, though what they are exactly is unknown. Within the Iron Man films, the holograms within the workshop usually contain blueprints of the armors or any current R&D projectIn the third Iron Man film, Tony even places a sticky note on the glass door of his workshop that states "Stark Industries R&D Dept.". that Tony is working on for Stark Industries. The reader is given a viewpoint not seen in the first excerpt, offering a new perspective which displays the vastness of the workshop. Tony Stark mostly stays near his aforementioned armor during this excerpt, but is seen running from the workshop after F.R.I.D.A.Y. informs him that he'll be late for his date with Amara Perera, a biophysicist who shares a similar level of intellect in comparison to Tony. F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s body language doesn't change throughout the entire excerpt, she is seen on the bench scrolling through her tablet for the entirety of the excerpt, looking unaffected even when Tony runs out of the workshop in disarray. Whereas Tony is seen pacing around the pedestal wherein his armor is displayed. Tony's body language has an air of being chastised after F.R.I.D.A.Y. reminds him of his date with Amara Perera. In the last frame of the excerpt, Tony is seen running out of the workshop looking visibly distressed due to the fact that he's not close to being ready for his date and is already running behind schedule. TONY STARK

Friday, how long have you been not really sitting there?While Tony seems to treat F.R.I.D.A.Y. as purely an A.I. with this flippant quip, he actually treats F.R.I.D.A.Y., J.A.R.V.I.S., and his bots (Butterfingers, U, and DUM-E) as members of his family; maybe even more so than Howard and Maria Stark were. It is canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Tony has had his bots since he was at M.I.T., and hasn’t upgraded them or try to rid them of any imperfections. Tony, both in the movies and the comics, isn't the greatest at displaying affection. This could be credited to growing up in a household wherein his butler, Edwin Jarvis, was his biggest parental figure or due to the fact that he had to grow up too quickly due to the death of his parents and having to take up the company mantle. When it comes to both giving and receiving affection, specifically platonic affection, Stark either shrugs it off or uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism. Tony's banter with F.R.I.D.A.Y. and J.A.R.V.I.S. and the bots in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems like an offhanded thing to focus on, but these nuanced interactions are as crucial to the characterization of Tony Stark as his iconic facial hair is.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

The entire time.

TONY STARK

I didn't create your holo-A.I. to creep me outIn sharp contrast of the films, in the comics there is a somewhat physical form of Tony's A.I.s, whereas in the films there are no physical forms of either of the A.I.s, the only somewhat physical form either of them have is when some of J.A.R.V.I.S.'s coding is used to create Vision, though that's not actually a physical form of the A.I., just a way to preserve some of the code..

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No, you created me to be a little pal who helps you keep your head screwed on straightThis use of an A.I. differs from the use of both J.A.R.V.I.S. and F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the films. F.R.I.D.A.Y., in this iteration of the comics, encompasses the role of what both J.A.R.V.I.S. and Pepper Potts do in the films. While F.R.I.D.A.Y. serves as a system and second set of eyes to assist with calibration and calculations for the armor (just like film-J.A.R.V.I.S. and film-F.R.I.D.A.Y.) while also helping Stark with his commitments to Stark Industries (like Pepper Potts does in the films). While Tony may be the CEO of Stark Industries and it is his family's business, he's not a business man at heart. He's a mechanic.. You can't go out now.

TONY STARK

I can. I have free will and everything.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You have to charge the armor from scratchBoth F.R.I.D.A.Y. and J.A.R.V.I.S. try and keep Tony grounded (though Stark's stubborness sometimes wins out). In the first Iron Man film when Tony tries out the Mark II armor for the first time, he and J.A.R.V.I.S. have the following conversation: 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. . That will take at least three hours.

TONY STARK

Ugh!

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

And you have a date in an hour.

TONY STARK

A date?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Dr. Amara Perera. The lovely Sri Lankan biophysicist that you met at the Dubai Conference for--

TONY STARK

Amara Perera. Oh, I liked her.Stark has a reputation in both the comics and the movies as being a playboy. Though his title of playboy, at least in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seems a lot less deserved after the first Iron Man film installment. Some fans even say that after Tony became Iron Man, he had something of a reversed mid-life crisis, wherein he went on a straight and narrow path instead of going off the rails like some other middle-aged men do. Though Tony does refer to himself as a playboy in the Avengers (2012) film when Steve Rogers AKA Captain America asks what Stark would be without the Iron Man armor ("Take the suit away and what are you?") and Tony responds with the iconic line of "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". At this point in the comics, Tony and Pepper are no longer together, something alluded to in Captain America: Civil War, but then reconciled in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Yes. You'll be late soon. Don't be late. Women do not find it cute.

TONY STARK

Oh, like you know.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No woman on the planet EarthIt is actually canon in the comics that Tony slept with non-human women, specifically Gamora, a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. has ever found it charming. They call it strike one.

Conversation Between Amara Perera & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot This scene takes place in Amara Perera's office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she works. Tony Stark is an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which could bring up the point that we go back to somewhere familiar from our past in times of turmoil. The biophysicist's office is quite tidy and Tony Stark was easily able to find a space on her office floor to sit himself down on, not taking the available chair at her desk. Before the excerpt begins, Dr. Perera is finishing up her work in one of the MIT labratories and then begins her trek back to her office. She is seen using fingerprint recognition software in order to unlock her office door, hence her surprise when she stumbles across Tony Stark is dejectedly sitting on her floor. Tony's body language is closed off, while Amara stands with her arms crossed somewhat defensively, possibly due to the failed date that occurred earlier in this compilation of comics. During their entire exchange, Tony stays on the floor and Amara remains standing, essentially towering above him. TONY STARK

Don't scream, Amara...

AMARA PERERA

Jesus!

TONY STARK

Sorry.

AMARA PERERA

Tony! What are you doing in here?!

TONY STARK

I wanted to talk to you.

AMARA PERERA

You could call or you could--Wait, how did you even get in here? There's a security pad.

TONY STARK

Oh, uh, sorry. I let myself in. But...cute security padTony's mentality about the greatness of his creations and their superiority over other technology is something that's well deserved. He's not merely being cocky, he knows that his creations are great, especially in comparison to some of his competition. Justin Hammer, one of the villains in the second Iron Man film, produces HammerTech (a supposed competitor of Stark Industries, but there's honestly no competition) and here's some snarky dialogue between Rhodey and Tony from that film: 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. .

AMARA PERERA

I was right next door in my lab.

TONY STARK

I would never interrupt a scientist in their church. Never.

AMARA PERERA

What happened to you?

TONY STARK

I almost died tonightTony does have a lack of self-preservation at times, especially illustrated when he was being held at gunpoint in the third Iron Man film and was focused on Harley’s sister’s watch that he was borrowing. Stark was told it was a limited edition Dora the Explorer watch and it was his first priority that that watch made it out of this in one piece so that he could return it to Harley Keener..

AMARA PERERA

I'm sorry. Wait, don't you almost die a lot? She's not wrong...

TONY STARK

Yeah, but I don't much care for it.Tony may seem flippant with this statement, but both readers of the comics and viewers of the films can tell the toll that being a superhero has taken on Tony. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal in the first Iron Man film has a stark contrast to that of the Tony Stark we see in later films. The portrayal of Stark that we see in the first Iron Man film is that of a man who has been betrayed by his "uncle" and essentially his last living relative, but throughout the overall film you see his passion for creating the armor and his fierce desire to help those in need, specifically people hurt by the illegal trading of his company's weapons. As time progresses in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we see Tony become more and more disillusioned with being a hero. That's not to say that Tony no longer wishes to help those in need, its just that the real world begins to play a huge role. After Tony Stark reveals he's Iron Man at the end of the 2008 film, he seems to be "in the clear" more or less. But, once we see him again in the Iron Man sequel, we see Tony struggling with palladium poisoning caused by his arc reactor and exacerbated by using the Iron Man armor. J.A.R.V.I.S. even points out the irony that the thing supposed to save his life is in actuality killing him. In addition to palladium poisoning, Stark faces pressure from the U.S. government and the United Nations in later films, specifically when it comes to Captain America: Civil and the Sokovia Accords. These accords are created in order to make superheroes and vigilantes more accountable for the damage they cause when they try and do good. These accords cause tension within the Avengers, and Tony, who has inevitably been doing this superhero business the longest, is well aware of the need for accountability. Stark himself experienced being held accountable for his actions on a large scale, even before he was officially Iron Man and saw that his weapons business was illegally trading with terrorist organizations. Being accountable is a huge aspect of being a superhero, though since it doesn't have the sexiness that many other aspects have, it is often pushed to the side until it can no longer be ignored.

AMARA PERERA

You came here to tell me you almost died running around in your suit of armor that you put on specifically to get into fights with bad guys and monsters?

TONY STARK

Well, when you put it that way, I sound insane.

AMARA PERERA

I'm sorry if I sound flip. You've rattled me, coming in here like this.

TONY STARK

No, I'm sorry. I've been thinking about you all day, and...when the adrenaline subsided from today's near-death experience... (Which in itself is never easy...) ...I just wanted to see you. I wanted to tell you I didn't run out on our date because you wouldn't kiss me.

AMARA PERERA

I didn't think that.

TONY STARK

Not even a little?

AMARA PERERA

Only a little. Can I get you some tea?

TONY STARK

I absolutely hate teaTony's love for coffee is canon in all forms of his characterization. From the films, to the comics, and even in fanfiction, Stark's science binges are always accompanied by a mug (or even an entire pot) of coffee. Even DUM-E, one of Tony's bots, tries to make coffee for his "father", but often adds in inedible ingredients he finds within the workshop, such as motor oil..

AMARA PERERA

Would you like some anyhow?

TONY STARK

Sure.

AMARA PERERA

Don't you have other super hero friendsThis could be referring to any number of heroes within the Marvel Comics: Wasp, Captain America, Princess Shuri, Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and many more. that you can commiserate with when things like this happen?

TONY STARK

In my line of work...there's always somebody with a much worse storyThroughout both the films and the comics, Tony tries to use his own struggle with grief and trauma in order to find solutions that would benefit others as well. In the films, he even explicitly stated that he wanted to stop the cycle of abuse and neglect that Howard started.. "Oh man, I almost died tonight." This could be literally referring to any superhero or anti-hero within the Marvel universe. "Yeah? I was almost eaten by Galactus." "Oh yeah? I died and was resurrected as my own child."

AMARA PERERA

And you found yourself thinking about me?

TONY STARK

I might not actually have a lot of friendsWhile many believe that Tony is constantly surrounded by friends, this didn’t really seem to be the case in the second Iron Man film. Stark was dying of palladium poisoning while simultaneously displaying signs of suicide (i.e. acting restless, getting rid of his possessions, increasing the use of alcohol, withdrawing, showing rage, etc.) but no one seemed to realize. Everyone around him considered this to be normal and just saw these signs as Tony acting out. In this second film, essentially the whole shtick is that Tony’s too unstable and self-destructive to wear the suit, but then people still go to his birthday party and drunkenly cheers him on as he destroys his own home with the armor. People treat this as a amusement park attraction and run close and try to snap photos, and his closest friends just see this as him being difficult and just belligerent, but aren't actually all that concerned for him..

AMARA PERERA

You do.

TONY STARK

I know a lot of people, but... ...People don't want to hear me talk about any of my problems because--Well...

AMARA PERERA

You're richWhile Tony is often thought of as the richest superhero, often saddled with Bruce Wayne AKA Batman, he is actually not the wealthiest comic book character in either the Marvel Universe or even DC Comics. T'Challa AKA Black Panther is actually said to be worth about $90 trillion, which is vastly more than Tony's $12 billion net worth..

TONY STARK

I can see their eyes glaze over. I can hear the "aw, poor baby." Like my problems aren't problems.

AMARA PERERA

Money can't buy happiness? That is disappointing to hear.

TONY STARK

Sorry to be the one to break it to you.

AMARA PERERA

Maybe you don't know a lot of people that challenge you intellectually.

TONY STARK

A few. But they are very, I want to say--

AMARA PERERA

Cocky?

TONY STARK

InsaneThis is referring to Doctor Doom, specifically for this iteration of the comic, but could also be referring to Magneto, Madame Hydra, and even the Trickster God Loki..

Tony Stark 's Internal Monologue/Conversation Between F.R.I.D.A.Y. & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Tony Stark and the holographic version of F.R.I.D.A.Y. are seen back in Tony's workshop. Again, we see an additional view of the workshop, not seen in the first two excerpts. Tony and F.R.I.D.A.Y. are surrounded with holograms and seem to be deep in discussion. They seem to be standing on some sort of platform and are surrounded by cases containing various versions of the Iron Man armor. The way that the armor is displayed is reminiscent of a doll or bobblehead collector, a stark contrast to how all the armors were bunch together and put against the wall in an earlier portion of the comic. Tony's body language displays his frustration caused by not understanding the two separate situations regarding Madame Masque and Doctor Doom. F.R.I.D.A.Y. tries to keep him calm and focused while also simultaneously reminding him of his other responsibilities aside from being a superhero. Tony looks disgruntled throughout the entire excerpt and makes this more than known to F.R.I.D.A.Y. both with what he says and with how he acts. TONY STARK

Madame Masque is on a mad tear power quest. Biohack ninjas with no connections to anything and anyone are after her. And now, if there are any more, and there's always more, they'll be after me. Doctor Doom is up to completely Un-Doom-like shenanigans and thinks we're best friends now.

TONY STARK

Hey, Friday, any Doctor Doom sightings?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

I would have told you.

TONY STARK

I like asking.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

We are getting reports that someone broke into the Tokyo Stark Tower.

TONY STARK

I see it. And they completely scrambled all my fancy security systems to do so.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

This happened a couple of days ago and the Tokyo Stark Tower Security Chief is just filing the report now.

TONY STARK

A couple of days ago? He can file the report on his way out the door.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Yes, sir.

TONY STARK

Not for the break-in. For the ass-covering.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

I got that.

TONY STARK

Make sure everyone over there gets it, too.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Oh, they will.

TONY STARK

And I want his accounts and house searched. And I want the entire building inventoried.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Already on it.

TONY STARK

I can't figure this out, Friday. Where is Madame Masque It is canon in the comics that Tony slept with Madame Masque: 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. ?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer.

TONY STARK

What is the simplest answer?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Oh, I have no idea. You programed me to say that.

TONY STARK

Well, take that phrase out of the program. That is entirely annoying of me.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

The good news is you get to put this away and come back to it.

TONY STARK

Absolutely not. This is everything until further notice.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No.

TONY STARK

No?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You have St. Jude's in 45 minutes.

TONY STARK

I have a doctor's appointment?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

The children.

TONY STARK

I'm visiting sick kids?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

In 45 minutes.

TONY STARK

You'll have to bump it.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

No.

TONY STARK

There's that "no" again.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You told me no canceling this no matter what.

TONY STARK

Well, now I'm telling you--

PAST TONY STARK HOLOGRAM

Listen, Tony, this is Tony from three days ago. We're not canceling on the sick kids. You already bumped them three times for the Avengers/Saving-The-World-Related emergencies, but... I don't care if Whiplash, Blackout and Paladin magically fuse into one decent criminal adversary... ...You are not canceling on these kids.

TONY STARK

Okay.

PAST TONY STARK HOLOGRAM

I don't care if Thanos is marrying Pepper in Times Square and Justin Hammer is giving the bride away. You do not cancel.

TONY STARK

Okay.

PAST TONY STARK HOLOGRAM

I don't care if Scarlet Witch says "No More Tonys" and--

TONY STARK

OKAY!!

Conversation Between St. Jude's Patients & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot & Tony Stark's Interactions with Victor von Doom in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Tony is seen walking into St. Jude's Childrens Hospital in New York. He walks into a treatment room of sorts and is greeted by a gaggle of sick children and their parents. The majority of this excerpt takes place within that treatment room, until Doctor Doom confronts Tony and they make their way onto the rooftop of the hospital. Despite Tony's earlier reluctance to come to this event due to the fact that he wanted to continue his investigations into Madame Masque and Doctor Doom, he seems genuinely enthusiastic to be there with the kids. He banters and smiles with the kids and acts like a proud father when some of his suits make an appearance for the kids. His easy-going attitude and openness don't last long due to the fact that Doctor Doom interrupts this session. Children are seen standing with their parents, sitting on beds, and when the armors come out, investigating those and standing closely. ST. JUDE'S DOCTOR

And here he is... The Invincible Iron Man... Tony Stark .

TONY STARK

Hey, kids! Hi! Hi! Hi, guys...

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Yay!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Wait! Where is it?

TONY STARK

Where is what?

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

You know... Cough it up.

TONY STARK

"Cough it up?"

UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE

Max...

TONY STARK

Cough what up?

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

The armor , duhThe interactions between Tony and Max are eerily reminiscent of the conversations during Iron Man 3 (2013) between Tony and Harley Keener. Tony happens upon Harley when he breaks into his family's garage with the Iron Man armor needing to repair it. Harley has a great interest in the armor, even more so than Tony himself. Harley's so interested in the armor that he even suggests changes to make: Harley Keener: Anyways, I would have added in, um, the retro... Tony Stark: Retro-reflective panels? Harley Keener: To make him stealth mode. Tony Stark: You want a stealth mode. Harley Keener: Cool, right? Tony Stark: That's actually a good idea. Maybe I'll build one. In addition to this interaction with Harley, there's also a moment wherein Harley accidentally breaks a finger off of the armor while fiddling with it. He chastises Harley and you can almost see his thought process and see that he realizes that he sounds like Howard. Realizing this, he composes himself and tells Harley that it's okay and he'll fix it. This chastisement is an almost parallel to scene in the second Iron Man film wherein Tony watches old film footage of his father and sees his father berating the younger version of himself for messing with a display model..

TONY STARK

Oh, the armor . You guys wanted to see the armor . Oh man, it's not here.

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

What?

TONY STARK

It's being cleaned.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

You didn't bring the armor ?

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Who cleans it?

TONY STARK

The car wash.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

You're so lying.

UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE

Max.

TONY STARK

I like this kid. Reminds me of a young HulkIt is comically canon, though not stated in the comics I’m transcribing, that Tony has seven doctorates. He and the Hulk had the following conversation: 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 Thor: Ragnarok (2017) that he also has seven doctorates..

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Dude, come on, where is it?

TONY STARK

I didn't bring my armor.

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Awww...

TONY STARK

I brought a bunch of themThis vast array of armors that Tony brings for the children isn't something that we really see in the films until the third installment of the Iron Man films. He dubs it the "Iron Legion", and these armors are a product of Tony's tinkering. The creation of these armors stems from Tony struggling with the attack on Manhattan in Avengers (2012) and dealing with the PTSD and anxiety that he struggles with post-attack. He channels this anxiety he feels into creating armor and tinkering, and if these work binges prevent him from sleeping which means no nightmares, then Tony sees little issue with it..

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Yeah!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Yes!

UNIDENTIFIED ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Dude!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

All right! You're, like, my favorite Avenger. I'm not just saying that because Spider-Man isn't here.

TONY STARK

You want to try one on?

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

One what?

TONY STARK

The armor.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

I'm too small for that.

TONY STARK

Hmm, you're right. I'm just noticing how insanely short you are.

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

I'm eight.

TONY STARK

Don't tell me your problemsThis banter between the two, especially Tony essentially speaking to Max like an adult and treating him as a peer, again is just like the interactions between Harley and Stark in the third film. 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.. Armor!While the armor does transition Tony from businessman to superhero, there's something to keep in mind. The hero is the man, the fragile thing of flesh and blood and genius and courage, inside of the armor. The armor doesn't fight all these battles on its own with Tony piloting it from his workshop, he is inside the suit. A regular man trying his best. Reconfigure!

MAX: ST. JUDE'S PATIENT

Whoa... Oh. Man. Can IThis cautiousness that Max exhibits after badgering Tony and that awe-inspired look that he displays in the comics is just like Harley Keener in the third film. Both boys are brash at times, but they still feel awe-inspired by the armor and what it can do. Plus they both take Tony down a few pegs by focusing on the Iron Man armor, and not so much the genius billionaire. The following passage of text highlights the feeling of disbelief that both boys feel when seeing the armor up close for the first time. 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. ?

TONY STARK

Hop in.

UNIDENTIFIED PARENTAL FIGURE

Is it safe?

TONY STARK

Sure. It's safer in there than it is out here.

TONY STARK

Speaking of which... Friday?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Clear skies. No sign of Madame Masque... No sign of ninjas... No sign of Doctor--

TONY STARK

Oh, come on...

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

--Doom.

Doctor Doom

You can finish whatever this is you're doing... I'll wait.

TONY STARK

Are you kidding me? Really? In front of sick kids? What are you? Oh, yeah, you're Doctor Doom. You're a complete tool . Friday?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Doom clearly has a hybrid of mystic power and tech that makes him untraceable to our system.

TONY STARK

Really?! I swear to God, I liked you better when you were a maskedFans of the Fantastic Four films and comics know that Doctor Doom is often seen donning a metal mask, a somewhat terrifying covering for his face considering that there's only two slits for his eyes and one for his mouth., maniacal maniac.

Doctor Doom

Maniacal maniac is redund--

TONY STARK

RooftopTony needing to have the villain leave the vicinity of the innocents, specifically children, and bring the attention to only himself is something that is done within both the films and the comics. When Harley Keener is taken by one of Aldrich Killian's armed goons, Stark quickly tries to free Harley and turns the attention onto himself. This self-sacrificing mentality is something that directly offsets his apparent narcissim. If he was so narcisstic, would he even both being a superhero?. Now. Why are you here?

Doctor Doom

Why are you?

TONY STARK

Sick kids, you sick #$&#%!

Doctor Doom

If you want to help them, cure them. You're not a clown, you're a scientist. A robotic systems scientist, but still, technically, a scientist.

TONY STARK

Why are you here? What do you want from me?

Conversation Between Mary Jane Watson & Tony Stark in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1: Reboot Mary Jane Watson is seen sitting on a park bench in Central Park in New York City. The entirety of this excerpt takes place within the park. Tony only leaves the park after their conversation comes to a close, though that does end on his terms. Mary Jane Watson is seen looking dejected and unsure of herself while on the park bench. Her look of dejection continues throughout the beginning of her conversation with Tony Stark and her mood doesn't seem to lift until Tony offers her a job at Stark Industries. At that point she merely looks concerned and confused, until she becomes accepting of Stark's antics and essentially rolls with it for the time being. Tony keeps a respectable distance between himself and Mary Jane while they're both seated on the park bench, a clear confirmation of his statements regarding his lack of attraction to Watson. MARY JANE WATSON

Super heroes.Mary Jane Watson was present within the original Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey MacGuire. Spider-Man's love interest in the reboot starring Andrew Garfield was actually Gwen Stacy. Finally the reboot of the reboot, 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. Again. Super--

TONY STARK

Hi.

MARY JANE WATSON

Oh, no.

MARY JANE WATSON

No.

TONY STARK

No what?

MARY JANE WATSON

Whatever this is. No.

TONY STARK

I'm Tony StarkIn the third Iron Man film, there is a flashback to 1999 and we Tony at a science conference in Bern. He wears a name-tag that merely states "You Know Who I Am", funnily enough, this was also Robert Downey Jr.'s biography on Twitter for a time..

MARY JANE WATSON

I know.

TONY STARK

I came by to say I'm sorry I messed up your clubIn both the films and the comics, Tony finds himself taking in "strays" so to speak. He takes Peter Parker under his wing in 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 Iron Man 3 (2013) when he was forced to take on The Mandarin without the use of his armor. This is a further illustration of how he wants Peter to be a better hero than Tony and he wants Peter to learn from his mistakes..

MARY JANE WATSON

Please tell me you didn't come here to hit on me at my lowest point.

TONY STARK

What? No.

MARY JANE WATSON

Yes, you did. That's what guys do.

TONY STARK

Well, they do. But that's not what this is. First of all, I am seeing someone. And, frankly, I'm not sure this is your lowest point. If it is, congrats, it's not The-End-Of-The-World-Low.

MARY JANE WATSON

Well, tell that to my soul. Even if you offer to rebuild my club because you're a fancy billionaire, my club-owning days are kablooey.

TONY STARK

I'm sorry.

MARY JANE WATSON

I can't--I can't recover from a P.R. nightmare like thisTony, in both the comics and the films, knows all about P.R. nightmares and he's recovered (eventually), though he has definitely gained a reputation because of those nightmares..

TONY STARK

Either way, my insurance will cover the club. Damage control is already on the case. But I was wondering if you'd like a career changeIn one iteration of the Iron Man comics, Pepper Potts was a part of the secretarial pool of Stark Industries, and gained Tony's attention by pointing out a grave accounting error that would've cost the company millions. Stark felt that something with an eye like hers should be his right hand (wo)man. In the films, Pepper goes from being Stark's P.A. to eventually becoming CEO of Stark Industries. Tony goes from wasting his life away to saving lives, so it's safe to say he knows something about career changes..

MARY JANE WATSON

Uh... ...I don't want to be Iron ManIn the first Iron Man film, Tony stated that him being a superhero would be “outlandish and fantastic”, but he doesn’t truly believe that he’s the type to actually be a hero and up through 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..

TONY STARK

Would you like to work for him?

MARY JANE WATSON

In what capacity?

TONY STARK

I know you can't tell by looking at me, but my life is, well, out of control. I need someone to organize it. The important stuff that keeps slipping through the chaos cracks. My charity stuff, my philanthropic stuff, my life goal stuff... ...Someone who is used to the crazy of the super hero world, someone who could put a club like that together, and would whack a demon-possessed master super villain in the back of the head with a microphone stand.

MARY JANE WATSON

Is that what she was?

TONY STARK

I have a super-awesome A.I.In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony coded an A.I. for Peter Parker that was deeply invested in the kid’s well-being. to handle all my genius/business stuff. But my life, my brand, is in shambles.

MARY JANE WATSON

Why me?

TONY STARK

I felt bad about the clubWhile Tony began out in both the comics and the films as someone who wasn't responsible and someone who didn't hold themselves accountable for their actions, you can see the drastic change, specifically with interactions such as these. Tony taking responsibility for a fight he didn't start and the damage caused, while additionally looking out for this young girl he doesn't even know and trying to give her a second chance is quintessential Tony Stark. With Peter Parker in the films and Mary Jane Watson in the comics, you can see that the poor parenting on Howard Stark's behalf has resonated with Tony throughout his entire life. This may seem like a reach to some, but I believe that Howard's absent-at-best and abusive-at-worst parenting is always at the back of Tony's mind and changes the way that he interacts with people, specifically those he takes under his wings and is a father-figure to. Whether it's Peter Parker or Mary Jane or even his A.I.s and the bots, he acts in a way that will benefit his "kids" and shows that he cares, even if it isn't in the conventional way.. I asked around about you and I hear you are the real deal. I don't have to know exactly what your superhero connectionsThis is an allusion to Mary Jane's past with Peter Parker AKA Spider-Man. are, but--

MARY JANE WATSON

You're really not hitting on me?

TONY STARK

Does, like, everyone hit on you?

MARY JANE WATSON

Yes!

TONY STARK

Well, you used to be a model. I suppose it happens. Think about it. Offer is in your e-mail. It's flattering. Give it a try. If you don't like the job or me, you can bail. But you'll like me. What's not to like?

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

Oh, I have a prepared list.

TONY STARK

Friday!

F.R.I.D.A.Y.

You asked the question.

MARY JANE WATSON

Super heroesMany non-superhero characters within both the comics and the films share this mentality. While initially knowing a superhero can seem amazing, it quickly loses its allure. Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Agent Phil Coulson, Betty Ross, Agent Peggy Carter, and even James Rhodes (at times).. Again. I remain so completely and entirely screwed.