More so than any other hero, he risks his life whenever he engages his enemies in battle. The burden has, at certain times, been too great for the character to bear. In a contrast to many other superheroes around him, Tony Stark tried to fight his depression and the pressures of his life in a very human way: alcohol.
Heroes are often defined and made what they are by two things: the villains they face and the burdens they carry. In very few heroes is the relationship between burden and heroism as blatant and as prominent as in Tony Stark, the Iron Man.
The difference here was that, unlike Osborne, Stark was a hero. As a hero, he was supposed to be above the petty squabbles and flaws of ordinary human beings.
The armor worn by the Iron Man, unlike the costumes of so many other heroes, is more than a mere tool for fighting crime. The burden has, at certain times, been too great for the character to bear.
The Iron Man character is often overlooked in the long list of superheroes that have become more human over the years. This is probably due to the fact that Tony Stark isn’t quite as fitting into the comic book niche-worlds that others seem designed for. It is arguable, but there are some that would say Tony Stark is more human than any of the above.
The armor worn by the Iron Man, unlike the costumes of so many other heroes, is more than a mere tool for fighting crime. The armor also bears several components designed to help him cope with his physical ailments. Tony Stark’s heart was compromised in Vietnam, such that the armor’s primary purpose was to sustain him – keep him alive and moving – long enough to get proper medical care.
Heroes are often defined and made what they are by two things: the villains they face and the burdens they carry. Superman carries the burden of fear and anxiety, living a life afraid of breaking something, of killing someone should be careless with his power. In very few heroes is the relationship between burden and heroism as blatant and as prominent as in Tony Stark, the Iron Man.
