Why does Iron Man fight?

[Crimson]

Tony Stark funds a Superhero team, he provides America with weapons and now run Shield... has it ever been stated why he feels the need to go out there and fight?

I've never really thought about it until now but I can't think of a real purpose to why he'd do it. Yeah, he feels it's the right thing to do but with most characters they have a reason like Batman losing his parents, Spider-Man and Uncle Ben etc. because it works better in fiction.

So yeah, can anyone think of any given reason as to why he does what he does? At this point you'd think he'd think he was doing enough to serve his country.

Also, on the bonus features of the Iron Man animated cartoon they show a page from a comic book where Iron Man and J. Jonah Jameson meet at a party. Can anyone tell me what issue that is from? Thanks

[Blader5489]

Probably guilt over Cap's death.

[DaeJi]

I think Ironman fights because he's not the kind of guy to send others to do what he isn't willing to do.

[Magneto Rocks]

I think Ironman fights because he's not the kind of guy to send others to do what he isn't willing to do.

That's literally it exactly.

It's the same thing which is probably his biggest weakness as Director of SHIELD, despite what some people think, Tony Stark's history has shown time and time again that he absolutely hates the idea of anyone dying for him- he cannot cope with it, he will do anything to stop it. He sends himself in so that others don't have to go in, and to reassure people he would never send in anyone else to do what he isn't willing to in terms of heroing.

[schmevil]

I totally agree with Magneto Rocks and DaeJi. That someone should die in his place/for him is unthinkable. He has a serious problem with accepting other people sacrificing for him, and no problem sacrificing for others.

He also has a strong desire to help others, to fix things that are impossible to fix and with heroing he gets tangible proof that his efforts are resulting in real good - he has the thanks of people he's saved, a record of villains captured and imprisoned. He gets a certain amount of satisfaction from it that he can't seem to get through his engineering, corporate and charity work.

Aaand he's a total adrenaline junkie.

[XPac]

The fact of the matter is, now that he has the extremis there's never any reason for him to be in the armor. It makes no sense. With so many sets of armor, it almost makes sense more him NOT to be on the front line.

He's used to doing it, and on some level I'm sure he enjoys it. It's brave... but it certainly isn't practical or smart.

[Dorsai]

Iron Man fights because although he has heroic qualities, he is insecure, needs attention and acceptance, is a control freak, and seriously underestimates the capabilites of his fellow humans -- friend and foe alike. He has been made a master of miscalculation and poor judgement. His desire (need) to continue to wear the armor is a sign he feels he needs to protect himself from the world as well as display his "might".

[schmevil]

Iron Man fights because although he has heroic qualities, he is insecure, needs attention and acceptance, is a control freak, and seriously underestimates the capabilites of his fellow humans -- friend and foe alike. He has been made a master of miscalculation and poor judgement. His desire (need) to continue to wear the armor is a sign he feels he needs to protect himself from the world as well as display his "might".

Actually, I agree with you - this is a side of him that we've seen a lot of, over the years, especially when he's stressed. Tony tends to *hide* in the armor. It's both a mask and a shelter for him. It let's him control how he's perceived in a way he can't when he's Tony Stark, and it let's him shut people out.

And absolutely he's a control freak. It's one of the reasons he's having trouble adjusting to SHIELD - he can't let anyone else make critical decisions. He's the kind of guy who feels at once that he's the smartest guy in the room, but also that he's unworthy, or has something to prove. It's like that line from Buffy: he has an inferiority complex about his superiority complex.

That all speaks to (part of) his character but I think his original motivations were a genuine desire to help others and (in late/post Cold War interpretations) atone for his perceived sins. And I wouldn't discount those motivations even now. That he's an insecure, control freak makes it easier for him to justify putting on the armor, but his neuroses aren't the only things driving him.

He's used to doing it, and on some level I'm sure he enjoys it. It's brave... but it certainly isn't practical or smart.

I don't think he's capable of making the 'smart' choice long term.

And there's something to said for not encouraging him to spend all his time accessing the world through computers. If you think he has too much power now... ;)

[Pwood]

I think Tony just doesn't know who he is anymore. If you've read any of Brubaker's Captain America, Tony has a lot of inner conflict and can be seen contemplating in his office, stressing over making the right decision (which rarely happens), and wondering what if...

His uncertainty about his own being, IMO, has a lot to do with it. He probably feels more comfortable in his armor than anywhere else. When we see Tony, for the most part, he is suited up (of course, that was pre-Extremis).

Like XPac said, he is used to it now. It's one of the biggest aspects of who he is. Giving it up now would just seem like years down the drain...

[DaeJi]

It's probably a bit of everything posted here.

[Kefky]

That's not really an easy question to answer, specially since it doesn't have just one clear answer.

His goals right now are to keep things under control with the people, the government, and the superhero community at the same time. Basically to stabilize the post-civil war situation. Also, he wants to unify the superhero community so they can make a difference in the world, and prepare themselves better for when things go bad. It's his original "superhero UN" idea that was stated in the beginning of the Illuminati special. Not that any of that is working out of course. It's more convenient for marvel for it not to.

But his main goal was always to use technology to make the world a better place. He's a technocrat. That's the reason "why he fights", according to his revised origin in Ellis' Extremis arc.

[SquidSquod]

But his main goal was always to use technology to make the world a better place. He's a technocrat. That's the reason "why he fights", according to his revised origin in Ellis' Extremis arc.

And yet most readers only know three things about him: he's an alcoholic, a womanizer, and a douche-bag. If there's one comic character that signifies flaws-overload, here's your poster man.

[Kefky]

And yet most readers only know three things about him: he's an alcoholic, a womanizer, and a douche-bag. If there's one comic character that signifies flaws-overload, here's your poster man.

"Douche-bag" only started with civil war, really.

"Alcoholism", I think, is usually seen as his "marvel flaw", and not something overly negative. And I don't even think his womanizing is something negative, it makes the character more fun. I don't see people bashing Hawkeye, She-hulk, Daredevil, Green Lantern and Green Arrow for being horny. We just joke about it 'cause it's fun.

[Sean Whitmore]

It's at least partially because he's a control freak. No matter how many Avengers or SHIELD agents he has working for him, a situation's never really over for Tony unless he's personally dotted the i's and crossed the t's.

And I'm sure XPac is correct when he suggests that Tony, at least partially, enjoys the action. He hasn't needed to actually wear a suit of armor for years now.


SEAN

[DaeJi]

"Douche-bag" only started with civil war, really.

"Alcoholism", I think, is usually seen as his "marvel flaw", and not something overly negative. And I don't even think his womanizing is something negative, it makes the character more fun. I don't see people bashing Hawkeye, She-hulk, Daredevil, Green Lantern and Green Arrow for being horny. We just joke about it 'cause it's fun.

Tony's always been a bit of a douche, but a good guy. And he doesn't drink anymore.

[Sean Whitmore]

"Douche-bag" only started with civil war, really.

Eh, debatable. You could trace the same basic character flaw (control freak) back to "Armor Wars".


SEAN

[Kefky]

Eh, debatable. You could trace the same basic character flaw (control freak) back to "Armor Wars".
/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DaeJi;5546277]Tony's always been a bit of a douche, but a good guy.

I suppose you could say that, yes, but it wasn't people's perception of him until civil war came around and pretty much went completely overboard with it. I mean, you didn't hear people go "Oh, Iron-man? He's the douchebag of the avengers.". But they will now.

Either way, the point I was trying to make is that people didn't necessarily have a really negative perception of the character before CW. "Apathy"'s more like it. And let's face it, Cap himself wasn't all that hot in people's eyes either.

And yet, even with civil war, sales on their books still suck. *sigh* :p

[DaeJi]

I suppose you could say that, yes, but it wasn't people's perception of him until civil war came around and pretty much went completely overboard with it. I mean, you didn't hear people go "Oh, Iron-man? He's the douchebag of the avengers.". But they will now.

Either way, the point I was trying to make is that people didn't necessarily have a really negative perception of the character before CW. "Apathy"'s more like it. And let's face it, Cap himself wasn't all that hot in people's eyes either.

And yet, even with civil war, sales on their books still suck. *sigh* :p

But they're good books. I think Civil War just exposed Ironman to more people, and since he was against Captain America (a character who most of fandom likes and roots for regardless of what is going on), naturally people saw him as the enemy.

[IamtheRock3]

why he fight?


For love baby...for for LOVE

AHHHH YEAAAAAAAAAAAA

[StoneGold]

And yet, even with civil war, sales on their books still suck. *sigh* :p

Que? They're doing better, proportionately to the rest of the market, than they have in years.

[nuclearman]

I just think he is a bit of an adventurer and a leader - he wouldn't send a footsoldier out to do somethng he isn't prepared to do himself.

[XPac]

I just think he is a bit of an adventurer and a leader - he wouldn't send a footsoldier out to do somethng he isn't prepared to do himself.

And that's a good attitude to have. You shouldn't send someone to do something that you aren't prepared to do yourself. That however doesn't mean you should actually be doing it yourself.

To be an effective leader of ANYTHING as big as SHIELD, you need to learn to delegate responsibility, or you simply wn't get as much done.

I would assume with a world wide organization like SHIELD, there's 10 different crisis going on that a director of SHIELD needs to be managing every working minute of the day. I don't see how he can effectively be doing that while he's spear heading every mission. Having the Initiative and 50 States in theory was suppossed to deal with some of that stuff at least on US soil.

And that's not even mentioning whatever he has to deal with running Stark. On top of that, he's a full time member of the Mighty Avengers? I could almost buy all that if he were using the Extremis to operate multiple Iron Man suits. But if he's actually in the suit everytime we see him, then there's no way he is giving the office of Director of SHIELD the attention it's due.

[unkiedev]

Aaand he's a total adrenaline junkie.
The recent Hyper Velocity mini by Adam Warren (Which I dug :D ) had the same reasoning as Schmevil: Tony is a high tech adrenaline addict. He loves the action, excitement and speed he gets only from being Iron-Man. He says jets, motorcycles and fast cars/women do not compare to being a rocket powered Super-Hero.

Spider-Man's the same way. He wants to help people and fight his own inner demons but ultimetly "Action is his reward."

I think a pretty good story lies in there someplace: About Heroes addicted to the non-stop excitement and action of being a Hero that they have no altruism and cannot A) Make good desicions in the field or B) Quit fighting.

The opening of Civil War with the New Warriors had a little bit of that.

[XPac]

The recent Hyper Velocity mini by Adam Warren (Which I dug :D ) had the same reasoning as Schmevil: Tony is a high tech adrenaline addict. He loves the action, excitement and speed he gets only from being Iron-Man. He says jets, motorcycles and fast cars/women do not compare to being a rocket powered Super-Hero.

Spider-Man's the same way. He wants to help people and fight his own inner demons but ultimetly "Action is his reward."

I think a pretty good story lies in there someplace: About Heroes addicted to the non-stop excitement and action of being a Hero that they have no altruism and cannot A) Make good desicions in the field or B) Quit fighting.

The opening of Civil War with the New Warriors had a little bit of that.

Thought it does add a selfish element to what they do on some level... enjoying it in and of itself isn't a bad thing.

Being a superhero is like anything else I guess... if you don't enjoy it, you're probably not going to do it that long. But I do agree... there is a pretty descent story lying in there somewhere.

[Alan2099]

While it's seemed to have been downplayed a lot latley, I always saw Tony as a bit of an old fashioned cowboy, or at least he wants to be.

Most of his closest friends in the hero community (until recently) were always Captain America and Thor, to people from much simplier times. While Tony knows technology and loves it, I think that society had become a bit too complex for Stark and he just really liked the idea of a person that could slap on some six shooters and go out to do the right thing without worrying about the legal side of it.

At least, that's how I used to se it. I don't even know who that guy is anymore.

[Magneto Rocks]

And that's a good attitude to have. You shouldn't send someone to do something that you aren't prepared to do yourself. That however doesn't mean you should actually be doing it yourself.

To be an effective leader of ANYTHING as big as SHIELD, you need to learn to delegate responsibility, or you simply wn't get as much done.

Exactly. It's actually a fascinating point being explored in Tony's own book right now, something that *SHOULD* be a positive quality trait- willingness to put others before himself, to throw himself into danger so others don't have to, is actually a *negative* quality trait in some situations and is probably his biggest flaw as Director of SHIELD. That alone is interesting story fodder.

I would assume with a world wide organization like SHIELD, there's 10 different crisis going on that a director of SHIELD needs to be managing every working minute of the day. I don't see how he can effectively be doing that while he's spear heading every mission. Having the Initiative and 50 States in theory was suppossed to deal with some of that stuff at least on US soil.

And that's not even mentioning whatever he has to deal with running Stark. On top of that, he's a full time member of the Mighty Avengers? I could almost buy all that if he were using the Extremis to operate multiple Iron Man suits. But if he's actually in the suit everytime we see him, then there's no way he is giving the office of Director of SHIELD the attention it's due.

Exactly, as I said above. It's not a bad thing, in itself. It's a positive trait which leads to negative results because he effectively cares *too much*, he tries *too hard*. Such brilliant story potential, mines the way for a dozen stories Mark Millar probably never even envisioned when he made Tony the new SHIELD director.

[Vaal]

If there's one comic character that signifies flaws-overload, here's your poster man.
Please don't steal the only title Hank Pym will ever earn from him.

Tony may be a bad person and pretty much a villain nowadays, but when you want a Grade A screw-up, the list starts and ends with Hank Pym. Smacking Jan aside, the man can't build a non-evil robot to save his life, is more concerned with looking like a hero than being one and is too schizo to even keep a bloody codename.

The name's Pym, Hank Pym. Agent 00-Zero.

[bulbasteve]

And that's not even mentioning whatever he has to deal with running Stark. On top of that, he's a full time member of the Mighty Avengers? I could almost buy all that if he were using the Extremis to operate multiple Iron Man suits. But if he's actually in the suit everytime we see him, then there's no way he is giving the office of Director of SHIELD the attention it's due.

Yeah but his power isn't just to operate multiple suits, it's more generally multitasking. He can be riding around as Iron Man and be having a meeting at the same time as was shown through Execute Program and stuff. And anyway remote suits are a lot less strong than he is inside a suit because of how Extremis is tied into his nervous system and stuff and they tend to get torn through like tissue paper as we have seen in MA.

[Expletive Deleted]

He's a mean drunk.