Tag: iron man 3

Mandarin in Iron Man 3: Differences in Comics with Tony Stark

Apr. 09 Characters no comments

Many comic book fans are awaiting the onscreen introduction of Mandarin in “Iron Man 3.” Mandarin is an interesting character in the comics as he is an opposite to Tony Stark and Iron Man. These differences are astounding when they are explored.

Mandarin in "Iron Man 3"

Mandarin in “Iron Man 3”

Mandarin and Technology

Yes, Mandarin is a master of technology like Tony Stark, but Mandarin’s greatest power comes from rings he repurposed from alien technology. Instead of working harder, as Stark attempts to do, Mandarin attempts to work smarter. He supersedes work ethic with opportunity.

Fighting Chances?

Mandarin is a master martial artist and that makes him a natural fighter. Iron Man is a businessman in a special suit. The would-be-world-leader surrounds himself with people (terrorists and cronies) to fight his initial battles for him while Tony Start often surrounds himself with people who will help him with his battles.

Fears Embodied

One of Stan Lee’s goals with the creation to Iron Man and Tony Stark was to take the fears about the rich not wanting to help out the little guy and turn them. In Mandarin, we see the fears of Communist China embodied. The character wishes to take over the world, is a major technocrat, and commands a watchful army which will do anything for him.

Exposition of Magic

Mandarin’s rings are often explained as magical and he has used them in mystical battles with such characters as Doctor Strange. Tony Stark is someone who has shied away from from magic for many years and has had issues embracing the idea of a mystical realm. The villain used to use his statements about his rings being mystical to strike fear in the hearts of others.

It will be interesting to see how the movie creators at Marvel use the ideas of Mandarin being a polar opposite of Tony Stark and Iron Man in “Iron Man 3.” Hopefully, they do the character justice.

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Symbolism of Iron Man and Tony Stark

Apr. 09 Characters no comments

“Iron Man 3” will easily be one of the biggest movies of the year, but have you ever thought about the deeper symbolism behind Iron Man and Tony Stark? The two parts of the same character have become staples in the Marvel Universe but few ever stop to think about the true symbolism of Iron Man.

Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

 

Iron Man: All the Best the Money Can Buy

When Stan Lee developed the ideas of Iron Man and Tony Stark, the division was growing between the rich and the poor and the young were growing up with a disdain for anyone with money. The ultra rich character was quickly accepted, but few people thought about his style of dealing with crime.

Instead of relying o superpowers or a magical weapon from another dimension, Tony Stark tries to solve problems with money and technology. If he finds a flaw in his suit, he uses countless sums of money to make improvements. He is a hero who symbolizes how so many problems can be taken care of with enough funding and the proper technology.

Check the Batteries

In the early days of the character, Iron Man was constantly running out of juice and having to take time to recharge. This is still touched on in the movies (even tough it is not as often as in the initial issues of The Avengers). We are reminded how all power has limits and we cannot rely on “endless” streams of power.

Technocrat

Tony Stark is the ultimate technocrat as he is almost always working on pushing the boundaries of technology and the need to rely more on tech. Remember, if the magnets in his chest were to fail, he would die. His reliance on technology is second to none in the comic book world.

The Crutches and Crosses

Tony Stark’s greatest struggles have not been with Mandarin or any other character from the printed pages. The man behind Iron Man had his greatest struggles with alcohol. For years, we watched him use a crutch to help him deal with the problems of the world. In recent years, we have seen him struggle to overcome alcoholism and stay away from the bottle forever. Iron Man reminds us that no matter how strong a superhero is, he or she sometimes needs to be saved from himself or herself.

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Agent Coulson Should Not Appear in Iron Man 3

Mar. 14 News, TV & Movies no comments

As opening day for “Iron Man 3” nears, more and more fans are talking about the possibility of Agent Coulson appearing in the movie. Marvel has stated that Tony Stark does not know Agent Coulson is still alive, and I do not see it as time for the multi-billionaire character to find out. There are better times for Clark Gregg’s character to return to the media version of the Marvel Universe.

Agent Coulson on “S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Agent Coulson will be on Marvel’s “S.H.I.E.L.D.” show if/when it appears on TV. The first episode would be the perfect time to bring the character back before the masses. Maybe when he appears on screen, one of the characters can point to the belief of his death at the hands of Loki. A colored rectangle could appear at the bottom of the screen reading “*See ‘The Avengers’ Secretive Stan,” and give a nod to the little editor memos in comics. His reintroduction on the show would help to drive ratings for Marvel’s return to live-action TV shows. If Agent Coulson appeared in “Iron Man 3,” it would cheapen his introduction on the show.

Agent Coulson “Guardians of the Galaxy”

There is a variant possibility for the reintroduction of Agent Coulson. Why not put him in “Guardians of the Galaxy?” That movie is going to need an extra push since the public at-large is not familiar with the team. Even though there is a bigger push right now for the team with their new comic coming out within weeks (see the Detroit area variant of the first issue here), most people do not go into comic book stores, so they will not understand the importance of the team in the overall scope of the Marvel Universe. Agent Coulson might help to tie the movie in with the rest in the Marvel Universe.

Agent Coulson in “The Avengers 2”

How about Agent Coulson being kept off the big screen until “The Avengers 2?” Maybe he could be a secret member or leader of the TV team and only be reintroduced on the big screen in the next Avengers movie. They could continue to use his death as a rally call until then.

The Pop

The reintroduction of Agent Coulson will lead to one of the biggest pops the media side of Marvel has seen. The company needs to plan for this pop and set it for the time which will give the company the biggest boost. “Iron Man 3” is not the best time to place the pop. We already know the movie will be a blockbuster. It does not need the extra pop to help out.

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Iron Man 3 Box Office Will Appear Dismal

Feb. 22 TV & Movies Comments Off on Iron Man 3 Box Office Will Appear Dismal

The clock is ticking until we have the release of “Iron Man 3,” and fans are foaming at the mouth as they wait. There is a concern which sticks out in my mind which I will not be able to shake until about a week after the initial box office results come back for the movie. I keep thinking the mass media is going to make the movie appear as an underachiever.

Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

Trusted Friends

I have worked in the mass media before and can tell you from experience that most people who report the news have no clue about what they are reporting on or about an industry such as the comic book industry. Sure, they report facts and figures eloquently, but it is typically not the job of a reporter to interpret data. There is nothing wrong with reporters as they do their job of reporting and they will report the numbers from “Iron Man 3” when they come out. It is just when they attempt to comment on what they report that the issue will present itself.

Here Comes the Issue

The issue will come in the lines they state after reporting the “Iron Man 3” numbers. I would be willing to wager (with someone else’s money) that after reading the opening totals from “Iron Man 3” that reporters or anchors will point out how “The Avengers” made over $1 billion worldwide. In many cases, someone will offer a color comment about how “Iron Man 3” did not perform nearly as well as “The Avengers” and that the comic book movie market might be sliding down.

Not My Job

Remember, it is not the reporter’s job to interpret the news, just report it. The problem will be with the sheep who watch the news and believe everything they hear coming out of a reporter’s mouthes without thinking. Marvel is not expecting “Iron Man 3” to bring in “The Avengers” numbers because “The Avengers” was a conglomeration movie which teamed up some of Marvel’s biggest names. The average reporter does not realize comparing “Iron Man 3” to “The Avengers” will be like apples and oranges. Prepare yourself for stupidity.

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