Iron Man is a Canadian fictional character, created by
cartoonist
A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the litera ...
Vernon Miller for
Maple Leaf Publishing. A
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
, the character debuted in the first issue of ''Better Comics'' in March 1941,
a colour title, unlike most of the other Canadian comic books at the time which were printed in
black-and-white and known as "
Canadian Whites".
Although he lacked a distinct Canadian identity,
Iron Man was the first Canadian superhero and, like many
comic book
A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
heroes of the time, he fought against the
Nazi
Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...
s.
He predates the better-known
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
character by 22 years and bears no likeness to that Iron Man. Superficially, he better resembles the amphibious
Namor, the Sub-Mariner, who debuted two years earlier.
Fictional history
Iron Man was the last member of a mutated human subspecies that lived in the
South Seas, having survived a devastating earthquake which eradicated his people. He lived alone in a sunken palace until roused from his mourning by
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. After being summoned by two children and an adult named the Major, he threw in his lot with the
Allies, viewing the Nazis as no better than
pirates, whom he also hated.
Special powers
Iron Man was amphibious and indestructible, and had superhuman strength with which he could make great leaps and punch through steel.
See also
*
Canadian comics
*
Canadian Whites
*
Nelvana of the Northern Lights
References
Canadian comics
1941 comics debuts
Superhero comics
Comics characters introduced in 1941
Canadian comics characters
Canadian superheroes
Comics characters with superhuman strength
Male characters in comics
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