The Tin-Man is Drunk

Wrapping up this week's topic of real-life issues being tackled in comic books is a highlight on a story many comic fans consider to be the quintessential Iron Man story. In 1979, writer David Michelinie decided to write a story that focused on Tony Stark's growing addiction to alcohol. This story arc is titled "Demon in a Bottle".

Tony Stark has always been personified as a man who has everything. He's rich, charismatic, witty and always seems to have control of his belongings. But what comes with the mantle of a superhero comes the great downfalls they experience. In an attempt to ruin both Stark and his company, Justin Hammer-president of rival company Roxxon Oil Corporation-hacks into Stark's armor and causes it to malfunction. One of these malfunctions causes Stark to unwillingly kill an ambassador. This caused the public to despise Iron Man and Stark was asked to hand his armor over to the government. It should be noted that at this time Tony Stark and Iron Man were not known to be the same person, Stark claimed to the public that Iron Man was his bodyguard. After learning Hammer was responsible for the ambassador's death, Stark goes after Hammer, but mission is unsuccessful as Hammer escapes. Stark throughout this story is sinking further into alcohol, oblivious to his name being tarnished by a man he couldn't hope to catch. His alcoholism led to the unemployment of his loyal butler Jarvis (That's right, kids. Jarvis wasn't a computer). At the lowest point of Tony's addiction, his girlfriend Bethany Cabe came to him providing help. As it were, Beth was previously married to a diplomat who had a drug addiction that led to their divorce, prompting Beth's determination to help Stark. Even after the "Demon in a Bottle" storyline, Tony's addiction would be mentioned from time to time. One story included Tony's former business partner Obadiah Stane constructing a plan to ruin Stark. This involved setting Tony up with a distracting new love interest, preventing deals with Stark Industries and being protected by the American government the entire time. Stane buys out Stark Industries and Tony falls deeper into alcoholism than ever before. Tony gives the position of Iron Man to his close friend James Rhodes, while he becomes a homeless shell of a man. Obviously, this would be resolved and Stark would rise from his addiction and regain the legacy he had lost.

Tony Stark can often be seen as the man everyone wants to be. This makes it difficult to relate with him, seeing as most people aren't rich and famous, at the very least your common reader isn't. So using the growing issue of alcoholism to give Tony a stronger connection with readers who themselves had gone over the table or witnessed someone important suffer an addiction makes Tony a deeper character and creates an explanation for his actions. I believe stories like these are essential for removing the idea that comic books are for kids, because I'm sure their are many people in this country who have looked in the mirror and questioned their worth and their decisions at a breaking point similar to Iron Man. And just like Iron Man, those people can overcome that weakness and move forward.