If Ironman were running for President, there'd be no contest. Maybe we need for a tangible super-being role-model. We have always surrounded ourselves with statues and stories of mythological super-human gods and heros. Many were worshiped with temples, prayers and sacrifices. But today we are raised to the Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist interpretations of god or gods - an interpretation which has not really kept pace with modern technology and visual media.
Marvel Comics released the first glimpse of Ironman III this month causing a buzz in the media. But what is it that makes Ironman, or any other comic book super-hero so irresistible? Is it a simple matter of a need to escape reality and dream of what we'd like to be instead of what we are, or is there more to it than that?
Maybe it is the fact that this man Tony Stark, who is Ironman, is a converted former arms dealer and supplier of weapons of mass destruction to the military who is now become a super-hero committed to peaceful use of his technology for saving the world. This is a popular theme today which is debated hotly these days. On one side are groups that favor humanism and green technology fearing for the future of mankind and our planet. On the other side are those who tell us that global warming is a hoax and the war on terror can be stopped with weapons and surveillance and "why not profit from a crisis - it's just good business!" Luckily for us, Ironman is a weapon of mass destruction who answers to just one man - Tony Stark. And Tony Stark has decided to be a good guy.
Or Maybe is it just our fascination with the possibilities of modern science and technology and the idea that all our problems, no matter how badly we mess up our lives or the planet, can be solved with new gadgets and all-powerful force? Ironman is a real man inside in a hi-tech suit. When he's in the suit, he can fly into space at super-sonic speeds, take out entire military tank divisions, monitor telecommunications, and respond to crisis - he can do almost anything. Tony Stark is also very rich, lives in a fabulous beachfront home, has a fleet of cars as toys and is chased by beautiful women. The ultimate warrior or is he the American dream come to life using technology?
Whatever the answer, the result is that the corporation that owns the Ironman franchise is raking in huge profits as ever increasing numbers flock to the temples of the 21st century - the movie theaters - to follow the evermore fantastic exploits of the man who could easily win a US presidential election - Ironman. ©2012:Tim Newlin & Timtim.com