Saturday, February 28, 2009
Comic Art
SO BAD, THEY'RE GOOD
One would think that the arch-nemesis of a techno-hero like Iron Man would be a techno-villian (I mean they did choose Ironmonger in the movie). But no, in the "real" world of super-heroes, the comic books, Tony Stark's most powerful and consistent foe is none other than The Mandarin.
Like most really good repetitive characters, he has had more incarnations than a comic book convention has people in costumes. Heck, the Mandarin's power comes from the rings he wears on each finger and the back story on those puppies has changed too. From alien tech to mystical talismen - I can't keep track of it anymore.
What is fascinating to this casual observer is how the story has morphed over the years to match culture concerns. The Mandarin's original beef with Stark was all about technology. The guy was typically chinese xenophobic. If you know your history of that region, you know they went from the most advanced civilization in history to a backwater because of their belief that their kingdom was perfect and needed no outside influence. Stark brought technology to China.
Of course, now that China is building itself into a super-power by becoming the world's leading provided of labor for hi-tech manufacturing, well, that story does not hold up too well. But consider the historical value of maintaining the idea. Then you pit The Mandarian not only against Stark, but against his own nation - the nation he is trying to "save."
Now that would be a cool story line! Iron Man fighting side by side with the Yellow Army.
One would think that the arch-nemesis of a techno-hero like Iron Man would be a techno-villian (I mean they did choose Ironmonger in the movie). But no, in the "real" world of super-heroes, the comic books, Tony Stark's most powerful and consistent foe is none other than The Mandarin.Like most really good repetitive characters, he has had more incarnations than a comic book convention has people in costumes. Heck, the Mandarin's power comes from the rings he wears on each finger and the back story on those puppies has changed too. From alien tech to mystical talismen - I can't keep track of it anymore.
What is fascinating to this casual observer is how the story has morphed over the years to match culture concerns. The Mandarin's original beef with Stark was all about technology. The guy was typically chinese xenophobic. If you know your history of that region, you know they went from the most advanced civilization in history to a backwater because of their belief that their kingdom was perfect and needed no outside influence. Stark brought technology to China.Of course, now that China is building itself into a super-power by becoming the world's leading provided of labor for hi-tech manufacturing, well, that story does not hold up too well. But consider the historical value of maintaining the idea. Then you pit The Mandarian not only against Stark, but against his own nation - the nation he is trying to "save."
Now that would be a cool story line! Iron Man fighting side by side with the Yellow Army.
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