Iron Man 2 Movie Poster

Towards the end of 2008's "Iron Man," James Rhodes (played by Terrence Howard) looked at the early silver version of Tony Stark's high-tech armour and said to himself, "Next time, baby."

That "next time" will come on May 7, when "Iron Man 2" hits theaters. And Rhodes will get his wish, donning the heavily-armored metallic suit that turns him into War Machine, a character that has been a part of the "Iron Man" comic books for 30 years. But getting superpowers isn't the only change for the character.

Iron Man Cold War Superhero

Like other Stan Lee creations in the early years of Marvel Comics, the Iron Man story was an exploration of Cold War themes. Iron Man looked to industry's role in the struggle against communism. Over forty years of publication, Iron Man has fought many villains. Some have been parts of significant or recurring storylines, including the Iron Monger, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Ghost, and the Mandarin.

Iron Man Cartoon Pix