Tony Stark

Full Name: Tony Stark
Portrayed by: Robert Downey Jr.
First Appearance: Recovery
Parent: Steve Rogers
Love Interest: Pepper Potts
Grandparent: Logan
Siblings: Bruce Banner, Jessica Jones, Carol Danvers, Quentin Beck
Children: Harry Stark, Werner Stark
Nieces/Nephews: Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, Peter Parker

“I have this really childish desire to run and hide and I really don’t want to make things worse for myself, so…yeah.”

— Tony, to JARVIS. Repeated Offenses - Another Side

To an outsider looking in, Tony Stark’s life might have looked perfect. A genius with both money and influence to bring his visions to life, he spent a lot of his younger life as a party boy. Someone who was reckless, slept around, lacked any sort of responsibility…and then he was captured. Forced to work on weapons that would hurt people…tortured if he didn’t do what his captors told him to…when he was finally free, he became Iron Man.

Now, Tony puts his genius to good use, helped along by his father, Steve Rogers. As part of the Avengers-SHIELD family, Tony is the one primarily responsible for weapons and armour beyond the basics. He’s also been the one responsible for giving the entire family a home. First in his tower and then in the Avengers compound.

“Kid…I do need you. I don’t need you to do anything for me but be with me. That’s the most important thing, though. You give me a reason to want to keep doing better and keep fighting harder. And yeah…I know I have Harry and Pepper and my dad and the rest of the family that helps with that…but they aren’t you. I need you.”

— Tony, to Werner. A New Home: Almost Smells Like Teen Spirit

Tony’s relationship with Steve took a drastic change (for the better) when he was involved in the first deaging incident. After attempting to keep the truth from them (for good reasons, in their minds), Steve caved and told Tony (and Bucky) what had really happened to them. Of course, by that point, Tony had realised something was wrong and would have only kept pulling at the threads of the lie until it all unravelled.

Both of Tony’s children, Harry and Werner, had very similar family lives to he himself. That’s probably the primary reason he felt so drawn to both of them; although he followed Harry’s lead when it came to Werner.

With Steve as his father, Tony has been thriving and evolved to a much more responsible person than he was when he first met Captain America. The two of them have weathered some pretty hard times, including when Steve kept the truth of Howard’s death from him. But they got through those times, as difficult as they were.

Tony is generous to a fault, more than willing to help out his family, close friends and even near strangers; a far cry to the more selfish persona he exhibited before he became Iron Man.

Random Facts

• He has an emotional support dog - a black labrador named Shadow.

• Tony is the one responsible for all of the AIs: first JARVIS, then Veronica and Friday.

• He has run on more than one occasion when faced with a spanking.

• He has been addicted to extremis twice.