The recent horde of superhero movies has resulted in Marvel (and others) trawling the depths of the hero bin for new movie fodder.  You know your starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel when people start talking about “Sub-Mariner the Movie” (apologies to any mariner fans out there, I’m sure it will be very good). 

That said, I really thought Iron Man would have turned up before Ghost Rider. 

Okay, the modelling of the metal suit would create some challenges to the film, cost more money that sort of thing, but surely it can’t be much more than modelling a flaming head and hellcycle?  I don’t know, still at least it’s going ahead now.

As an engineer (just general stuff, not rocket science), I’m fascinated by robots and exo-skeletons and general things like that.  I can remember vividly seeing for the first time ripley in the loader ex-suit in Aliens, and thinking I want one of those..

Iron man rocks, because you don’t have to rely on the freak chance that you may get bit by a radioactive spider or the government will decide to test a super enhancement drug on you in a bid to create a super soldier.  He’s a bloke in a suit, just like you and me (possibly a bit richer and less porky).  The only thing stopping the iron man suit from being created is the level of current engineering and we’re not that far off. 

Already the military is testing an exo-skeleton to allow their soldiers to run faster for longer and carry heavier loads.  Every day we manage to make smaller and smaller motors and servos and Microchips.

I hope that the film makers keep a bit of reality (okay semi-reality) in the Iron Man movie.   I do hate movies where you are just supposed to accept that the modern marvel of engineering works because it’s got some flashing lights on it. 

Please, let’s see him break down once or twice. 

I’m going to start a petition to have Iron Man stand still for a while whilst his Microsoft Power Pack cools down.

I can think of nothing better than scouring the web for obscure sites, when you’re supposed to be working.  Some of my favourites are :

“Tony Stark: Your GO TO GUY!”  a very nice blog of the alternative art of Iron Man (I hope alternative doesn’t offend any artists).  My personal favourite is the “Man of Iron” black inked artwork (below).  Sometimes, I think people try too hard to make the suit a little too human.  I don’t want it to be a thin steel skin, I’d much rather it was a clunking heavy steel monster.  It makes it look stronger and meaner…..The artwork is by Francesco Francavilla and it’s really very, very good.

Screenrant.com has a selection of rather nice looking suit renders (that's him left) which they say were rejected for the movie.  Seems like the guy presented them to the Iron Man Movie guys, but got no further.  Rejected or not, I think it looks pretty cool if a little plasticky.   
I especially love reading the comments of the Iron Man fans.  It makes me ashamed that I can’t get that worked up over it.  Maybe I should try harder…