Gallery: Comic Book Heroes

Robert Downey Jr dons the full metal jacket of Marvel Comics’ billionaire techno-genius Tony Stark in a weapons-grade blockbuster. A close shave in Afghanistan leaves Stark with a dodgy ticker but a cast-iron idea for righting his arms-dealing wrongs. Whatever his reasons, the change of heart gets a mixed reaction from plucky assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), pilot pal Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) and business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). Steel yourself.