Iron Man (Marvel)

"Everything I've done, everything I'll do today, everything I'll ever do, I do to protect this world. Someone once told me that with great power comes great responsibility. That's usually thought of as a lesson for children. A simple injunction to do the right thing. But there's nothing simple about it. When I put on this armor, I took on more power than any human was ever intended to have... and maybe more responsibility than my heart can truly bear. But today... I will do my job. I will protect you. No matter what it takes..."

- Iron Man

Tony Stark/Iron Man is the titular main protagonist of the comic series Iron Man, and one of the titular protagonists in The Avengers. Stark: an inventive genius, industrialist, and multi-billionaire, went to Vietnam to oversee a field test for one of his transistorized weapons, that his company-Stark Industries made. While there he accidentally stepped on a bobby trap, and a piece of shrapnel became lodged in his chest. Injured, Stark was captured by Communist forces under Wong-Chu, and was made a prisoner. While in prison, Tony created a mechanical suit of armor so that he could escape, as well as using his technological know-how to create a pace-maker like device to keep his heart beating and thus, Stark could stay alive.

Using the Iron Man Armor, Stark was able to escape the Communist forces, and once back in America, he perfected his work, making a practically invincible iron suit much like he has today and started saving the world from various threats.

Iron Man was created by the late Stan Lee, the late Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber and Don Heck.

Powers
Although Tony Stark himself doesn't have super powers, his armor gives him enhanced strength and durability, all thanks to his powered RT Node. It allows him to lift in excess of 100 tons, as well as flight via rocket thrusters. His armor is also equipped with the most advanced technology and weaponry to give him an advantage over the mega villains he battles. The armor is also considered as the most sophisticated piece of technology in the mankind.

When injected with Extremis virus, he is granted his body a regenerative ability and a increased sense of strength and speed which gave him an advantage of enhanced manueravility and retain rates. It is also frequently associated with his Extremis armor which forms around his body.

Quotes
"You're missing the point, there's no throne. There's no version of this where you come out on top. Now, maybe your army comes and maybe it's too much for us, but it's all on you. Because if we can't protect the earth you can be damn well sure we'll avenge it."

- Iron Man speaking to Loki in the Avengers movie

"The world needs the Avengers. The best of the best. The best and the brightest. Symbols. Icons. It's time for healing. It's time to tell people we are looking out for them."

- Iron Man