Tony Stark/Iron Man is one of the most iconic superheroes in Marvel’s lineup. Following the tremendous success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the fame and impact of this character have reached new heights, making him a modern cultural icon worldwide.
However, there is a surprising fact that not many people know: Tony Stark also exists in the DC Comics universe as the arch-rival of Marvel, but he does not become the superhero Iron Man. In reality, Marvel and DC have often collaborated to create crossover events that astonish comic book fans, such as the legendary battles between Joker and Red Skull, or Captain America and Batman.
Tony Stark is a character that has become familiar to Marvel fans and the superhero community in general – Image: Internet
Nevertheless, the details of Stark’s existence in the DC universe emerged in a regular comic rather than a collaborative product with Marvel. Specifically, in the comic chapter Super Friends Vol.1 #5 by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon, published in 1977, the Justice League held a charity event through comic strips to assist charities worldwide.
This event attracted the participation of many celebrities, but fans of superheroes were particularly eager to see their favorite heroes come together for a charitable cause. Members of the Justice League even took turns donating funds to various charities. Notably, there was a donation from Batman, which drew significant attention from comic book fans.
The donor was named Anthony Stark, born in New York City, who donated $75,000 for a charity related to heart health. In Marvel comics, Stark’s full name is Anthony Edward Stark, who also operates primarily in New York City and must utilize high-tech gear to protect his heart from lingering damage in his body. All these coincidences made fans believe that this donation was indeed the Marvel’s Tony Stark, and not just a simple Easter egg.
Stark, hailing from New York City, donated $75,000 during the Justice League charity event – Image: Internet
Indeed, in the DC comics, Stark does not become the superhero Iron Man and does not join organizations like the Justice League. In this universe, Stark does not go through the transformations that lead him to decide to build high-tech armor and operate as a superhero. Instead, he remains a billionaire playboy, a “party boy,” and a well-known philanthropist, and even without the armor, he is still quite well-known.
Moreover, just like in the DC universe, Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark are two business rivals that do not often compete in the same market, similar to how comic book fans often envision the two richest superheroes in the superhero realm. Shortly after Stark’s $75,000 donation, Batman quickly set up a fund and initiated a charity event, promptly returning to his identity as Bruce Wayne and calling in to donate $100,000.
The reason Bruce provided was that he did not want to be overshadowed by the two most prominent business rivals, including Tony Stark. Shortly after Superman announced a $100,000 donation, Bruce swiftly called in to Alfred and expressed his desire to “be confirmed in front of Stark’s face right now.”
Anthony Stark and Bruce Wayne are two business rivals in the DC universe – Image: Internet
However, the crossover events between DC and Marvel often bring many amusing stories, helping fans to perceive the complex relationships between the two superhero universes. Yet, the fact that Tony Stark exists in the DC universe remains a completely unique case that few people notice, and it is very likely that similar situations could occur with other Marvel characters. Only when flipping through the pages of DC comics do we find ordinary people instead of being portrayed as superheroes.
Source:ScreenRant, DC Comics
