This story emphasized that Tony's issues were his issues; not Iron Man's. He was to blame for the way his relationships took a turn for the worst. I can't help but compare the handling of this story about addiction to the less than impressive "Snowbirds Don't Fly" storyline in DC comics. This is a much better representation than DC's handling because this doesn't belittle the sufferer and it's from their POV - not an outsider with a hell of a lot of contempt for the sufferer. Demon in a Bottle is a piece of comic canon that depicts a significant event in Tony Stark's life: his battle with alcoholism. O’Neil’s run begins in a fairly episodic fashion, with five issues following Iron Man as he teams up with his fellow heroes, fights villains like the Serpent Society, and solves hi-tech problems with his trademark wits and ingenuity. While these initial stories may seem completely unrelated, the writer uses each to build and enhance a through-line for the character: While “The Iron Man” is merely a tool, Stark has slowly made it into a crutch, becoming dependent on the feeling of invincibility it’s given him. O’Neil would further this unraveling of the character through a new arch-nemesis: the brilliant criminal mastermind, Obadiah Stane. A ruthless manipulator driven by conquest, Stane spends most of the run’s first arc orchestrating the destruction of Stark’s life, exhausting him with a gauntlet of supervillains, undermining his business, and destroying his relationships, all in a bid to take over Stark International. And while the stoic will shown in Demon in a Bottle carries the hero through most of these challenges, Stane’s gauntlet leaves Stark completely disillusioned in himself. The Invincible Iron Man…is no more. (From Iron Man #167 By Dennis O’Neil and Luke McDonnell) David Michelinie and Bob Layton’s plots take the slow-boil approach, with things taking a while to warm up, but there are plenty of hints of the bigger problems Tony Stark is about to face. His armour keeps malfunctioning and his reliance on the sauce isn’t helping matters at all.

Eventually, we learn that the armor malfunction was caused by longtime rival Justin Hammer in a bid to gain control of Stark’s company. But even after stopping Hammer’s plot, Tony can’t undo the damage that’s been done. Instead, he increases his alcohol consumption. Iron Man steps down as Chairman of the Avengers, placing Captain America in charge. From this point forward, the dominant image of the team is Cap as the leader. Michelinie and Layton make a real good job here, they are still the most iconic and classic team on Iron Man, and Romita Jr in his beginnings was a far better artist than he is now. To a staunch anti-war activist like O’Neil Tony Stark was practically alien, steeped in pro-war arrogance and aside from an injury that was removed in his earlier years, completely insulated by his privilege and status. There was, however, one link that the writer and the character shared: Stark, like O’Neil, was a recovering alcoholic.While the issue seemed resolved, Tony’s struggle with alcoholism became a reoccurring problem, which gave it a layer of veracity the original storyline didn’t quite have. He doesn’t stop being an alcoholic. He instead learns to live sober. I've been wanting to read the comic where Tony Stark has a drinking problem for quite some time. Ok, that sounds kind of weird, but it's true. This is the volume that includes the classic "Demon in a Bottle" comic. While bidding for the contract to build an electronics plant in the Communist country of Carnelia, Justin Hammer lost the bidding contract to Stark International. Hammer reacts in a personal manner with a vendetta against Tony Stark. Hammer plans to ruin Stark's reputation by defaming Iron Man. Hammer has his engineers build the hypersonic scan transmitter which is integral in his plans to ruin Stark. This device transmits a signal that could breach the refractory coating of Iron Man's armor and take control of the armor. Hammer tests the device three times before attempting to take full control.

Much like the never-ending, serialized nature of comics, Tony Stark will always continue to battle his personal demons. And while he may stumble or fall, sometimes harder than ever, it’s his ability to endure, to rise above these struggles, that makes him truly invincible. Sources:

Any size contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content. Support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards, or Donate here! Thank you for reading! While flying home, Iron Man's armor begins to malfunction, sending him flying uncontrollably through the sky and crash landing. He regains control and later tests the armor in his lab, and finds nothing apparently wrong. Stark is visiting a casino with Bethany Cabe when Blizzard, the Melter, and Whiplash arrive and attempt to rob the casino's vault. Stark slips away, dons his armor, and battles and defeats the villains. During the fight, he overhears a comment from Blizzard about "Hammer" wanting Iron Man kept alive. Stark later receives and agrees to a request for Iron Man to represent his company, Stark International, at a public ceremony and meet with a foreign ambassador. At the ceremony, Iron Man's armor again malfunctions, striking the ambassador with a repulsor blast, killing him. Iron Man tells the police about the malfunction, claiming he did not intentionally kill the ambassador. Doubtful, but knowing they can't fight him, the police let him go but demand that Stark turn over his armor for inspection, and Stark complies. During this time, Stark's drinking increases significantly. Speaking of fat men, they also decide to retell Iron Man's origin but this time a little fat man is the master mind. Why did it need to be retold? It doesn't add anything new or explore any new themes is just the same except for the fat man. So yeah captured builds a suits, escapes interesting right? There is a stupid part that did make me laugh, for some reason he decides to wrestle the little fat man. He could of just blow up stuff but instead he uses magnets.

A man subject to pressures and responsibilities far beyond those of his peers. Such is a burden that must take its toll, eventually, from even the most valiant warrior. For generations, superheroes have been held up as an inspirational ideal, symbols of our own ability to transcend our limitations and realize our fullest potential. But for every moment of hope, there is one of doubt; a personal crisis that tears our self-image away and leaves us to face our own inner darkness. For many, this struggle is unending. It may break us. But it also gives us the opportunity to rise up, stronger than ever before. The signing ceremony for the contract between S.I. and Carnelia is held at the UN Building. The Carnelian ambassador requested that Iron Man be present at the event. Cabe is also present at the ceremony as the bodyguard for the Carnelian ambassador. Cabe displays her distaste with the armored Avenger by insulting Iron Man a few minutes prior to the ceremony. The Carnelian ambassador is a fan of Iron Man and one of the major reasons that Stark International was chosen to build the plant in Carnelia. However, during the signing ceremony, Hammer uses the hypersonic device to activate Iron Man's repulsor and blasts the ambassador, killing him.The bottom of the liquor bottle pictured on the cover of this issue says "Coming Soon Jerry Bingham...". Bingham would replace John Romita Jr. as Iron Man's regular artist in Iron Man #131.

Instead what I got was him having a fight with Namor, which was good and I can't believe I'm actually saying this but it was the best story in the whole thing. It's barely connected with the rest, with just 2 little panels. There are a lot of coincidences throughout this that just happen randomly like how does Hammer know Tony's underwater or does he know that he's got his hand on a fat man. This is a sort of last hurrah of sorts for the original incarnations of Blizzard and Melter, as both would only make a few more appearances after this storyline before being unceremoniously killed off. While the second Blizzard would become a mainstay in Iron Man's rogues gallery, the Melter would rarely reappear in any incarnation. Demon in a Bottle" is a nine-issue story arc from the comic book series The Invincible Iron Man (vol. 1), published in issues 120 through 128 in 1979 by Marvel Comics. It was written by David Michelinie and Bob Layton and illustrated by John Romita, Jr., Bob Layton, and Carmine Infantino. "Demon in a Bottle" is concerned with Tony Stark's alcoholism.WARNING: References to addiction. If you are struggling with addiction, call the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP. Don’t Sleep on Children of the Vault! Immortal Thor & Doctor Doom & Dinosaurs! | CBH Live! November 17, 2023 While aboard SHIELD's Helicarrier, Iron Man is eavesdropping on a group of rogue SHIELD agents who hired the first Spymaster to assassinate Stark. The spotlight feature in Iron Man's chest beam spontaneously activates and illuminates the agents. Another element that makes this collection worth reading is the early art of John Romita, JR. (JRJR) I see JRJR has a highly stylized artist today. Anyone who's familiar with his work can spot it ten miles away. You can just tell when something is drawn by JRJR. This collection offers a look at his beginnings as an artist, before his style was so immediately recognizable, and there's great value in that. A comparison of this collection with his recent work on Spider-Man clearly shows the elements of his style that he's kept, developed, or discarded. Though I'm not a graphic artist, I'm fascinated by the obvious artistic journey JRJR has been on, and I imagine art students and future comic artists would benefit from observing it too. Can't you see you're becoming your own worst enemy? And you're trying to kill that enemy with a bottle... — Bethany Cabe Appearing in "Demon in a Bottle"