Anyone can tell you that superheroes are pretty much the dominant force in cinema right now. From the growing DC Extended Universe to the reboot of the Hellboy and Doctor Who franchises, super-powered humans and monsters seem to be popping up from phone booths, bat caves, and TARDISs across the world. Even Bollywood has joined the bandwagon with colorful and high-octane films like Krrish and A Flying Jatt. While they are symbols of justice, superheroes are (deep down) human beings just like us and show the same flaws. So it is only fitting that their stories can teach us compelling lessons about overcoming fears and battling the worst kind of monsters: the ones that prowl inside our minds. Even more interesting, one famous superhero introduced children and teens to the horrors of a particularly deadly beast called alcoholism. Let’s take a look at this infamous story now.
Iron Man: Earth’s Armored Hero
Since his debut in Tales of Defense #39 (March 1963), Iron Man has taken to the skies and has shown no signs of returning to mortal earth. Over the course of his publication history, the Ironclad avenger has become a symbol of Marvel Comics and rightfully earned his spot as one of the greatest superheroes of all time. New generations of children have been introduced to edgier, funnier, and smarter versions of the character (most notably Robert Downey Jr.’s stellar performance in the Avengers franchise). Believe it or not, however, Tony Stark was not always in a good place.
“Demon in a Bottle”
Starting in 1979, the story arc called “Demon in a Bottle” showcased a depressed, exhausted, red-eyed Stark falling deeper into depression and battling alcoholism. Comic book fans consider this story the godfather of alcohol-related stories in any comic book lineup, and, after taking a good long look at the cover, you can definitely see why.
After experiencing complete mental fallout (following a less than pleasant incident with his rival Justin Hammer), Stark begins to give into his breakdown and drinks excessively. Ironically, this story mirrors the life of a spiraling alcoholic in its content and its story progression. From the beginning, things do not look good for Stark, who begins to plummet during one failed battle after another. Later, with counseling from his friend and butler Jarvis, Stark finally makes the decision to take back his life and attend Alcoholics Anonymous.
In a way, you could argue that alcohol has been the strongest enemy Iron Man has faced.
Always remember that alcohol does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from an alcohol abuse disorder or addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your alcoholism or substance abuse troubles today.
