| “ | I built this for you, and some day you'll realize that it represents a whole lot more than just people's inventions. It represents my life's work. This is the key to the future. I'm limited by the technology of my time, but one day you'll figure this out. And when you do, you will change the world. What is, and always will be my greatest creation... is you. | „ |
| ~ Howard Stark to his son Tony Stark in a video message. |
Howard Anthony Walter Stark is one of the overarching protagonists of the Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was a brilliant inventor and businessman and the father of Tony Stark/Iron Man. He founded Stark Industries, and co-founded S.H.I.E.L.D. with Peggy Carter and Chester Phillips.
He was portrayed by Gerard Sanders in Iron Man, John Slattery in Iron Man 2 onward, and Dominic Cooper in The First Avenger and Agent Carter, who reprised his voice for a different version of the character in What If...?
His Good Ranking[]
What Makes Him Close to Being Pure Good?[]
In General[]
- Despite the MCU's high admirable standard, he passes it for founding S.H.I.E.L.D. to make crucial contributions to national and global security for decades.
- And although his son defeated Obadiah Stane, Ivan Vanko, and Aldrich Killian, saved the universe from 2014 Thanos and saved the world from Ultron, he did so with many aliens and enhanced men and women available to assist him and 21st century technology such as nanotech, mobile communication devices, and especially the world wide web herself available for him to utilize. Howard bluntly states his resources are limited by the technology of the mid-20th century. Hence, it would be very unfair to compare Howard to Tony.
Captain America: The First Avenger[]
- He participated in the rescue operation where Peggy Carter saved Abraham Erskine from a HYDRA castle.
- During the war, he participated in the creation of several inventions designed to help others in battle. At the same time, he secretly participated in the development of weapons and experiments on people who helped the allies during the war.
- He took part in Operation Rebirth, thanks to which Steve Rogers became a super soldier.
- After that, Howard took Captain America to the secret HYDRA base and equipped him with a shield made of a material called vibranium, as well as a special uniform.
- He considered Captain America a good friend, respected him and was deeply devoted to him, making several attempts to find him after he disappeared into the ocean.
Agent Carter[]
- Together with government representatives, Howard participated in the creation of S.H.I.E.L.D., ensuring crucial support of national and global security and, in hindsight, laying the groundwork to bring the Avengers together, who would go on to save the entire universe from the genocidal Thanos, and whose successors would presumably proceed to save the entire multiverse from the malevolent Council of Kangs.
After Agent Carter[]
- When things went south between him and Hank Pym over him trying to replicate the latter's Pym Particles, he chose to leave the latter be when he resigned in protest, telling Mitchell Carson, who insisted Hank be detained, he was no threat unless they made him one.
- He also showed dismay when Carson mocked Hank about losing his wife, Janet, giving him no sympathy and outright saying he brought Hank attacking him on himself.
- Together with the Soviet scientist Anton Vanko, he created an electric reactor and unlike the second one, who dreamed of enriching himself, Howard saw in this invention a more stable source of energy than an atomic one.
- According to Obadiah Stane, Howard Stark never appropriated the authorship of inventions that he created together with others.
- When his wife Maria was pregnant, Howard became more modest, believing that his selfishness often outweighed all the good he had done for his country. He also hoped that his child would not look like him.
- Although he never showed his love for his son Tony, Howard still considered him his greatest creation and had faith in his wonderful intelligence.
- Just before his death, he begged the assailant to help his wife, who was injured from the car crash.
What Prevents Him From Being Pure Good?[]
- Howard is implied to, like his own son, value expediency over common ethics and morality, and is therefore played a part in (some of) Nick Fury’s morally questionable deeds as director of SHIELD.
- He is a neglectful and straight-up abusive father, causing several emotional problems in Tony Stark's adulthood.
- Shortly before his death, he sarcastically insulted Tony, who had returned home after studying abroad, by asking who the "homeless person on the couch" was. He never told Tony that he loved him, let alone liked him, and embittered him towards Captain America by constantly putting him on a pedestal. Tony remarked that the happiest day of his father's life was sending him to boarding school. To drive the turning point home, he could have commended him for graduating college at age seventeen. Instead, he cruelly accused him of not doing anything with his life.
- His bad parenting was also a catalyst for Tony’s flawed approach to mentoring Peter Parker, indirectly causing much hardship for the latter.
- However, he said the future rode on Tony and was too old and accustomed to the mid-20th century to know how to handle parenting well, so this isn't too mitigating
- He can be violent since he pettily flew into a rage and slapped Tony, a defenseless toddler, just for accidentally misdirecting a tiny toy so it bumped into his foot, which he never saw as unjustified let alone apologized for, with Edwin Jarvis apologizing for him.
Trivia[]
- In early drafts of the first Iron Man film, Howard Stark was revealed to be alive and became a ruthless businessman and a supervillain named the War Machine. However, his traits went to Iron Monger during production due to Tom Cruise, who was intended to play Iron Man, complained about the "son vs. father" fight and the name War Machine went to James Rhodes. Had this been kept, Howard wouldn't be a hero, let alone, a Near Pure Good hero.
External Links[]
- Howard Stark on the Heroes Wiki
- Howard Stark on the Disney Wiki
- Howard Stark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
