Editing Iron Man (section)

=== Villains ===
{{Main|List of Iron Man enemies}}
Iron Man's earliest villains were often affiliated with the Soviet government or otherwise associated with communism.{{Sfn|Patton|2015|pp=10–11}} In the first three years after Iron Man was created, one-third of his villains were communists.{{Sfn|Alaniz|2015|p=59}} Some of these enemies were Soviet counterparts of Iron Man, such as [[Titanium Man]]{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=222}} and [[Crimson Dynamo]],{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=241}} while others held leadership positions in communist states, such as the [[Red Barbarian]] and the real-life Soviet leader [[Nikita Khrushchev]].{{Sfn|Patton|2015|pp=10–11}} Khrushchev, like most communists in the series, was drawn in [[caricature]] style as a brute who only sought power.{{Sfn|Alaniz|2015|pp=61–63}} Multiple communist villains, such as Crimson Dynamo, reformed and became heroes loyal to the United States to present Iron Man and liberal capitalism as more appealing and morally superior.{{Sfn|Alaniz|2015|p=65}} Two prominent Marvel heroes, Soviet spy [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]] and American street criminal [[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Hawkeye]], were introduced as Iron Man villains before reforming as heroes.{{Sfn|Howe|2012|pp=56, 106}}{{Sfn|Housel|Housel|2010|p=250}}

Marvel introduced the [[Mandarin (character)|Mandarin]] as a Chinese villain, incorporating racist [[Yellow Peril]] themes and stereotypes regarding China.{{Sfn|Iadonisi|2015|p=39}}{{Sfn|Henebry|2015|p=98}} Though he is an allegory for autocracy,{{Sfn|Iadonisi|2015|p=46}} the Mandarin was not created as another communist villain.{{Sfn|Iadonisi|2015|p=41}} Instead, any work he does with the Chinese government is purely in self-interest.{{Sfn|Darowski|2015b|p=178}} Later on, the Mandarin was retroactively established as the man behind the kidnapping that created Iron Man.{{Sfn|Darowski|2015b|p=176}} The Mandarin contrasts with Iron Man through his association with magic and mysticism instead of science and technology,{{Sfn|Iadonisi|2015|p=44}}{{Sfn|Darowski|2015b|p=178}} and because he was born into nobility unlike Iron Man, who is a [[self-made man]] in line with American ideals.{{Sfn|Iadonisi|2015|p=46}}

Beginning in the 1970s, Iron Man faced villains who represented social conflict and unrest, such as the anarchist Firebrand and the corrupt businessman [[Guardsman (character)|Guardsman]].{{Sfn|Henebry|2015|pp=111–113}} He also faced villains representing concerns about technology, such as [[Ultimo (Marvel Comics)|Ultimo]].{{Sfn|Vohlidka|2015|p=119}} Stark's business pursuits have invited several supervillains who oppose Stark Industries instead of just Iron Man.{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=154}} These villains became prominent in the 1980s,{{Sfn|Zanco|2015|p=166}} and they were amplified by backlash to consumerism that emerged in the 1990s.{{Sfn|Darowski|2015b|p=175}} Some of these villains wish to compete with the corporation and steal trade secrets, such as [[Spymaster (character)|Spymaster]], [[Whiplash (Marvel Comics)|Whiplash]], and [[Abner Jenkins|Beetle]]. Others oppose the corporation on ideological grounds, such as [[Atom-Smasher (Marvel Comics)|Atom-Smasher]].{{Sfn|Chambliss|2015|p=154}}

Tony Stark's chief business rival is Obadiah Stane. Stark's application of business as an altruistic pursuit is contrasted with Stane's application as a selfish pursuit.{{Sfn|Dunn|2010|p=20}} [[Justin Hammer]] was introduced as another businessman to be Tony Stark's antithesis. Unlike Stark, Hammer avoids public attention and provides equipment for other villains instead of using it himself.{{Sfn|Johnson|2007|pp=50–51}} Other major villains include [[Shockwave (comics)|Shockwave]], the [[Controller (Marvel Comics)|Controller]], the [[Mauler (comics)|Mauler]], and [[Stilt-Man]].{{Sfn|Zanco|2015|p=166}} A focus on terrorism introduced villains such as [[Zeke Stane]], the son of Obadiah Stane who carried out terrorist attacks using [[suicide bomber]]s.{{Sfn|Zanco|2015|p=169}}