"Iron Man 2" heated up the theaters this summer, and soon you can bring the blockbuster movie home with you as it hits Blu-ray and DVD on September 28! As we countdown to the big day, Marvel.com will bring you a look at some of the stories, characters and relationships that influenced the film, as well as a peek or two behind the curtain of the "Iron Man 2" Blu-ray itself!
By Marc Strom
Tony Stark and Pepper Potts have been a number of things to each other through the years. Early in Iron Man's career, Pepper served as Stark's secretary and harbored a deep desire to one day become Mrs. Anthony Stark. Since then, both Tony and Pepper have experienced countless changes, and though they sometimes drift apart they inevitably return to orbit each other's lives.
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| Tony and Pepper |
During a fight between Iron Man and Titanium Man in TALES OF SUSPENSE #69-71, Pepper realized her love for Happy Hogan when he almost died trying to save Stark's life. The two dated for a short while before eloping in TALES OF SUSPENSE #91, effectively putting an end to any possibility of a romance between Tony and Pepper...for the moment, at least.
Pepper eventually left Tony's employ, but came back to work for him once more, putting a strain on her marriage with Happy with her long absences from home due to Stark's globe-trotting business affairs. During a fight, Happy revealed Tony's secret identity to Pepper in IRON MAN Vol. 1 #65, creating a rift between the two. Pepper eventually moved to Colorado with Happy, and out of Stark's life.
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| Pepper's first appearance |
For a long while Tony and Pepper's paths completely separated. But upon his return from the Heroes Reborn universe in IRON MAN Vol. 3 #1, Stark set out to re-establish his company, and he called upon his two closest and most entrusted former employees to help him do it: Happy and Pepper. Since leaving Tony's life, however, the couple had divorced and lost custody of their children.
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| Pepper as Hera |
During the super hero Civil War, the Spymaster attacked Happy in IRON MAN Vol. 4 #13 and left him brain dead. Pepper asked Tony to help end her husband's life by using his control over technology to shut off Happy's breathing apparatus in the hospital, but he refused. Shortly after, Happy died, though whether Tony had anything to do with the event remains unclear.
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| Pepper as Rescue |
The generator also gave Pepper extra abilities such as levitation, and when Stark named her CEO of his company while he went on the run from Norman Osborn she also discovered that he had developed a suit of armor just for her in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10. Taking the name Rescue, Pepper used the suit to help Tony. During this time, their romance once again flared up, and though they continue to have feelings for one another their relationship remains complicated.
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