Every now and then we get comic book stories that take place in the future. They give a chance to possibly see where our favorite characters might end up. In this week's Invincible Iron Man #500, we get a look at Tony Stark's possible future. At first I was sucked into the action of the story but then I started thinking about the implications of some of the events, in particular, is Tony Stark going to become a father this year?
Do the math. What does it tell you?
== TEASER ==
If this Howard Anthony Stark II is 41 years old in the year 2052, that means he was born in the year...2011! Is Matt Fraction trying to tell us something? Is Tony Stark going to become a father this year?
Tony Stark is clearly not father material. Part of it is his father wasn't really there for him. That doesn't mean he couldn't be a father himself. With his current status in trying to get Stark Resilient running and being an active member of the Avengers, I can't see him willing to take time to change diapers. He might be able to lead a team or business but becoming a father has a completely different set of responsibilities. If Tony Stark becomes a father, it will completely change who he is and let's not forget he barely remembers who he was since he had to have his memories deleted.
Future stories don't always have affects on the current status of characters. We know that characters are pretty much frozen in time as we read their adventures. The fact that Fraction wrote it so a Stark offspring would have to be born in this year, that is a little more immediate. This also happened in the 500th issue. 500 is a big deal and it was a special over-sized issue. I'm sure writers are thinking how their stories will hold up later and if there isn't a Stark baby this year, the story here almost will become obsolete. Fraction has been killing it with this series and I can't see him taking something like this lightly.
It could be said that this future story could be compared to the X-Men's Days of Future Past. That future story has had big effects on the X-Men but it's a future that they will never reach (simply because it will pretty much put an end to the series). The same could be said here. The chances are we will not see Iron Man at age 76 (if he even lives that long). But having a baby born this year is more immediate.
We have just under a year to wait (actually less since the baby would have to be born this year so the time of conception is fast approaching, ask your parents if you're confused). Could Tony be a father? Does he have what it takes? Who would the mother be? (There is another descendant in issue #500 that might give some clues). Would this be a planned event or more of an accident? Tony Stark as a father would drastically change his character and I don't see this as something that Marvel would want with Iron Man, especially at this moment.
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