Pepper Potts

Pepper Potts' Origins

Pepper Potts got her start at Stark International (then Stark Industries) as a secretary. She became known by her affectionate nickname Pepper due to her freckled complexion. While doing her job she fixed an accounting mistake made by Anthony "Tony" Stark, CEO of Stark International. This came to his attention, and Stark promoted Pepper to executive assistant. She would soon prove herself an invaluable asset to him numerous times, and would display a business acumen and instincts to rival his own. Often, she would run the affairs of the business in Stark's absence.

Pepper was initially quite attracted to Tony, but not at all to his chauffeur and personal assistant, Happy Hogan. Happy was very much attracted to Pepper however, but she consistently rebuked his romantic advances. Given that Tony was also developing feelings for Pepper, a love triangle between the three began to develop. At this time, neither Pepper or Happy were aware that Tony Stark was secretly the avenger, Iron Man.

Over time, as Pepper came to know Happy better, the two would eventually fall in love. They would marry, and leave Stark International to pursue their own enterprise in the Rocky Mountains, and later in Cleveland where they adopted several children, unable to conceive by themselves.

Pepper was eventually kidnapped by Tony Stark's rival, Obadiah Stane, who attempted to manipulate Tony by hurting the people he loved. Afterwards, Pepper told Tony to stay out of her and Happy's lives as she felt he would only cause them more grief. Her relationship with Happy was not without its difficulties however, and the two would divorce and remarry. At one point, Tony and Pepper had a brief romantic interlude during trouble in Happy and Pepper's relationship. Pepper eventually did settle down with Happy, and the two attempted to supplement their family with more children. Pepper even managed to conceive but lost the baby at the hands of yet another Iron Man enemy.

Happy sustained critical injuries in a battle with Spymaster during the Civil War, and afterwards Pepper requested that Tony turn off Happy's life support. She felt it would dishonor his memory to see him live in a vegetative state. For her part, Pepper has recently joined The Initiative team known as The Order. She has taken on the role of Greek Goddess, Hera.

Recently, Pepper has returned to being Stark's assistant. Unfortunately during a dinner party a bomb was planted by Ezekiel Stane which blew off. Unable to escape Pepper was hit with shrapnel. Damaging almost all of her internal organs Tony Stark outfitted her with a strong magnet in her chest (similar to the one Tony Stark had in the movie Iron Man) to keep her alive to perform surgery.   This makes Potts utterly dependent on the magnet. Although the surgery was successful it is unknown when or if She will ever be able to remove the magnet. Tony also gave her new cybernetics that fixed her mobility and hearing. When Pepper awoke she immediately thought that she was becoming a weapon and was losing her humanity. However, Stark later told her that the battery wasn't made by himself, rather it was made by Danny Rand's design for a new battery. This comforts her and she embraces her new cybernetic enhancements.

Pepper Potts' Powers and Abilities

Pepper Potts in Other Media

Invincible Iron Man (1966)  

  Pepper appeared in the Invincible Iron Man segments of the 1966 animated series, The Marvel Super Heroes, and was voiced by Peg Dixon. 

Invincible Iron Man: Animated Film (2007)

She also appeared in the Direct to DVD animated film The Invincible Iron Man, voiced by Elisa Gabrielli. In this movie she had a British accent.

Iron Man (2008)

Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Pott in the Iron Man Film

Iron Man Armored Adventures (2009)

Pepper as she appeared in Iron Man: Armored Adventures.