The Appeal of Iron Man

I believe that "The Invincible Iron Man" is an ironic moniker, given that Tony Stark's story seems to be centered around the concept of FRAGILITY. He is quite the opposite of invincible himself, and part of his drive to be a hero is his acknowledgement of how fragile human life is.

Being awoken to the vulnerability of one's body is shocking. Tony Stark learned quite quickly how fragile his body is and is reminded of that fact each time he has to recharge his chestplate in order to sustain his heart. Coming to terms with how vulnerable you are leads to an understanding of how vulnerable everyone else is as well. How can someone know so intimately the line that separates life from death, and continue to waste their life in selfish pursuits? Or how can they be complicit in something like weapons manufacturing, which puts the fragile into even greater danger? So Stark learns his lesson in his origin and becomes a hero.

The bulky silver age Iron Man suits help to illustrate the lengths to which Stark goes to protect himself, as if his vulnerability is foremost in his mind. His continued bouts with alcoholism reinforce the idea of fragility, as his addiction is recurring -- sobriety itself is a fragile thing to maintain.

He builds iron-plated walls around himself to protect his fragile body, and his extended realization of the fragility of every life is what drove him to become a superhero that protects others. Though he may not be invincible, his understanding of vulnerability makes him a better protector than if he was removed from all suffering.