The story of Iron Man begins when Stark, a weapons manufacturer, is kidnapped — originally in Southeast Asia, now in Afghanistan — and forced to build weapons for enemies of the United States. During the fight to capture him, Stark is wounded and must use a special magnet to keep shrapnel from penetrating his heart. Instead of making missiles, Stark uses the parts he is given to create a makeshift suit of armor to escape his captors. Once back in the States, and having to always wear a magnetic chest piece, Stark suspends designing weapons for the U.S. military industrial complex and gives flight to ever-improving suits of armor to fight enemies foreign and domestic.