Superheroes represent the ideal life of an American. In a since, superheroes have become the new standard for how Americans view their lives. Comic books, superheroes, and their movies are the new “American Dream”. One of the most popular comic book superheroes is Iron Man, who represents the epitome of this new American dream with his wealth, intellect, and morals. His popularity comes from his embodiment of the neo-American dream.
Perhaps the most sought after goal of Americans is wealth; Iron Man represents this idea of wealth very well. He is an eccentric multi-billionaire weapons manufacture. Many people are infatuated by his status of wealth and place the Iron Man image on their lunchboxes, t-shirts, and other merchandise. The second factor to his popularity comes from his intelligence. Children and teenagers, a major superhero market segment, have spent their entire lives in pursuit of academic excellence so it only makes since they would feel drawn to someone they wish to imitate. His intelligence is also shown in his humor and wit. His last attribute, his morals, is the defining factor of not only his popularity but also his relatability. He is a man who wants to do the right thing but has sometimes struggled. After all, his company profited off of war and once sold weapons to a terrorist group. However, it cannot be denied that he is dedicated to justice. He risks his life every day in defense of people who cannot defend themselves.
Through his influence, Marvel has used this widely popular superhero to instill morals to a new generation of fans. Iron Man represents the dream that parents have for their children and a dream that children hope to achieve. Everyone wants to be financially successful with an intelligence that includes a decent sense of humor and to be ethical. The neo-American dream is pioneered by superheroes and other decent role models in America.