Reading Recommendations for Team Iron Man
Captain America: Civil War is about to hit theaters. While it may seem that the characters of this epic superhero throw down may be too busy to even consider picking up a book to read, we at Quirk thought it might be nice to give the two teams a little something for their down time. So, here is a look at some reading for team Iron Man.
Iron Man: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Ernest Cline’s novel may revolve around a young man attempting to win a massive gaming tournament, but at the core of this book is an eccentric billionaire pulling everyone’s strings. Tony Stark is by far one of the most narcissistic heroes ever and if he could make people go through a massive test for his money just to entertain himself, he would. Stark and James Halliday, the creator of the game OASIS, are so similar in their genius that they are almost interchangeable.
War Machine: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
James Rhodes has always been a bit of a reluctant hero. More a soldier than a super powered adventurer, War Machine prefers to use violence as a last resort. No doubt that Erich Remarque’s clearly anti-war novel would resonate with Rhodes. The tale of a young man forced to live through the trials of World War I, All Quiet on the Western Front is a rumination on violence in modern society.
Black Widow: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre
Sure it would be easy to give Black Widow a big adventure spy novel to read, but let’s be honest, the work of a spy is often dull and lonely. John Le Carre’s novel about an old spy master attempting to flush out a soviet spy has often been lauded for its lack of sensationalism. This tale would no doubt bring back memories of some of Natasha’s more challenging outings as Black Widow.
Black Panther: The Once and Future King by T.H. White
It’s good to be king. At least that is the claim, but for Black Panther, king of the African nation of Wakanda, it can also be a dangerous road filled with some odd characters. T.H. White’s novel about the rise of King Arthur would be a great adventure for the Black Panther to read. Filled with magic and a plethora of bizarre and powerful characters, The Once and Future King would read like something out of his own life for the king of Wakanda.
Vision: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
The only non-organic member of the team, The Vision’s motives are often questioned. His humanity is always being debated by other teammates. So the question is, at what point does AI become a real man? Philip K. Dick tried to answer this quandary in his seminal work Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. The tale of escaped androids has some striking parallels to the life of Vision which are almost impossible to ignore.
Spider-Man: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Though Spider-Man himself is clearly a genius and a great hero on his own, it is clear from the trailers that this incarnation of the web head is under Stark’s thumb. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl follows the exploits of a young boy attempting to win a contest which will bring him close to an eccentric candy maker, Willy Wonka. As Wonka pulls the boy’s strings Charlie begins to realize that not everything is as it seems. No doubt by the end of Civil War, Peter Parker will feel the same.
