Today, Iron Man can be found on movie screens, bumper stickers, and at Disney World, but thirty years ago, the best place to find Iron Man was in the pages of a comic book. Since 1963, Marvel has chronicled the adventures of Tony Stark, making the billionaire-genius-playboy-philanthropist one of the most popular characters in the world.

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Ol' Shellhead's humble roots in comic books belie a great deal of talent. For every era of Iron Man there has been an iconic illustrator – someone who has used their pencils, paints, and inks to create awesome images of the Armored Avenger.

8 Don Heck Co-Created Iron Man With Style

Don Heck and Iron Man - artist for Marvel Comics

Don Heck was a comics' artist, and his most notable work was from the Golden and Silver Ages of Comics. After an early career that focused on war stories, westerns, and horror, Heck made the shift with the rest of the comics' industry towards superheroes. His most enduring creations in the world of Marvel are Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Iron Man.

Heck co-created Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 with Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber. Ever the excellent draftsman, Heck's adventures drawing Iron Man turned Tony Stark into the iconic Armored Avenger who fans adore worldwide.

7 Jack Kirby's Iron Man Exemplified His Futurism

Iron Man artist for Marvel Comics, the legendary Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby is probably the most influential comic book artist to ever live. His style calls to mind the highest science fiction and fantasy, being sufficiently both cartoonish and realistic to become timeless. Kirby's legacy includes Thor, The Fantastic Four, and The Fourth World; and although his contributions are lesser known, it also includes Iron Man.

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The King's futurist design paired well with Tony Stark, presenting itself through Iron Man's futuristic armors and the timelords the character encountered in the pages of The Avengers. Kirby drew the first ever cover featuring Iron Man, cementing the character as an enduring part of the icon's legacy.

6 Gene Colan Drew A Distinct Iron Man

Gene Colan and Iron Man side by side - comic artist

The successor to Don Heck on Tales of Suspense, Colan distinguished himself from contemporary Silver Age artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko with his moody, meticulous style. After drawing a celebrated run on Daredevil and co-creating characters like Blade and the Falcon, Colan established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in the Silver and Bronze Ages.

As the artist on Tales of Suspense, Colan drew under the pseudonym "Adam Austin" due to him being under contract for DC at the time. Nevertheless, Colan's shadows and heavily-researched machines helped make the Golden Gladiator an iconic character.

5 George Pérez Drew An Ideal Avengers Iron Man

George Pérez and Iron Man Avengers 168 - amazing comic book artist

George Pérez was one of the most genre-defining comic book artists. His deep love of comic book lore was only matched by the skill with which he penciled. Pérez's work can be found in classics like Crisis On Infinite Earths, Wonder Woman, and The Infinity Gauntlet, all of which are illustrated with heroic, dynamic aplomb.

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Pérez never drew Iron Man, but he did draw an awful lot of Avengers. Pérez's work on the title is what brought him to stardom, each panel a depiction of emotion-filled, detailed spandex-wearers in lifelike poses. His Tony Stark is no different, rounding out the team as an expertly-illustrated Avenger.

4 Bob Layton Made Iron Man Into the Hero We All Know

Bob Layton defining the Iron Man art in Marvel Comics

If there is a comic book creator most closely associated with Iron Man, it's undoubtedly Bob Layton. Working with co-writer David Michelinie, the American Layton wrote and drew character-defining stories like Armor Wars and Demon in a Bottle. Layton also introduced the idea of Iron Man having specialized armors.

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As the penciller on Iron Man for much of the late '70s and '80s, Layton's heroic, innovative style made the book exciting. His depictions of Tony Stark helped make the formerly-static suit bombastic. Also, Layton's passion for the character is obvious. It shines through in his gleaming, exploding suits of armor.

3 Adi Granov Defined Iron Man For The 21st Century

Adi Granov comic artist for Marvel's Iron Man

An artist who works with paint as well as pencils, the Bosnian-American Adi Granov's style evokes a refined pulp science fiction. Citing artists like Moebius and Syd Mead, Granov's work has graced the interiors and exteriors of plenty of Marvel's comic book offerings. They've also served as the design base of the first Iron Man movie.

Granov's work on the first Iron Man movie was preceded by his work on the celebrated Iron Man: Extremis story arc. The story, often regarded as one of the best Iron Man explorations, sees writer Warren Ellis redefine Iron Man as a weapon, not a man. Granov's work reflects this by giving us a sleek but powerful-looking version of the Armored Avenger.

2 Salvador Larroca Made An MCU-Friendly Comic Book Tony Stark

Comic artist, Salvador Larroca side by side with Marvel character, Iron Man

First appearing on the comic book scene in the 1990s, Salvador Larroca's work has appeared in a variety of titles, ranging from Darth Vader and Uncanny X-Men to Stan Lee Meets Doctor Doom and Punisher/Eminem. The Spanish artist's expressive, realistic style makes him a perfect match for high-adventure comics, especially when it comes to robotics.

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Larroca's main work with Iron Man was in the pages of Invincible Iron Man with writer Matt Fraction. There, he rendered Stark's human and metal faces with equal aplomb, giving Iron Man a look that was comparable to the movies while also having its own identity.

1 Alex Ross Makes Iron Man Shine

Alex Ross draws Iron Man comics for Marvel

One of the most celebrated modern comic book artists, Alex Ross is an American illustrator who primarily works in the medium of oil paint. Ross's lush, glossy style incorporates elements of Norman Rockwell realism and earnestness with the heroic posing of WWII propaganda posters. Ross's notable work includes Marvels and Kingdom Come.

Though never the interior artist for an Iron Man title, Ross's brushstrokes are undoubtedly some of the finest renderings of the character. From his Silver Age-based work in the aforementioned Marvels to the covers he currently creates for Christopher Cantwell's Iron Man, Ross renders the Golden Avenger in all his glory.