Howard Stark

Howard Stark made his Marvel Comics debut in Captain America Annual #9 in 1990, brought to life by the creative team of Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, and Jim Valentino — and from that Copper Age introduction onward, he's grown into one of the most compelling figures in the Iron Man corner of the Marvel Universe. As a character whose legacy is inseparable from the world of Tony Stark, Iron Man, Steve Rogers, and Pepper Potts, Howard occupies a fascinating place in comics history: the shadow behind the armor, the name that echoes through decades of stories across Iron Man, Invincible Iron Man, and Iron Man 2: Public Identity. With 47 catalog appearances spanning an impressive 36 years and at least one collector-recognized key issue to his name, Howard Stark is proof that some of Marvel's most powerful presences aren't always the ones in the suit.