iron man, black sabbath, comics, movie, music

Are We Iron Man Yet?

You've heard the dark riffs from Black Sabbath's famous 1970s song "Iron Man" in the latest trailer for the movie Iron Man, but is the famous heavy metal song really about the comic book character? It's a question that has plagued pop culture enthusiasts for decades, even though songwriter Geezer Butler denies that he had the warmongering hero in mind when he penned some lyrics about a warmongering hero who yells, "I AM IRON MAN!" Now the Boston Globe's Joshua Glenn has written the definitive analysis of whether the song is, in fact, based on the comic. He's got conspiracy theories; he's got video; he's even got some obscure references to Queen albums. This is crucial reading for any Iron Man enthusiast, whether you are of the metalhead or comic dork variety. [Brainiac]

12:20 PM on Thu Apr 3 2008
By Annalee Newitz
2,164 views
18 comments

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moff at 12:37 PM on 04/03/08
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"We're all iron men."

See?
B at 01:33 PM on 04/03/08
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I thought we were all Spartacus.
Annalee Newitz at 01:39 PM on 04/03/08
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@moff: No, I AM IRON MAN.
aspiringexpatriate at 01:44 PM on 04/03/08
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@B: No. I'M Spartacus.
B at 01:49 PM on 04/03/08
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@Annalee Newitz: Aren't you, umm, IRON WOMAN? Or is there something you wish to share with us?
ElijahDProphet at 01:51 PM on 04/03/08
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I like to think that the song is about Iron Man the comic, but was written by someone who had seen only 1 cover and never read the issue, so they wrote the song about what they thought it would be like.
OldDog1 at 01:52 PM on 04/03/08
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I am Beowulf!

Ok, wrong movie. But every bit as cool.
B at 01:53 PM on 04/03/08
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We are all individuals.
I'm not
Shh.
SeeingI at 01:57 PM on 04/03/08
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Geezer Butler also put out a Doctor Who inspired song called Among the Cybermen, possibly inspired by the 2nd Doctor story "Tomb of the Cybermen." Lyrics:

ce cold killer
Brings Death's sweet darkness
Close my eyes, say a last farewell
Now who forgot my angry side
I'll return by starlight
Tell me who lies dead among the Cybermen
How long can they keep him underground

Saint of shades filles my clone with Spook Songs
Who can blame my angry side
I'll return by twilight

Robots sanction my extreme unction
Clockwork ciphers delete my soul
Now who forgot my angry side

Tell me who lies dead among the Cybermen
moff at 02:03 PM on 04/03/08
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@Annalee Newitz: Do you mean you're Iron Man or you're Robert Downey Jr.? Because if it's the latter, that would explain why I found you sleeping in my house.
DCI Gene Hunt at 02:03 PM on 04/03/08
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I thought we are all made of stars.
92BuickLeSabre at 02:06 PM on 04/03/08
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Does anyone know for sure which of the 518 versions of the song is being used in the trailer?
dOk at 06:21 PM on 04/03/08
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@Annalee Newitz

to quote Michael Keaton: I'm BATMAN ( pouts lips )
ggodo at 06:27 PM on 04/03/08
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@OldDog1: Nope, not nearly as cool.
ggodo at 06:29 PM on 04/03/08
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@92BuickLeSabre: yea, not the shitty one that agroup of kids used once at my high school for an assembly. to this day I am till angry about it. YOU DO NOT MAKE THAT SONG SOUND THAT BAD, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Annalee Newitz at 11:16 PM on 04/03/08
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@moff: Oh, um, sorry about that. Substance D, you know.
doctor_cos at 04:21 AM on 04/04/08
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"I'm BATMAN"
"I know you are."
[www.howitshouldhaveended.com]
zenpoet at 06:55 AM on 04/04/08
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@OldDog1: Yeah, well, I am Legend. And not the crappy Will Smith one.