Jump to content

Pepper Potts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tenebrae (talk | contribs) at 12:48, 25 July 2017 (→2008 – present: completely cluttered, stylized image that is purely decorative and does not show the character or her costume clearly, cleanly and encyclopedically). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Pepper Potts
File:Pepper Potts in TheOrder 6.jpg
Potts in The Order #6
Art by Barry Kitson
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearance(As Pepper Potts)
Tales of Suspense # 45 (Sept. 1963)
(As Rescue)
The Invincible Iron Man #10 (May 2009)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Don Heck (artist)
In-story information
Full nameVirginia "Pepper" Potts
Team affiliationsThe Order
The Initiative
Stark Industries
Supporting character ofIron Man
Notable aliasesHera, Rescue, Coast Guard, Iron Man

Virginia "Pepper" Potts is a fictional supporting character and romantic love interest appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those featuring Iron Man. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck, she first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45 (Sept. 1963). In 2007, she joined the Fifty State Initiative under the codename Hera. In 2009, she assumes the identity of Rescue after being given her own suit of Iron Man armor by Tony Stark.[1][2][3]

The character is portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Publication history

Virginia "Pepper" Potts first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45 (Sept. 1963), which was written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Don Heck. Though she was named Pepper Potts from the start, Stark addresses her as "Kitty" in one panel, which is thought to be a typo. Heck modeled Potts as Ann B. Davis’ character of Schultzy from The Bob Cummings Show, and is rendered with brown hair done up in a hairdo similar to that of Schultzy's. Someone on the creative team or in editorial came to feel that the resemblance was too great, and in Tales of Suspense #50, Potts' look was altered to give her red hair and a different hairdo.

Fictional character biography

Early history

Potts is originally a member of a secretarial pool, and gets her job by fixing an accounting error made by Stark. She is depicted initially as being infatuated with Stark, and rejects the advances of Stark's chauffeur and assistant Happy Hogan, who debuted in the same issue, with acerbic remarks. As Stark's affection for her grows in the ensuing issues, she becomes part of a love triangle between the two men, and eventually falls in love with and marries Hogan, eloping with him in Tales of Suspense #91.[4]

Pepper and Happy Hogan.

Pepper and Happy eventually leave Stark Industries, settling in the Rocky Mountains and then finally in Cleveland, where they adopt children after being unable to conceive, and disappear from the main Iron Man storyline. After being kidnapped by Stark's rival Obadiah Stane, Pepper tells Tony to stay out of their lives. Pepper and Happy soon divorce after she has an affair with a former college boyfriend. After Tony Stark's return from the Heroes Reborn universe, Pepper and Happy join Tony at his new company, Stark Solutions, and once again become core characters. After some time, Happy and Pepper once again became involved and remarry, eventually considering conceiving a child to supplement their adopted children. Stark entrusts Pepper with a special remote that could shut him down. However, Pepper, tortured by the responsibility, is forced to return it, and the trauma causes her to miscarry. Stark is able to deal with the remote, but feels guilty that he has placed her in such danger.

After Happy sustains massive injuries in a fight with Spymaster during the 2006-2007 "Civil War" storyline, Pepper requests that Tony turn off Happy's life support (using his Extremis abilities). The final pages of Invincible Iron Man vol. 4, #14 shows the death of Happy.

The Order

After the events of the "Civil War" story line, Pepper joins the Fifty State Initiative as a member of The Order, a government sanctioned superhero team operating within California. She assumes the moniker of the Greek goddess Hera, and uses advanced computer-hardware and prosthetics to monitor and coordinate the team's missions. Upon the absorption of The Order into the Initiative, Tony Stark offers her a job on the special-projects team at Stark Enterprises, which she accepts.[volume & issue needed]

2008 – present

Pepper Potts resumes her activities as personal secretary of Tony Stark. When Pepper is caught in a terrorist explosion caused by Ezekiel "Zeke" Stane, she sustains multiple internal injuries, including shrapnel wounds, and rendered unable to withstand a prolonged surgery. In response, Tony embeds a strong magnet (similar in appearance to the arc reactor of the movie) in her chest, essentially turning Pepper into a cyborg dependent on keeping her chest magnet engaged to stay alive, as he was once.[5]

Pepper's body is further enhanced with new cybernetics and upgrades to the magnet, which are based on Danny Rand's battery designs, and which afford Pepper new super abilities.[6]

When Tony is blamed for the Skrull invasion of Earth that occurs in the 2008 storyline "Secret Invasion", S.H.I.E.L.D. is taken over by Norman Osborn, replaced with H.A.M.M.E.R., and Stark and Maria Hill are fired, along with all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s employees. Tony realizes that Osborn is after the identities of superhumans that registered with the government following the passage of the Superhuman Registration Act that occurred during the "Civil War" storyline, which is stored in a database in his brain. Stark decides to go underground with Hill, and to wipe the knowledge in his own brain. Stark makes Pepper the new CEO of Stark Industries, trusting only her to shut down the company in his absence. Pepper discovers a secret room in Stark's office which contains a suit of armor that he made especially for her,[1] which she uses under the name Rescue.[2] Though Osborn has seized all Stark Industries facilities and equipment, Pepper states that all components of her armor are legal and that the design specifications are available to anyone. Despite Osborn threatening her loved ones with prison if she interferes with his search for Tony or attempts any more heroic actions, after being freed she endeavors to find Tony herself.[7] They are reunited in Russia,[8] and consummate a now-sexual relationship, but are subsequently captured and tortured by Madame Masque, who was assigned by Norman Osborn to track Stark down. Stark admits that he had loved Masque in the past,[9] but when pressed to make a choice, with his own life on the line, Tony chooses Pepper. Pepper decides to engage Masque in a physical altercation in order to provide a distraction for Stark to escape.[10]

During the 2009 "World's Most Wanted Storyline" (which ran concurrently with Marvel's company-wide storyline "Dark Reign"), Pepper, after defeating Masque, disguises herself as the former, infiltrating H.A.M.M.E.R. while presenting the Rescue armor to Osborn as spoils of battle. Pepper reveals herself when she rescues Black Widow and Maria Hill from Osborn's imprisonment, while the Rescue suit uploads a virus into H.A.M.M.E.R.'s computers, taking control of the Helicarrier's armory of suits.[11] They then retrieve the hard drive that Hill was assigned by Stark to get, escaping to give it to Captain America in order to restore Starks' mind.[12] As part of "re-booting" Tony (in a vegetative state), the magnet in her chest is removed and placed into his.[13]

Though Stark's memories are restored from a somewhat years-old backup, he no longer remembers the events of the "Civil War" nor his role in it, its aftermath or his affair with Pepper. Pepper survives the removal of her chest magnet, but demands that a new one similar to Tony's own chest repulsor be re-installed, which is done. Recovered, Stark also gifts Pepper with a new Rescue armor, complete with JARVIS.[14]

During the 2011 "Stark Resilient" storyline, when Justine Hammer and Sasha Hammer use their own armored enforcer Detroit Steel to attempt to sabotage Stark Resilient (Tony's new company) and its design for a repulsor technology-powered vehicle, Pepper joins War Machine in helping Stark, during which Pepper experiences a near-death experience in which JARVIS, masquerading as Happy, gives Pepper a cryptic warning of the future.[15]

In the 2012 storyline "The Future", Pepper returns to her civilian life following her destruction of J.A.R.V.I.S., the artificial intelligence that helped her control her Rescue armor,[3] after its compromise led it to go rogue and attempt to kidnap her.[16] She became engaged to Marc Kumar, a public relations and marketing consultant, but broke off the relationship after he briefly became a supervillain.[citation needed]

After Tony undergoes a moral inversion following a confrontation with the psychic Red Skull, Pepper attempts to oppose his efforts to release Extremis on a large scale[17] with the aid of an A.I. back-up of Tony's mind he created eight years ago in the event of his mind being attacked in such a manner.[18] Although the A.I. concludes that Tony's mind is irreversibly twisted, and is subsequently destroyed by Tony, Pepper states that she bought one of the largest media companies from under him which she will use to destroy his reputation by broadcasting his plans to the rest of the world. She then proclaims that any attempts he makes to create his 'perfect world' will have to be carried out with people fully aware that he is now nothing but a monster.[19]

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel" brand, Pepper Potts has not been seen in the public life. When Tony Stark (who was no longer inverted) had hired Mary Jane Watson to work for Stark Industries, Peter Parker attempted to recruit Pepper to work for Parker Industries. Pepper declined the offer.[20]

Appearing in her Rescue armor following the "Civil War II" storyline, Pepper Potts confronted Riri Williams and her Tony Stark A.I. in an attempt to tell Riri the problems of being a superhero only for them to be attacked by Techno Golem and her Biohack Ninjas.[21] As Riri flee, Pepper fights against Techno Golem and her Biohack Ninjas as Techno Golem tries to get answers from Pepper on how she knows Riri.[22] When Techo Golem's armor breaks and Tomoe tries to attack Riri, Pepper fires her Rescue armor's gauntlets at Tomoe which knocked her out. Upon Sharon Carter formally meeting Riri upon the arrest of Tomoe and the Biohack Ninjas, Pepper states to Riri that they will talk again as she flies off in her Rescue armor.[23] Pepper Potts was present with Mary Jane Watson, Friday, the Tony Stark A.I., and Tony Stark's biological mother Amanda Armstrong when they are in the Hall of Armor where Riri voices her knowledge of each of the Iron Man armors. When Amanda Armstrong offers to have Riri let Tony Stark's labs be her base of operations, Riri is hesitant as Pepper encourages her.[24]

During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Rescue is among the superheroes that are part of the Underground where she is part of their resistance against Hydra following their takeover of the United States.[25]

Powers and abilities

The Stark-tech mag-field generator implanted in Pepper’s chest was not weapons-based like Stark's, but borrowed non-weaponized electromagnetic technology from Rand Industries, which caused a number of physical changes to her body. It cured her tinnitus, improving her hearing. It allows her to sense electromagnetic fields, and manipulate them to levitate her body.[6]

Potts' Stark-tech armor suit,[1] which is designated Mark 1616,[26] but named Rescue by Potts,[2] represents a hybrid of repulsor technology and portable electromagnetic super-field generators that give the suit flight, speed, strength, and magnetic-field manipulation. Its electromagnetic force fields are powerful enough to enable Rescue to stop a falling jet airliner without physical contact with it,[27] and can also be used as an offensive weapon with other armored opponents.[2] The suit's physical strength enables it to hold up a stilt mansion felled by an earthquake,[27] and to rip the lower leg of the Black armor.[16] The armor also features an artificial intelligence named J.A.R.V.I.S. that acts as a guide for Potts.[26] During the 2012 storyline "The Future", Potts and Carson Wyche come to suspect that J.A.R.V.I.S. has been compromised, and when they attempt to troubleshoot the Rescue helmet, J.A.R.V.I.S. takes control of the Rescue armor, and takes Potts and Wyche hostage.[16] J.A.R.V.I.S. is disabled by James Rhodes with a source-focused electromagnetic pulse from the Black armor,[28] and is eventually destroyed by Potts, ending her career as Rescue.[3] She has a new Rescue armor in the subsequent series Superior Iron Man, armed with sonic disruptors.[29]

Other versions

  • In the Amalgam Comics Universe, DC Comics' Green Lantern and Marvel's Iron Man are combined to create Iron Lantern.[30] Iron Lantern is secretly Hal Stark, owner of Stark Aircraft, a developer of experimental aircraft. One of his test pilots is Pepper Ferris (an amalgamation of Pepper Potts and DC's Carol Ferris). Like both her DC and Marvel counterparts, she is involved in a love triangle, this time with Stark and his chief mechanic Happy Kalmaku (an amalgamation of Marvel's Happy Hogan and DC's Thomas Kalmaku). When Pepper comes in contact with a mysterious alien gem, she is transformed into Madame Sapphire (a combination of Marvel's Madame Masque and DC's Star Sapphire). Pepper Ferris first appeared in Iron Lantern #1 (April 1997), published jointly by Marvel and DC.
  • In the alternate universe of the "Heroes Reborn" storyline, she and Iron Man are lovers, although she can also be seen in a relationship with Happy Hogan. Stark is forced to leave her unexpectedly and without explanation, as his very presence in the universe will endanger her life and the lives of everyone else.[volume & issue needed]
  • She appears in the Marvel Zombies universe in Marvel Zombies Return, having just submitted her resignation to Stark, who at this point is a near-useless drunk. However, when the zombie Giant Man initiates an outbreak at Stark International, Pepper and Happy are among the zombified casualties. She is killed by Stark when he vomits a nanite-ridden formula upon her, which dissolves Pepper into a skeleton.[31]
  • The Ultimate Marvel version of the character can be seen during Ultimates 2. She and Happy (with whom she appears to be in a relationship) can be seen monitoring Tony when he uses the armor.[32]
  • In The Invincible Iron Man #500, in a flashforward to an apocalyptic future 41 years ahead where the Mandarin has conquered the world, an aged version of Tony defeats his long-time foe with the help of his son Howard Anthony Stark and his granddaughter Ginny Stark, but Howard and Tony sacrifice themselves in the process. At the close of the story, Ginny buries the two next to a gravestone with the name Virginia Potts Stark. Howard is also said to be 41 years old, suggesting that he will be born within the following year.[33]

In other media

Television

Pepper Potts as seen in Iron Man: Armored Adventures.

Film

File:Pepper P.jpg
Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts in the 2008 film Iron Man.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:[41][42]
    • In Iron Man, Tony Stark notes that Potts, his secretary/personal aide, is virtually the only trustworthy individual Stark has at the company.
    • In Iron Man 2, Pepper is promoted to CEO of Stark Industries by Tony Stark. She later attempts to resign following Ivan Vanko's attack on the Stark Expo, but Stark does not accept it.[43] At the end of the film, Pepper becomes Tony's girlfriend.
    • In The Avengers, Potts is instrumental in helping with the development of Stark Tower and Tony's assistance to S.H.I.E.L.D. She also has developed a friendship with Phil Coulson.
    • In Iron Man 3, Pepper is still the CEO of Stark Industries and has moved in with Tony. During an attack on Stark's mansion, Tony wills the Mark 42 armor to encase her thus saving her and Maya Hansen, whom Potts rescues using the armor. After being captured, Aldrich Killian uses her as a test subject for the Extremis process and thus as leverage to force Tony to complete the work to make Extremis stable. However, she turns the tables on Killian by using her own Extremis powers to kill him. Tony is able to modify Extremis so that it is no longer a danger to herself or others.
    • Pepper does not appear in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but is mentioned along with Jane Foster during a conversation involving Maria Hill (asking why they're not at the party), Thor and Stark. Pepper is mentioned to still be the CEO of Stark Industries by Tony. Any doubts about her romance with Tony are put to rest at the end of the film, after Stark mentions wanting to settle down in a peaceful, quiet place with her (having been inspired by Clint Barton's family life).
    • Pepper is mentioned again in Captain America: Civil War. It is revealed that she and Tony are "taking a break". Stark explains to Steve Rogers that the strain of being Iron Man finally took its toll on their relationship, and believes the Sokovia Accords would be a blessing, since it's strongly implied Pepper would consider Tony more responsible if Iron Man were acting in less of a vigilante role.
    • Pepper Potts appears at the end of the Spider-Man: Homecoming. It is revealed that she and Tony have rekindled their relationship, with Tony planning to propose to her in front of a conference at the new Avengers headquarters.

Animation

  • Pepper Potts appears in Iron Man: Rise of Technovore, voiced by Hiroe Oka in the Japanese version and by Kate Higgins in the English dub.[citation needed] In the film, she's taking vacation time on an island mansion Tony Stark gave her as a gift for a past blunder. However, she's forced back to work when Iron Man begins investigating the mysterious technology that ruined the launch of his satellite and wounded War Machine.

Video games

Theatre

References

  1. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 3: No Future" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 11 (April 2009). Marvel Comics.
  2. ^ a b c d Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 7: The Shape of the World These Days" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 14 (August 2009). Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salavdor (a). "The Future Part 6: Independence Day" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 526 (Dec. 2012). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Cronin, Brian (June 29, 2010). "Foggy Ruins of Time – Which Brady Bunch Actress Was Pepper Potts Based On?". Comic Book Resources.
  5. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "The Five Nightmares Part 3: Pepper Potts At the End of the World" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 3 (Sept. 2008). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "The Five Nightmares Part 4: Neutron Bomb Heart" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 4 (October 2008). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 7: The Shape of the World These Days" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 14 (August 2009). Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 6: Some King of the World" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 14 (July 2009). Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 8: The Danger We're All In" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 15 (Sept. 2009). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 9: Titan of the Nuclear Age" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 16 (October 2009). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 11: Kids with Guns vs. The Eternal Angel of Death" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 18 (Nov. 2009). Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Conclusion: Into the White (Einstein on the Beach)" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 19 (Dec. 2009). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark: Disassembled Part 2: Digging in the Dirt" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 21 (February 2010). Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Matt Fraction (w), Salvador Larocca (a). "Stark Resilient Part 4: Grand Mal Tokyo Moron Party" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 28 (Sept. 2010). Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Matt Fraction (w), Salvador Larocca (a). "Stark Resilient Part 8: Drones Scream Down" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 32 (January 2011). Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salavdor (a). "The Future Part 3: Swarm" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 523 (October 2012). Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Superior Iron Man #1
  18. ^ Superior Iron Man #7
  19. ^ Superior Iron Man #9
  20. ^ Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 #12
  21. ^ Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #3
  22. ^ Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #4
  23. ^ Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #5
  24. ^ Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #6
  25. ^ Secret Empire #1
  26. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 4: Breach" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 11 (May 2009). Marvel Comics.
  27. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "World's Most Wanted Part 5: The High-End Technology of Ultramodern Destruction" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 12 (April 2009). Marvel Comics.
  28. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salavdor (a). "The Future Part 4: Armor War" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 524 (Nov. 2012). Marvel Comics.
  29. ^ Superior Iron Man #9. Marvel Comics.
  30. ^ Who's Who Handbook of the Amalgam Universe
  31. ^ "Marvel Zombies Return" #2 (2009)
  32. ^ Millar, Mark (w), Hitch, Bryan (a). Ultimates 2 #3 Marvel Comics.
  33. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Kano (a). "The New Iron Age" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 500 (March 2011). Marvel Comics.
  34. ^ "Whiplash". Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Season 1. Episode 5. May 15, 2009. Nicktoons.
  35. ^ "Hostile Takeover". Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Season 2. Episode 15. March 7, 2012. Nicktoons.
  36. ^ "Doomsday". Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Season 2. Episode 20. June 13, 2012. Nicktoons.
  37. ^ "The Invincible Iron Man Part 2: Reborn". Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Season 2. Episode 2. July 20, 2011. Nicktoons.
  38. ^ "Heavy Mettle". Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Season 2. Episode 13. November 26, 2011. Nicktoons.
  39. ^ "Dragonseed". Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Season 2. Episode 24. July 11, 2012. Nicktoons.
  40. ^ Jenna Busch (2010-02-08). "AVENGERS Animated Assembling w/ Phil Lamarr". Newsarama. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  41. ^ Krupa, Daniel (May 9, 2011). "Gwyneth Paltrow Talks Avengers" Archived 2012-03-01 at the Wayback Machine. IGN.
  42. ^ Wales, George (March 15, 2012). "Japanese Avengers trailer is stuffed with new footage". Total Film.
  43. ^ "This week's cover: 'Iron Man 2' with exclusive photos!" Entertainment Weekly. July 16, 2009
  44. ^ Wilson, Matt D. (November 27, 2013). "Take A Look At The Superheroines Of ‘Marvel Universe Live!’" Archived 2014-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Comics Alliance.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pepper_Potts&oldid=792253814"