Stark's thinking about weaponry changed while in East Asia showing Stark Industries military equipment, he and the group were attacked, he was struck by exploding shrapnel and captured by a warlord name Wong Chu and forced to build weapons. He, and Ho Yinsen, a famed physicist, who was also captured worked to build an arc reactor that protected his heart and worked with a suit of armor that he built to escape.

Stark's creation of the arc reactor let him see that Stark Industries could do so much more than just build weapons. If the arc could save him from dying, it could be used in other ways to help people.

Stark built many suits. He used them to fight against people who bought the weapons originally sold by Obadiah Stane, CEO of Stark International. Stark did not want to see Stark Industries weapons in enemy hands. The people called him Ironman, and he let everyone know he was Ironman without hesitation.

Stark is constantly updating his suits with the new designs and weaponry he creates. He continued his fight to battle defending the earth.