The story of 'Iron Man' centers around billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, the prodigal son of weapons manufacturer and technology entrepreneur Howard Stark, who was one of the brilliant minds behind the Manhattan project. After graduating from MIT at the age of 17, Tony returned from a life of exploration to take the reigns of his father's legacy, Stark Industries, at the age of 21 -- continuing his father's vision of developing new, smarter, more advanced weapons and targeting systems for the United States government.

After unveiling his latest creation, the Jericho missile, in a serene desert canyon in the hostile middle east, Stark's convoy of Humvees is firebombed by an international terrorist organization known as "The 10 Rings." For comic book fans, this is a nod to one of Iron Man's most iconic villians - the mystic known as Mandarin. Could this be a setup for the upcoming sequel? We shall find out in 2010.

Now in captivity, Stark is ordered by the faction to construct a carbon copy of his latest creation. How could he be expected to engineer such a technologically advanced weapon inside a primitive cave? From a Stark Industries stockpile maintained by the terrorist organization, of course. Stark suddenly realizes that his brilliant mind and his father's legacy are being compromised by falling into the wrong hands. Under the guise of building the Jericho missile, and with the help of another captive and fellow scientist named Yensin, Stark constructs a suit of armor to aid him in his courageous escape. At the heart of the armor's power supply is the same electronic device wired to Tony's heart, keeping the shrapnel from the firebomb out, and Stark alive and well.

Stark escapes in fantastic, superhero fashion and returns to his mantle as CEO of Stark Industries with a new lease on life, and a new mission. Stark perfects his design, and using his brilliant mind and the technology at his disposal, he constructs a new suit capable of protecting the people he's put in harm's way.

Twists and turns ensue, but for the sake of those who have yet to view the film, I'll leave those developments to the reel-to-reel. But Marvel's first endeavor as producer of its own properties couldn't have gone better. What fans and moviegoers alike are left with is an adaptation with an exactness matched only by 2005's 'Sin City.'

Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Tony Stark is what fanboy dreams are made of. Not only does he resemble the iconic character in appearance, but his own personal attitudes and mannerisms add so much to the personification and realization of this character. His swagger and his suave sarcastic nature are a mirror image of Stark's.

It may seem cliche to say, but as most fans know, Stark has a history of substance abuse. His alcohol dependency became the main plotline to the now infamous "Devil in a Bottle" story arc of the Iron Man comic book series. Downey, Jr.'s own substance abuse has been well publicized over the years, and it's as if he brings his own personal turmoil to the character, making someone with so much power and intelligence seem weak. Even human.

As stated before, nods to the villain Mandarin, as well as a pseudo-cameo from War Machine, and what is easily Stan Lee's most entertaining cameo to date, will please even the most prudent Iron Man fan. Great chemistry from an all-star cast and a story that has stood the test of time in two dimensions for over 40 years will be sure to captivate the general public.

'Iron Man' had many feats to overcome, one of which were the special effects necessary to portray this tech-heavy character, but the genius behind Stan Winston Studios and Industrial Light and Magic put together something that truly re-sets the bar for the CG age of filmmaking.

Actor-turned-director Jon Favreau received much criticism at the start of the film's production. Having only 4 films to his credit, none of which were of the budget and scale of a comic book adaptation, many felt he wasn't the right man for the job. But with MySpace forums calling for fans' suggestions and input, constant blogs and updates concerning casting and production, and unrivaled excitement and passion about the character, Favreau soon won the fans over, and he's once again proven that his talents extend from in front of the camera to behind it as well.

Also, Marvel Entertainment took a bit of a gamble, producing its own properties in-house for the first time under the moniker 'Marvel Studios.' For a company who once filed for bankruptcy, this seems to have been a well-informed decision. The company stands to receive more of the film's profit and proceeds now that it owns a greater share of the production. Also, the studio's newfound creative freedom shone through, as 'Iron Man' is surely the purest adaptation to come from the Marvel canon to date.

This film ushers in a new era for comic book-based films, for Marvel Entertainment, for Jon Favreau's future in the director's chair, and hopefully for leading man Robert Downey, Jr. as well. Seemingly at the top of his game both in filmmaking and in life, perhaps Robert's well-deserved and long-sought-after share of the spotlight has finally arrived.

'Iron Man' is a must see and a perfect way to kick off the summer blockbuster season. For the comic book fans out there, be sure to stay until after the credits have rolled. You will not be disappointed.

Final grade: A+