Stark Industries

Fictional corporation
a fictional company

Stark Industries, later also known as Stark International, Stark Innovations, Stark Enterprises and Stark Resilient, is a fictional multi national conglomerate appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Frans Robert Bernstein, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby, the company first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 (April 1962). Stark Industries is depicted as being owned and run by businessman and namesake Tony Stark, who is also known as Iron Man, and was founded by Tony's father, Howard Stark, from whom he inherited the company. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Stark Industries has a logo modeled after the defense contractor Lockheed Martin and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as SIA. During the press conference scene, Stark is seen entering a building that resembles the entrance to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility. An airplane similar to the Lockheed YF 22 stood as a statue in front of the Stark Industries facility, much like the prototypes on display at Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California.

Stark Industries first appeared in Tales of Suspense #40 (April 1963), created by Robert Bernstein, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby.

Stark Industries was founded by Isaac Stark, Sr. in the 19th century and later taken over by Howard Stark and then by his son Tony, after his death. Over the years, through bankruptcy, Tony's "death", Tony's return and hostile takeovers, the company has gone through many name changes including Stark International (later Stane International), Stark Enterprises, Stark/Fujikawa and Stark Solutions.

Stark Industries is primarily a defense company that develops and manufactures advanced weapons and military technologies. The company manufactures the armor worn by Iron Man and War Machine. It builds the helicarriers used by S. H. I. E. L. D, and it produces the Quinjets used by the Avengers

Project: Caribbean (staff unknown) – Stark Industries made an effort to start a plant in Haiti, however it was destroyed by Night Phantom.

Originally Stark Industries, the name was changed when the company ceased manufacturing munitions, with Tony handing over the CEO position to Pepper Potts. Eventually, the company was taken over by Obadiah Stane after a hostile takeover and he renamed it Stane International.

After regaining his personal fortune following Obadiah Stane's death, Tony established a new company, Stark Enterprises, in Los Angeles.

Accutech> – Subsidiary of Stark Enterprises based in California. It employed Carl Walker after Force's faked death. Cordco – It was reacquired by Stark from Justin Hammer, who owned SI following Obidiah Stane's death. The company reproduced Stark's original Guardsman armor for use at the Vault. Much of Stane's operations involved disreputable business practices, leading Stark to initiate a major clean up effort after reacquiring the company. Hot Cup Coffee – Created by Stark using the pseudonym "The Boss".

Created by a merger of Stark Enterprises and Fujikawa Industries following apparent death of Iron Man/Anthony Stark.

Kenjiro Fujikawa – CEO, – Daughter of Kenjiro. She was a skilled businesswoman. Played the role of party girl to annoy her parents. She was slain by an Iron Man impostor named Clarence Ward. Morgan Stark – The previous version of this company helped form Stark Fujikawa. A Japanese firm which took over Stark Enterprises following the apparent death of Tony Stark. Known employees include Tso Fwon, Yu Kurin, Tobi Kanigawa and Wilson Fisk. Oracle Incorporated – Formed by Namor, the company was sold to Stark Fujikawa. Formerly served as the headquarters of Heroes for Hire. After Tony's "death", Bambi Arbogast seconded here. Known employees include Caleb Alexander (who was killed), Carrie Alexander, Allison Grain, Jim Hammond (Human Torch), Robert Losey, Kent Maitland, Phoebe Marrs, Leon McKenzie, Namor McKenzie (former CEO), Rihanna O'Connor, Dr. Anita Savvy, Dr. Richard Savvy, Bambi Arbogast, Josef Went and James "Jimbob" Roberts. Parallel Conglomerate – Subsidiary of Oracle Inc. (which would make it a subsidiary of Stark Fujikawa). Known employees are Captain Holten Gamble (who was killed on board an oil tanker owned by Parallel Conglomerate) and Oliver Russell. Rand Meachum – A company formed by Harold Meachum and Wendell Rand, became a subsidiary of Stark Fujikawa. Known employees include Daniel Rand (Iron Fist), Wendell Rand K'ai, Leon McKenzie, Harold Meachum, Ward Meachum, Joy Meachum, Jason Quartermaster, Peregrin Took, Martina Tereshkova and Dr. Ilya Faro

The fifth company run/owned by Tony Stark and was founded after his return from another dimension. It was shut down by Tony after he was defamed by Tiberius Stone who was subliminally influencing him.

In 2011, Forbes ranked Stark Industries 16th in their "25 Largest Fictional Companies" list. In 2016, Time ranked Stark Industries 3rd in their "18 Most Influential Fake Companies of All Time" list. In 2018, Sideshow ranked Stark Industries 1st in their "Top 10 Superhero Corporations" list. In 2019, CBR. com ranked Stark Industries 8th in their "Top 10 Fictional Marvel Companies" list.

In the world of Amalgam Comics, the company is known as Stark Aircraft (itself a merger between Stark Industries and Ferris Aircraft). The only known employees are Janice Doremus, Pepper Ferris, Happy Kalmaku, Stewart Rhodes, Hal Stark.

In Marvel 2099 (an alternate future reality set in the year 2099), Stark Fujikawa is a major corporate power, alongside Alchemax and Roxxon. The only known staff members are Hikaru Sama and Shudo. During the "Secret Wars" storyline, a version of Stark Fujikawa is seen in the Battleworld domain of 2099.

In the alternate future reality of MC2, the company is known as Stark Global Industries and is owned and run by Tony Stark.

Stark Industries also appears in the Ultimate universe, as it keeps mostly the same origin as spawned outta Howard Stark's defense company. As well as Stark International in the Ultimate Comics as a competitor to Mandarin International. Stark Global Solutions Headquarters also appears as a separate company operated in Singapore owned by Tony Stark's older brother Dr. Gregory Stark.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Stark Industries is headed by Tony Stark and has a significant influence in both the films and television series. In Iron Man, Stark Industries is featured with a logo similar to those of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, and touted as developing many of the same weapons systems that Lockheed Martin is/was responsible for developing, such as the F 22 Raptor and F 16 Fighting Falcon. After Tony's father Howard died, Obadiah Stane became the CEO and later abdicated when Tony was old enough to run it. After Stark comes back from Afghanistan, he announces that he is closing the weapons division of the company. After Stane confronts Stark about what percentage the company's stocks might fall both guess about forty percent. In the next scene Jim Cramer is seen on CNBC with a NYSE ticker tape at the bottom of the screen reading Stark Industries at 82.25 per share down by 56.50, a drop of about 40.7%. In The Incredible Hulk, Stark Industries logo flashes on the screen during the opening credit sequence when General Ross request to the company the Sonic Cannon that the army use against the Hulk later in the film and it is also on the Cyrosync container containing the Super Soldier Serum. In Iron Man 2, Virginia "Pepper" Potts became the CEO of the Stark Industries. A version of Stark Fujikawa appears. Stark Industries, for the first time since 1974, hosted the renowned Stark Expo in Flushing Meadows. As a promotion for the film, at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con, Stark Industries recruiters handed out business cards with an invitation to apply for a job at Stark Industries by visiting StarkIndustriesNow. com. In Captain America: The First Avenger, during World War II, a young Howard Stark assists the Strategic Scientific Reserve in their Super Soldier program, and provides key assistance to Steve Rogers and Agent Peggy Carter. The Stark Industries logo is modified to fit in with the 1940s time period. In The Avengers, Tony Stark opens the Stark Tower in New York City. After the Chitauri invasion, almost all the lettering forming the word 'STARK' on the side of the tower falls off, leaving only the 'A' mirroring the logo of the Avengers that would replace the lettering later on. In Iron Man 3, Pepper is once again CEO of Stark Industries and Happy Hogan is the head of security. Happy calls out to an off camera secretary named Bambi in reference to Bambi Arbogast. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson's winged flight gear is stated to have been designed by Stark Industries, as well as the redesigned Helicarriers' propulsion systems. When Hydra is revealed to be in control of S. H. I. E. L. D. and the new Helicarriers under Project Insight begin targeting millions, Tony Stark is one of their targets while inside the Avengers Tower. After S. H. I. E. L. D. is dissolved, Maria Hill is seen applying for a position at the Human Resources department of Stark Industries. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Wanda and Pietro Maximoff call their childhood in the fictional nation of Sokovia, the apartment in which the Maximoff family was living was attacked with Stark Industries manufactured mortar shells, killing their parents. This would prove to be the basis for their hatred of Stark. In Ant Man, it is revealed that the Avengers Compound is a former Stark Industries warehouse. In Captain America: Civil War, Tony Stark makes a presentation at MIT to promote a Stark Industries program called the "September Foundation" to fund ideas for gifted and talented students. He later uses this program to lure Peter Parker to join the Avengers. In Spider Man: Homecoming, it is revealed that the Department of Damage Control is a joint venture between Stark Industries and the U. S. government to clean up New York City in the aftermath of the invasion in 2012. In Spider Man: Far From Home, a group of disgruntled former Stark Industries employees led by Quentin Beck create a fabricated superhero named Mysterio using Stark Industries drone and Beck's own BioAugmented Retrofitted Technology. In Spider Man: No Way Home, it is reported that a federal investigation into stolen Stark Industries technology is underway following the Spider Man and Mysterio controversy. The DODC subsequently investigate Stark Industries Headquarters. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri asks Riri Williams if she worked with Stark Industries to help her make her Ironheart armor.

A billboard in Spider Man on the level "Race to the Bugle" features a Stark Solutions logo and the slogan "Consulting in the Future." It was shown on the building just before the Daily Bugle building. A Stark Enterprise building can be seen in the level where Spider Man chases Venom through New York City. Stark Industries appears in The Punisher video game. The Eternal Sun group raid the company to steal the Iron Man armors. In The Incredible Hulk video game, it was mentioned that Stark Industries built the Hulkbuster armors. A Stark Industries sign is visible in the opening cutscene for Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds when Iron Man is battling Morrigan Aensland. In Spider Man Shattered Dimensions, the 2099 universe makes repeated mention of Stark Fujikawa on signs and over intercom announcements. In Spider Man: Edge of Time, Stark Fujikawa is mentioned by Walter Sloan as a competitor to Alchemax. In Fortnite during Chapter 2: Season 4, Stark Industries was a mythic location on the map where players could receive items by eliminating Stark Bots and Iron Man. Stark Fujikaw is referenced in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.

Stark Industries is physically featured in Marvel Super Hero Island at the Islands of Adventure theme park, part of Universal Orlando Resort. It is also mentioned in the queue of The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man ride in which it develops the SCOOP news gathering vehicle for the Daily Bugle and the anti gravity ray gun which it is stolen by the Sinister Syndicate who use the weapon to destroy parts of New York City and seize the Statue of Liberty to be held hostage as a leverage against the city. The Far East division of Stark Industries held a expo at Hong Kong Disneyland.