Dear Iron Man,

To be honest, I don’t know what day it is in our son’s obsession with you.  I have lost track of the days, but not of how many Iron Man toys we have (every single one available).  My little boy turned three recently and was given a gift card to Target.  His first request was an Iron Man toy, so my husband and I gamely looked, and imagine our sadness when we could not get him an Iron Man toy?  Why, you ask?  Because we have them all!  Admittedly, we do not have Iron Man sheets for him, but he wasn’t interested in those when we showed them to him. Although I’m sure he would cherish them if we did get them.

The day Iron Man 2 came out on DVD was the most exciting day of his short life.  We walked into our local Wal-Mart, and it was as if the light of Heaven shined down on his cherubic little face. The Iron Man 2 BluRay immediately found its way into his tiny hands - his life (for the moment) was good.  We got home and walked into our house, and before I had even put my purse down, I was bombarded with questions.

“Mama, my Man Now mobie?”  “Mama, Please Man Now mobie?!” This being his request for me to play the movie.

I had about $250 worth of food to put away, so I indulged him and found the movie, opened the case (I am pretty sure I cut myself in my haste!), and put it on for him.  The relief was evident on his face.  The happiness in the room was palpable.  Iron Man had saved the day for my little boy, once again.

Nothing makes my little Dean happier than watching Iron Man save the day (first movie, second movie, cartoon, you name it).  He even recognizes your alter ego, Tony Stark (aka, Robert Downey Jr.), on award shows and in other movies.  We saw Sherlock Holmes the other day in the store, and imagine his confusion.  Why was Tony dressed like that?  He didn’t get it, but he picked it up and asked me to buy it, sure that Iron Man was just playing dress up. 

We go to the store, and he knows exactly where the Iron Man toys are.  After Christmas our local Target shifted the toy aisles around.  Imagine his distress?  He walked up and down the aisles aimlessly.

“Man now?  Man now? Are you?” And yet his sweet pleas were not answered.  Luckily I was there to help him find them.

Jeff Bridges (aka, Obadiah Stane) will forever be the “bad guy” in my little boy’s eyes, as will Mickey Rourke (aka, Ivan Vanko).  The lovely Gwyneth Paltrow IS Pepper Potts, and, of course, no matter what Robert Downey Jr. does, he will always be a hero to my baby.

I admit I indulge him.  I believe we have sets of Iron Man action figures for the house and each of our cars, possibly even a few for his older brother’s car.  When he asks me to go to the “Iron Man and Food store” in his sweet little boy voice, how can I deny him?  What is another 7 dollars if it means my baby boy is happy? What is the difference between 8 Iron Man shirts and 9 Iron Man shirts? 

I have often wondered why he chose Iron Man.  Why not Superman?  Perhaps a more kid-friendly superhero.  What about Batman?  Or Wonder Woman?  (you know, gender equality and all that.)  The new Thor movie looks rockin’?  But no, none of the other heroes holds a candle to Iron Man and his many armored suits.

The months have passed and his love for you has not wavered.  Your many exploits, women and faults, do not diminish you in his eyes in any ways.  My baby is still your biggest fan.

Signed,

Iron Man’s Biggest Fan’s Mom