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Marvel’s ‘Avengers:’ A superhero primer

Marvel reports staggering $200M opening weekend to top the Harry Potter finale, “Deathly Hallows, Part 2,” the previous record holder.

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 Iron Man/Tony Stark

In the comics, the founding Avenger and billionaire Cold War industrialist (played by quick-quipping Robert Downey Jr.) built his ever-upgraded armor (palm repulsor beams!) to escape warlord Wong-Chu. He battles both supervillains and personal demons. Lesser-known fact: Stark was once U.S. secretary of defense. (Iron Man's global gross so far: $1.2 billion over two films.)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /

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