Hi, Cathy. I avoided reading your post until now because the wife and I just got to see Iron Man last night.

I really enjoyed it, and agree with your assessment. (I also own the XKCD tee-shirt you mention.)

I'm most interested in your comments on Pepper. Her character seemed to change drastically during the course of the film. In the first act, she's tough and competent. By the third act she seems to have turned into the classic damsel in distress--barely able to walk in her own heels. I think this was my only disappointment with the movie.