Pepper Potts

Pepper Potts
Pepper Potts, from issue 6 of The Order. Art by Barry Kitson.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	(As Pepper Potts) Tales of Suspense # 45, September 1963 (As Rescue) The Invincible Iron Man #10 (May 2009)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Don Heck (artist)
In-story information
Full name	Virginia "Pepper" Potts
Team affiliations	The Order The Initiative Stark Industries
Supporting character of	Iron Man
Notable aliases	Hera, Rescue, Coast Guard, Iron Man

Virginia "Pepper" Potts is a fictional supporting character and romantic love interest appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those featuring Iron Man. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck, she first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963). In 2007, she joined the Fifty State Initiative under the codename Hera. In 2009, she assumes the identity of Rescue after being given her own suit of Iron Man armor by Tony Stark.

The character is portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers and Iron Man 3.

Virginia "Pepper" Potts first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963), which was written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Don Heck. Though she was named Pepper Potts from the start, Stark addresses her as "Kitty" in one panel, which is thought to be a typo. Heck modeled Potts as Ann B. Davis’ character of Schultzy from The Bob Cummings Show, and is rendered with brown hair done up in a hairdo similar to that of Schultzy's. Someone on the creative team or in editorial came to feel that the resemblance was too great, and in Tales of Suspense #50, Potts' look was altered to give her red hair and a different hairdo.