Last week, a website for Stark Expo 2010 launched as part of a viral marketing campaign for "Iron Man 2," the upcoming superhero sequel directed by Jon Favreau. But the exact nature of Stark Expo, flashy though it may be, has remained mostly unknown to the public — until now!
In an official letter penned by Tony Stark himself, the red-and-gold armored hero explains to "all" — presumably including those of us not employed in the field of science — the nature of Stark Expo, an event that hasn't occured since 1974.
"When I got back from that cave, I told you what I wasn't going to do. I wasn't going to make weapons anymore," writes Stark. "I never told you, however, what I was going to do."
Stark proceeds to explain that he and Stark Industries will relaunch the Stark Expo convention this Spring in Flushing Meadows, Queens in New York.
"Stark inventions were first displayed at the World Expo in 1941. In '54, my Father returned to Flushing Meadows, Queens to show off the new tech he used to defeat global tyranny. This was the first ever Stark Expo," he explains. "In the decades that followed, my Father invited the world's greatest minds to contribute to the Expo and put to task corporations to create better living for all. When the 1974 Expo closed, we lost that glimpse into humankind's amazing future."
The multi-billionaire industrialist concludes his letter by explaining that he's hoping "to continue the legacy of dear-old-dad" by bringing new "technological wonders" into the mainstream public — not unlike yesterday's announcement of the HazTech Exoskeleton, I imagine.
So, there you have it — the purpose behind Stark Expo, at least as it's relevant to the world of "Iron Man 2." How is the viral marketing campaign relevant to you and I? That remains to be seen!
Tell us what you think of Stark Expo in the comments and on Twitter!