Weekly Comic Book Review

By Matt Fraction (writer) Salvador Larocca (pencils, inks), and Frank D’Armata (colors)

The Story: Tony Stark’s number is just about up as he takes a last ditch effort to save his body by utilizing the first armor he ever built. However, his mind is past saving as he makes one final move while Norman goes in for the kill. Meanwhile, H.A.M.M.E.R. and Osborn are attacked by an unexpected character that inflicts heavy damage, while trying to rescue Hill and Widow.

What’s Good: First of all, thank you Marvel for only making readers wait two weeks in-between the last two issues. Its kind of like fanboy nirvana to have a great series released bi-weekly (this is why some of us are such big webheads). But besides that general great attribute, this issue is just as stellar as the last. Fraction’s character work is great and Larocca really brought his “A” game here. He draws a few panels that are really novel in perspective, like the view from Stark’s chest as he holds a gun to his chin.

Although Fraction does great work with Stark, he even surpasses that effort with his take on Osborn. He pegs the maniacal, unhinged, genius perfectly. You feel his excitement to kill Stark. The best part of Osborn’s whole mission is that his confident exuberance is only going to lead to his shock as the sabotage back on the H.A.M.M.E.R. Headquarters will definitely lead to a level playing field between him and Stark.

What’s Not So Good: My only complaint is that Stark’s inner-monologue didn’t match the story so far. Last week, Stark was practically Lenny from Of Mice and Men, but this week, as he talks to himself, he is using polysyllabic words and waxing poetic. Maybe he was scarfing down ginkoba on his flight to Afghanistan? Anyway, I loved this monologue, but it just didn’t fit with the momentum from last issue.

Conclusion: Finally an event that lives up to the hype – well, besides Batman and Robin, Blackest Night. So let me rephrase that: Finally a marquee Marvel arc lives up to the hype! Really, I have no idea what is going to go down next issue. Fraction has made no allusion, nor planted any foreshadowing that Stark is going to survive. It’s a fun exercise to guess what will happen, but really, I’m clueless. I can’t believe that he will be killed off for real, but I can imagine him missing or in hibernation or going into a coma while this series focuses on Iron Woman and Maria Hill. Personally, Stark is the only reason I buy this series, so if Fraction is going to pull a Brubaker (Captain America) or Pak (Hulk) and take the lead character out of their given series, I’m out as well.

In any case, I’m not going to start to sweat the future, but rather enjoy the present where this is one of the best series running. If you’re not following this series, I suggest you buy these trades and spend a couple sleepless nights getting caught up so that when Iron Man#19 hits the stands, you’ll be able to read it.

Grade: A

-Rob G.

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