Iron Man enlists the help of War Machine, Rescue and an old business friend to help his new venture for global peace, just as the Hammer girls' Detroit Steel gambit takes a deadly, and successful, turn.
The Good
I continue to be impressed with Fraction and Larroca's command of storytelling. Every bit of dialogue and every panel angle has obviously got a lot of thought behind it and what's perhaps most impressive is when they rein back to let you fill in the details on your own. That's particular the case with Japanese terrorist situation foiled by Detroit Steel and the implication that the Hammer girls staged it just to make themselves look good. Nothing explained to you outright, but you can easily figure out what's happening. Along those lines, I was pleased to see the number of panels Larocca's was using per page throughout this. It's been a while since we've seen the kind of 3x3 layout grids that Gibbons used for Watchmen, but some of the 2X4 grids here gave the great sense of rhythm you so rarely these days. Everything's so finely tuned, it felt like a well-oiled clock.
The Bad
I feel like Larocca ought to think his take on War Machine over a little more. The suit never looked as rendered as Iron Man's and it never looked like it really "fit" on Rhodey, either. There were a few panels where the shoulder-mounted mini-gun really didn't look right, like it was too overly-long to be functional. Of course, you've got to fudge details of realism in any superhero outfit, but that really stuck out.
The Verdict - 4.5/5
Out of all the books on my list for this week, Invincible Iron Man was the one I was looking forward to the most. I was impressed with the last issue and the momentum started there hasn't slowed down. I've read Iron Man for years and this is the best I can remember it ever being. This has continued the kind sharpening and focusing I enjoyed in the movies, while still keeping it planted in the comics history.
I can accept that Pepper Potts got her own suit of armor. Good for her to take a step up. I just don't see why the armor needs a literal "breast plate".
I see what you mean on the cover about the War Machine suit. We see those rockets coming out of the chest. They look like they are literally in his chest cavity. It's as if the artist forgot it isn't a robot and someone is suppose to be in there.
" I'm not sure how I feel about Pepper though, not trying to spoil anything, but what she was wanting from Tony, I understand why she wanted it, but how she was demanding it, it came off to me as more of an addiction then anything else which did bother me when I read it. "
" I'm not sure how I feel about Pepper though, not trying to spoil anything, but what she was wanting from Tony, I understand why she wanted it, but how she was demanding it, it came off to me as more of an addiction then anything else which did bother me when I read it. "
@War Killer: LOL, but it's only funny because I literally have no idea what you're referring to :P
I know it's a good series, I've got the trade for the first arc, which is why I was tempted to add it to my pull list... But Marcus To is a freakin awesome artist and Fabian Nicieza is pretty good too. I can't speak for the rest of the series, but I recommend picking up #13 at least
Hehe, Batgirl looks fun, but as you can tell from my avatar... Tim Drake FTW! xD I collected the first couple of issues of RR but I had to drop it cause of money issues... So I really wanted to pick it back up again.
@-Eclipse-: I have the first trade as well, and just started reading it again during the whole Stark Disassembled arc which is awesome, plus Tony's new suit is cool...I just wish he'd do more with it :/
I actually had added it to my pull list along with Batgirl, but like you had with Iron Man, money issues came into play, plus I'm slowly jumping into DC, and I'm already collecting three Bat-Titles, two of which are mini-series so once those are over with I probably will pick up RR.
@War Killer: I really wish I could afford Iron Man too, seeing as I'm a massive fan of the movies, but alas, I am poor and have a girlfriend who disapproves of me spending so much money on comics as it is... xD
Huh, which miniseries are those? And lol, I'm collecting three Bat-books too, Batman, Batman and Robin and now Red Robin. I just really like the Robin Bros. xD
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