IRON MAN #1 (MARVEL COMICS)
Tony Stark.
Trying to define the man behind the armor is difficult. Exceptional Genuis. Unapologetic Hero. The list goes on and on.
Who would have thought all those years ago when he built a make shift armor that he would evolve to the Avenger he is today. It begs the question of who is the real walking weapon” Iron Man or Tony Stark? A new creative team looks to explore that and knowing their track record, it’s time for some action!
IRON MAN #1 by Joshua Williamson, Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard, & Joe Caramagna (MARVEL COMICS) ushers in an explosive new era for ol’ shellhead.
Let’s not wait any longer and dive into the issue!
IRON MAN #1 by Joshua Williamson, Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard, & Joe Caramagna (MARVEL COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Even since he was announced at NYCC to be on the project, fans have been comping at the bit to see what Williamson has cooked up. Their anticipation is met with a very strong debut. Madame Masque has quietly become more involved with A.I.M. in the pages of Venom. This leads to an opening which sees her trying to find the next “Tony Stark”. It is blunt and violent reflecting her quest. A very different take in comparison to Stark’s current stat quo. For fans of the MCU version, there will be much to enjoy here.
Williamson captures the arrogance and overconfidence that RDJ brought to the films in dialogue. This is never more true than at his own awards ceremony. The writing locks in on his ego being larger than life, right down to interactions. One of which is Adam Ware. Their exchange eludes to a more important role later. Readers waiting for action don’t wait too long. Once Masque makes her move, the pedal is to the metal. It results in a steady finish with the closing pages teasing much more. There is an overwhelming sense of mystery taking place. It is never more true with the final page. Suffice to say, this one packed a punch.
Carnero & Woodard teases fans with a slight re-enactment of Stark’s beginning. The two page spread shows an armored figure fighting its’ way through A.I.M. forces. Events turn south quickly as Masque reveals what this is all about. Events shift to a more “pleasant” time with Iron Man fighting Blizzard. The two page spread is classic Iron Man in action. This is a nice segway into Tony’s Award show. There are some homages to Iron Man 2 in this sequence. The art brings out the pomp and circumstance that is Tony’s life. From here, the images go right into the celebrity aspect of the character. Fun visuals until the party is crashed.
It is only when Masque and company arrive the tempo picks up. A magnificent two page splash showcases Iron Man in his full armor glory. This spins into great action shots before the true intentions are revealed. The art takes slows down to allow readers to process what is going on with Tony back in his lab. A full image of Tony in armor starts off the ending to the book. It reveals he has more vested interest in his latest endeavor than thought. This builds up to a surprising final page. The full shot leaves readers wanting more & that’s never a bad thing.
FINAL GRADE: 9
A new era begins on a high note with Tony Stark challenged by his own legacy in a thrilling opener. Williamson’s excellent writing taps into Stark’s complicated persona. Carnero & Woodard gift readers with visuals straight out of the movies. Ol’ Shellhead is back with a run you can’t miss!
Let me know your thoughts on IRON MAN #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
