MADreads

Iron Man redux

June 26th, 2009 Dennis - Central

If, like me, you’re a fan of last summer’s Iron Man movie (on DVD and Blu-Ray), writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larroca have crafted a follow-up graphic novel that builds on some of the same themes and characters of the movie.  It’s called The Invincible Iron Man : The Five Nightmares and deals with a question the movie had me thinking about after I saw it: Why isn’t Tony Stark building more Iron Man suits for others to use?

Turns out, Tony’s afraid of what could happen if someone else gets their hands on the technology– and his five nightmares are all variations on that theme.  Because others wouldn’t be as trustworthy as billionaire, womanizing, recovering-alcoholics apparently.  Not even the government Tony seems to slavishly serve (see the Marvel Civil War) nor the members of S.H.I.E.L.D., where he also serves as director, deserve that kind of power.  No, there’s only one man who can wear the Iron Man suit.

Oh, but technology keeps moving forward, and what has been invented, can be re-invented/improved.  Tony finds himself facing a new menace, Advanced Genocide Mechanics, a more-or-less one-man show with a familiar name running it, which is outfitting any and all suicide bombers with portable weapons of mass destruction– for a price.  And all based on technology gleaned from developments of Stark Enterprises, Tony’s company.  (Although, granted, this is comic book technology we’re talking here.)

Familiar faces returning from the movie include Tony’s right-hand woman Pepper Potts, and Jim Rhodes (in his “War Machine” persona), and bad guy Obadiah Stane (via flashback).

The bad news is Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t play Tony Stark/Iron Man in the graphic novel.  The playfulness he brought to the role is missing, and the torment he feels knowing that his work is bringing death and destruction is somewhat lacking as well, at least compared to Downey’s performance.  But Salvador Larroca’s artwork here is really spectacular, with rich colors and exquisite detail.  This is one of the Marvel premiere edition volumes that really lives up to the name.

If you are a fan of the movie, or superhero comics in general, you should definitely give this one a try.

Entry Filed under: Graphic Novel