Post by Doctor Doom on Jun 21, 2007 15:56:29 GMT -5
Doom's Deconstruction: In a meeting on Capital Hill, Iron Man is informed that something has gotten past the sensors- they're picking up some kind of ship and there's a disturbance on the Moon. He decides to test the space defences on it- and because he's Iron Man, the space defences are HUNDREDS of old Iron Man armours. Onboard the Great Stone Ship, Hulk is told of these and orders the ship to release an EMP pulse, which it does, jamming all the signals. The ship then rams and destroys the suits.
Leaving his meeting in a hurry, Stark tries to use the remaining suit- stealth armour, but it's detected and destroyed. He knows he has to get the president. They have a brief conversation which is basically the longer version of the one from WWH #1 but hte long and short of it is, they're interrupted in debating what to do by a giant stone arrival over Manhattan.
Tony then picks up the Hulk's message and reacts with shock and horror, of course. However they land midway through on the Helicarrier and thus, vitally, do NOT see the part where Hulk blames the death of his world and wife on the Illuminati! Tony then orders SHIELD agents NOT to engage Hulk. Dugan says that this is stupid, Hulk's army will attack but Stark responds that Hulk is there for him, nothing more. Dugan realises Tony doesn't want anyone to die protecting him and tells him that this is their JOB. He also says that his decision to shoot the Hulk into space is the only one that absolutely EVERYONE in SHIELD agrees with.
Tony tells Dugan that they have lots of unmanned long distance weapons if necessary But for now, they should help the evacuation. It is then revealed that Tony is actually considering surrendering to try and stop Hulk if he can't stop him by force. Dugan tells him that's insane, but Stark dismisses him. Dugan has a conversation with other SHIELD agents in which they say that if Stark goes down, SHIELD will go down with him. They also establish that they miss Fury as a leader.
We can assume there's a gap here for events with Doc Strange in WWH 1. Moving on, Tony is told there are nukes pointing at the Hulk's ship but he refuses to use them. He then tells Dugan the unregistered heroes all have temporary amnesty and that he's going- first to "pay some folks a visit" and then to do what he's always done at times like this.
Tony arrives at his lab and reflects that ever since they learnt Hulk hadn't landed where they sent him he'd been preparing for this day, and dreading it. He then prepares his Hulkbuster armour, remnicising that it wasn't ready, and that you have to make do with what you have and with what help you can get- we see the New Avengers preparing to go into battle. And all you can do is pray that it's good enough.
Rehash of the scene from WWH #1. Tony tells himself that while he's alive, NOBODY on the ground is getting hurt. Their entire battle is rehashed, along with his speech. This time, when he talks about power and responsibility, Spider-Man says "Well whaddya know... he was listening!" In this issue though, Iron Man says "Forgive me, Bruce..." and then the missiles fire, at which point he says "I never will..."
As Hulk smashes him into Stark Tower, he thinks that he knew this could happen. He thought it was perfect, and reflects that maybe they should have asked Bruce, offered him the option? But he knows that if he said no and was forewarned, no power on earth could stop him. It was one of the most difficult decisions of Tony's life, but a necessary one. He reflects again that he has to make difficult decisions every day of his life but he does what he thinks is right and makes no apologies. He tells himself that if he makes a decision, he will accept the consequences.
We then see a re-interpretation of the last page of WWH1 as Hulk smashes Tony's body and he thinks
"And I pay the price."
The View of Doom:
Wow.
That's all i could think when I read this. Just...
Wow. Considering half this issue was just a rehash of WWH 1... put it like this, if the Knaufs get Iron Man, then SO DOES CHRISTOS GAGE. I can draw only one conclusion- Marvel are trying to show Tony as much more heroic again, across the board. And it SHOWS.
Anyone think Tony's speech was totally insincere? It wasn't. Just like that, it's canon fact, we see inside his head, Tony meant it. Tony is a HERO. He made a very hard decision and he is prepared to face the consequences and doesn't want anyone else to get hurt. I admit I cheered Tony on every bit of the way, not just because he's been right for a year and no-one could see it, but because he's just a flat out HERO in this issue, as he was in WWH #1 and that's undeniable.
In many ways, too much of this was a rehash- that's my only complaint. But so much else was well done. The little hint- Tony DIDN'T hear about the explosion on Sakaar- which clearly means so much more. The fact that Dugan supports SHIELD. That Dugan, that everyone but Tony, thinks they should try to protect him but he won't put any lives on the line for HIS mistake.
The monologue as he prepares the Hulkbuster... it's all very moving etc. But it's the end that makes it fly.
The end is, in theory, just another rehash. But this time we see Tony's innermost thoughts. This time we see him think, and it's beautiful how in-character it is after so much ruining in many other books. NOBODY else gets hurt because of him. It's very true how as an alcoholic, as a CEO, as a director, he makes major decisions every day and faces the consequences. And the last page, is tragic. I don't know how anyone can read this and NOT side with Tony.
In the end, there's not much to say. Iron Man #19 is a wonderful insight into the character of Tony Stark and a flat out fabulous issue. I want Chiristos Gage writing Iron Man in EVERY book. It is brought down a bit by the art, and by much of it being a rehash. Some people say I'm positive on every book. The truth is, it's only if I have strong feelings foir a book that I can be bothered to write a review- for this book, I can.
Doom Decrees That This Issue Shalt Be Given... Nine Gold Dooms Out Of Ten.
Leaving his meeting in a hurry, Stark tries to use the remaining suit- stealth armour, but it's detected and destroyed. He knows he has to get the president. They have a brief conversation which is basically the longer version of the one from WWH #1 but hte long and short of it is, they're interrupted in debating what to do by a giant stone arrival over Manhattan.
Tony then picks up the Hulk's message and reacts with shock and horror, of course. However they land midway through on the Helicarrier and thus, vitally, do NOT see the part where Hulk blames the death of his world and wife on the Illuminati! Tony then orders SHIELD agents NOT to engage Hulk. Dugan says that this is stupid, Hulk's army will attack but Stark responds that Hulk is there for him, nothing more. Dugan realises Tony doesn't want anyone to die protecting him and tells him that this is their JOB. He also says that his decision to shoot the Hulk into space is the only one that absolutely EVERYONE in SHIELD agrees with.
Tony tells Dugan that they have lots of unmanned long distance weapons if necessary But for now, they should help the evacuation. It is then revealed that Tony is actually considering surrendering to try and stop Hulk if he can't stop him by force. Dugan tells him that's insane, but Stark dismisses him. Dugan has a conversation with other SHIELD agents in which they say that if Stark goes down, SHIELD will go down with him. They also establish that they miss Fury as a leader.
We can assume there's a gap here for events with Doc Strange in WWH 1. Moving on, Tony is told there are nukes pointing at the Hulk's ship but he refuses to use them. He then tells Dugan the unregistered heroes all have temporary amnesty and that he's going- first to "pay some folks a visit" and then to do what he's always done at times like this.
Tony arrives at his lab and reflects that ever since they learnt Hulk hadn't landed where they sent him he'd been preparing for this day, and dreading it. He then prepares his Hulkbuster armour, remnicising that it wasn't ready, and that you have to make do with what you have and with what help you can get- we see the New Avengers preparing to go into battle. And all you can do is pray that it's good enough.
Rehash of the scene from WWH #1. Tony tells himself that while he's alive, NOBODY on the ground is getting hurt. Their entire battle is rehashed, along with his speech. This time, when he talks about power and responsibility, Spider-Man says "Well whaddya know... he was listening!" In this issue though, Iron Man says "Forgive me, Bruce..." and then the missiles fire, at which point he says "I never will..."
As Hulk smashes him into Stark Tower, he thinks that he knew this could happen. He thought it was perfect, and reflects that maybe they should have asked Bruce, offered him the option? But he knows that if he said no and was forewarned, no power on earth could stop him. It was one of the most difficult decisions of Tony's life, but a necessary one. He reflects again that he has to make difficult decisions every day of his life but he does what he thinks is right and makes no apologies. He tells himself that if he makes a decision, he will accept the consequences.
We then see a re-interpretation of the last page of WWH1 as Hulk smashes Tony's body and he thinks
"And I pay the price."
The View of Doom:
Wow.
That's all i could think when I read this. Just...
Wow. Considering half this issue was just a rehash of WWH 1... put it like this, if the Knaufs get Iron Man, then SO DOES CHRISTOS GAGE. I can draw only one conclusion- Marvel are trying to show Tony as much more heroic again, across the board. And it SHOWS.
Anyone think Tony's speech was totally insincere? It wasn't. Just like that, it's canon fact, we see inside his head, Tony meant it. Tony is a HERO. He made a very hard decision and he is prepared to face the consequences and doesn't want anyone else to get hurt. I admit I cheered Tony on every bit of the way, not just because he's been right for a year and no-one could see it, but because he's just a flat out HERO in this issue, as he was in WWH #1 and that's undeniable.
In many ways, too much of this was a rehash- that's my only complaint. But so much else was well done. The little hint- Tony DIDN'T hear about the explosion on Sakaar- which clearly means so much more. The fact that Dugan supports SHIELD. That Dugan, that everyone but Tony, thinks they should try to protect him but he won't put any lives on the line for HIS mistake.
The monologue as he prepares the Hulkbuster... it's all very moving etc. But it's the end that makes it fly.
The end is, in theory, just another rehash. But this time we see Tony's innermost thoughts. This time we see him think, and it's beautiful how in-character it is after so much ruining in many other books. NOBODY else gets hurt because of him. It's very true how as an alcoholic, as a CEO, as a director, he makes major decisions every day and faces the consequences. And the last page, is tragic. I don't know how anyone can read this and NOT side with Tony.
In the end, there's not much to say. Iron Man #19 is a wonderful insight into the character of Tony Stark and a flat out fabulous issue. I want Chiristos Gage writing Iron Man in EVERY book. It is brought down a bit by the art, and by much of it being a rehash. Some people say I'm positive on every book. The truth is, it's only if I have strong feelings foir a book that I can be bothered to write a review- for this book, I can.
Doom Decrees That This Issue Shalt Be Given... Nine Gold Dooms Out Of Ten.