Post by Doctor Doom on Aug 24, 2007 16:02:46 GMT -5
Doom's Deconstruction: At an old abandoned plant in Nebraska, two super heroes under The Iniative- Gadget amd Paragon are investigating a disturbance. They find a villain- Graviton, who goes psycho. There are screams, and then a massive explosion.
In the miraculously repaired Stark Tower, Tony Stark wakes up to see Steve Rogers standing there. Shouting "NO!" he and Cp have a quick battle, only for him to realise he's hallucinating, it's a figment of his imagination- a figment which tells him that "the writing is Malukkian." He wakes up and immediately confronts the Secretary of Defence- only one man can read the script he now knows to have been Malukkian on the facility walls in the last story- The Mandarin.
The SecDef says Mandarin is dead. They banter on this a bit- Tony pointing out some things. Basically, Tony has put together that he's the one Jajeeb was after, who killed Najeeb, and that all these terrorist attacks were a feint to distract them- because Mandarin was after Maya Hansen, and Extremis. SecDef doesn't think so- he says Maya killed herself, and they found proof. He's lying, we the readers know he arranged for her to work with a company run, unknown to him, by everyone's favourite Chinese war lord.
Tony is called to the Helicarrier which promptly goes to Nebrasks to investigate the new disturbance- Paragon is in hospital, Gadget is missing. It's explained how Graviton escaped, murdered people and for some reason came to Nebraska. Captain Ultra arrives on scene, leader of the Nebraskan team. He wonders if Iron Man and Gadget were tight, he replies they never met- but we see a flash back, of her as like a 6 year old writing him a letter about looking up to him so much. Tony says unlike most idealistic kids, she made the grade for Iniative training.
The possibility of Ultra being corrupt is explored, Ultra gets pissed off. Paragon regains consciousness and explains that Graviton used his powers to lift up Gadget and crush her into nothing. Tony is told of Graviton's words: "The Machine is beind you." Tony suddenly orders his people to search the site, looking for absolutely MINISCULE remnants. He's asked what he expects to find, and doesn't answer.
It's found- Graviton, now the side of a billiard ball. Hill talks about what a horrible way to die it is, Stark comments that it would have been instant, probably not painful etc, but we see in his head, he just can't stop thinking about how she'd lookd up to him. In his head, Gadget says "Who's behind the machine, Tony?" Tony suddenly asks where Graviton is. He tells Hill to get Graviton and have him brought there STRAIGHT away.
Elsewhere, Maya talks with the Mandarin- she doesn't know he is that- about the benefits of extremis and how they want Stark out of there, as their facility is in Nebraska. Mandarin talks about how helpful it all is- and we ominously see bodies being stored in the basement...
To be continued...
The View of Doom:
What's to say? I'm really digging the Knauf's Iron Man. It's no Captain America and it took a while to adjust to, but it's a consistently great series with top characterization, a sense of down to earth realism, a strong supporting cast in Dugan, Maya and Hill, and a pretty strong overarching story.
The Knaufs are giving the Mandarin's return the weight it deserves. He is so often a character done badly, sidelined or played over the top, but here his return was built up to for some time and I love that the Knaufs are taking their time, building him up along with his gran plan rather than simply having Stark battle him straight away. It's created a much grander sense of menace around the villain, and makes him more sinister and threatening.
This issue COMPLETELY ignores the events of World War Hulk. And I mean totally. They aren't even referenced, Stark Tower is totally intact, Tony seems fine and they're literally picking right back up from IM 18, pre WWH. This confirms that World War Hulk won't change the status quo of anyone but Hulk, as expected, and that the Knaufs never really liked that story, as I expected.
This issue also ties in to the Initiative, which is nice. It takes a state we've never seen the team for, and plays with it a bit using established characters. Tony should be interacting with his program, that's good to see. If I have one criticism, it's that we haven't gotten inside our hero's head enough since Civil War.
The Knaufs also use another nice idea- the many facets of Tony Stark. What McDuffie did so ingeniusly on FF was taken the HIDEOUS mischaracterization of Reed by JMS... and work with it, use a twist, so that it actually read like it had been planned all along, and made sense. The Knaufs haven't done that with Tony's more gross mischaracterization (She-Hulk 18, ASM, Frontline) but while their portrayal has always been compatible with Stark as seen in many comics and most of his history (like the main CW mini) they now add a dimension which works somewhat like what McDuffie is doing. Once or twice in this issue, Tony says things which could be considered jerkish or heartless- but he only ever says them with the costume and the mask on. They're like a cover, a demeanour he projects, which we especially see when he outwardly bluffs about how Gadget's death wouldn't have hurt while we see he's trying to cover for the inner pain he feels. It's a very nice touch.
Oh, and Iron Man's title finally gets around to addressing Cap's death more. Given their friendship, this is something I wanted to see, and I like it. He's seeing Cap in some sort of nightmare thing- clearly a manifestation of the unwarranted guilt he feels over the whole affair. Yet even this dream-Cap still helps him out.
Overall, it was a great issue. In many ways, this feels like a slightly lesser version of Cap to me. GREAT- but not as great as Cap. A brilliant overarching story arc- but not quite as good as Cap. Great build up of a villain- but not as good as Cap. Which isn't to insult that, because not being as good as the best comic in existence is no insult.
The art is okay. It's not incredible- it's good art, but I'm not sure it fits this title that much, a bit too dark and moody for my tastes. Not bad or anything though, and often conveys things well. A slower chapter in a good overarching story. If the final result is anywhere near as good as the much built up to "Death of the Dream" on Cap, this could be the best title flying under the radar at Marvel!
Doom Decrees That This Issue Shalt Be Given... A Solid Eight Gold Dooms Out Of Ten
In the miraculously repaired Stark Tower, Tony Stark wakes up to see Steve Rogers standing there. Shouting "NO!" he and Cp have a quick battle, only for him to realise he's hallucinating, it's a figment of his imagination- a figment which tells him that "the writing is Malukkian." He wakes up and immediately confronts the Secretary of Defence- only one man can read the script he now knows to have been Malukkian on the facility walls in the last story- The Mandarin.
The SecDef says Mandarin is dead. They banter on this a bit- Tony pointing out some things. Basically, Tony has put together that he's the one Jajeeb was after, who killed Najeeb, and that all these terrorist attacks were a feint to distract them- because Mandarin was after Maya Hansen, and Extremis. SecDef doesn't think so- he says Maya killed herself, and they found proof. He's lying, we the readers know he arranged for her to work with a company run, unknown to him, by everyone's favourite Chinese war lord.
Tony is called to the Helicarrier which promptly goes to Nebrasks to investigate the new disturbance- Paragon is in hospital, Gadget is missing. It's explained how Graviton escaped, murdered people and for some reason came to Nebraska. Captain Ultra arrives on scene, leader of the Nebraskan team. He wonders if Iron Man and Gadget were tight, he replies they never met- but we see a flash back, of her as like a 6 year old writing him a letter about looking up to him so much. Tony says unlike most idealistic kids, she made the grade for Iniative training.
The possibility of Ultra being corrupt is explored, Ultra gets pissed off. Paragon regains consciousness and explains that Graviton used his powers to lift up Gadget and crush her into nothing. Tony is told of Graviton's words: "The Machine is beind you." Tony suddenly orders his people to search the site, looking for absolutely MINISCULE remnants. He's asked what he expects to find, and doesn't answer.
It's found- Graviton, now the side of a billiard ball. Hill talks about what a horrible way to die it is, Stark comments that it would have been instant, probably not painful etc, but we see in his head, he just can't stop thinking about how she'd lookd up to him. In his head, Gadget says "Who's behind the machine, Tony?" Tony suddenly asks where Graviton is. He tells Hill to get Graviton and have him brought there STRAIGHT away.
Elsewhere, Maya talks with the Mandarin- she doesn't know he is that- about the benefits of extremis and how they want Stark out of there, as their facility is in Nebraska. Mandarin talks about how helpful it all is- and we ominously see bodies being stored in the basement...
To be continued...
The View of Doom:
What's to say? I'm really digging the Knauf's Iron Man. It's no Captain America and it took a while to adjust to, but it's a consistently great series with top characterization, a sense of down to earth realism, a strong supporting cast in Dugan, Maya and Hill, and a pretty strong overarching story.
The Knaufs are giving the Mandarin's return the weight it deserves. He is so often a character done badly, sidelined or played over the top, but here his return was built up to for some time and I love that the Knaufs are taking their time, building him up along with his gran plan rather than simply having Stark battle him straight away. It's created a much grander sense of menace around the villain, and makes him more sinister and threatening.
This issue COMPLETELY ignores the events of World War Hulk. And I mean totally. They aren't even referenced, Stark Tower is totally intact, Tony seems fine and they're literally picking right back up from IM 18, pre WWH. This confirms that World War Hulk won't change the status quo of anyone but Hulk, as expected, and that the Knaufs never really liked that story, as I expected.
This issue also ties in to the Initiative, which is nice. It takes a state we've never seen the team for, and plays with it a bit using established characters. Tony should be interacting with his program, that's good to see. If I have one criticism, it's that we haven't gotten inside our hero's head enough since Civil War.
The Knaufs also use another nice idea- the many facets of Tony Stark. What McDuffie did so ingeniusly on FF was taken the HIDEOUS mischaracterization of Reed by JMS... and work with it, use a twist, so that it actually read like it had been planned all along, and made sense. The Knaufs haven't done that with Tony's more gross mischaracterization (She-Hulk 18, ASM, Frontline) but while their portrayal has always been compatible with Stark as seen in many comics and most of his history (like the main CW mini) they now add a dimension which works somewhat like what McDuffie is doing. Once or twice in this issue, Tony says things which could be considered jerkish or heartless- but he only ever says them with the costume and the mask on. They're like a cover, a demeanour he projects, which we especially see when he outwardly bluffs about how Gadget's death wouldn't have hurt while we see he's trying to cover for the inner pain he feels. It's a very nice touch.
Oh, and Iron Man's title finally gets around to addressing Cap's death more. Given their friendship, this is something I wanted to see, and I like it. He's seeing Cap in some sort of nightmare thing- clearly a manifestation of the unwarranted guilt he feels over the whole affair. Yet even this dream-Cap still helps him out.
Overall, it was a great issue. In many ways, this feels like a slightly lesser version of Cap to me. GREAT- but not as great as Cap. A brilliant overarching story arc- but not quite as good as Cap. Great build up of a villain- but not as good as Cap. Which isn't to insult that, because not being as good as the best comic in existence is no insult.
The art is okay. It's not incredible- it's good art, but I'm not sure it fits this title that much, a bit too dark and moody for my tastes. Not bad or anything though, and often conveys things well. A slower chapter in a good overarching story. If the final result is anywhere near as good as the much built up to "Death of the Dream" on Cap, this could be the best title flying under the radar at Marvel!
Doom Decrees That This Issue Shalt Be Given... A Solid Eight Gold Dooms Out Of Ten
