ign.com rates Iron Man's Future

[goldenfist]

Here's what ign.com had to say about the future of Iron Man.

Iron Man
Current Creative Team:
Writer: Daniel & Charles Knauf
Artist: Roberto de la Torre
Start With: Issue #15 (February 2007)

Title Analysis: In some ways Iron Man is one of the most redundant titles being published by Marvel. Outside of the X-Men books, you can't throw a rock anywhere in the Marvel Universe without hitting Tony Stark. Civil War saw Stark assume control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and spearhead the 50-State Initiative. Often it's interesting to see the interplay between Iron Man in his new role and the various denizens of the Marvel Universe. However, in his own book Iron Man often falls flat. We're seeing much more of his critical role in books like Captain America.
The father and son writing team of Daniel and Charles Knauf have focused heavily on the reemergence of the Mandarin. It's interesting to see Iron Man's old nemesis in a slightly different role, but the strength of the storyline just hasn't heated up yet. The recent World War Hulk tie-in arc didn't help the book pick up its flagging pace any. Heck, it didn't even have a satisfactory conclusion! When we heard the phrase "Iron Man, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." we were hoping for something a little more dynamic and exciting. Perhaps Iron Man will improve over time, but we're still waiting for the same sense of enjoyment we felt with Warren Ellis' Extremis arc that launched the series over two years ago.
Currently: Decent
Future Prognosis: Decent

Post your opinion about the topic.

[BigDuke]

I personally think that the Extremis arc wrecked the character. He went from being a human who puts on his super hero suit to being a super hero full time. Too much power and pressure all at once. Plus, very little human interest or fun down time.

[balok]

I don't think Extremis necessarily wrecked the character, because it could be removed down the road by some future writer. I feel that his behavior in Civil War, and his betrayal of his friends to the government, did far worse damage. Properly written, he should have lost most of his friends in the superheroic community (those he retains would be those who agree with his authoritarian perspective that superheroes must be rigidly controlled or they will cause a disaster.) Certainly no one with any sense would *trust* him since he has revealed that the ends justify the means, which says that if he decides you're in the way of how he thinks the world should work, he'll smash you like a bug (or, at least, he'll try).