Invincible Iron Man #17 (World’s Most Wanted Chapter 10) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvado Larroca (Art), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: As Matt Fraction gets closer to the conclusion of the epic “World’s Most Wanted” arc, I’m beginning to think there isn’t a happy ending in Tony Stark’s future. Especially now that Marvel has released the ominous “Stark on a slab” teaser image…

The Story: Tony Stark makes a mistake that could cost him, and everyone he cares about, everything…

What’s Good: The best thing about the latest chapter of World’s Most Wanted is that it hinges almost entirely on a mistake. Stark’s house of cards starts to fall and it makes for some good reading. But it’s not that a mistake is made, but how the mistake is made that makes Invincible Iron Man #17 so damned compelling. Matt Fraction writes Stark’s mistake into his story in a way that’s surprisingly subtle (you may miss it at first), yet extremely effective; with the mental deterioration of the lead character on full display. It’s all about execution, and Fraction executes a very pivotal moment really well in a way that ripples throughout the entire book.

The artwork by Salvador Larroca is solid all around. His character work continues to improve, the technological stuff continues to look great, and the different faces of Tony Stark (from man with everything to man losing everything) continue to impress. I do have one major complaint however…

What’s Not So Good: What’s the deal with Norman Osborn? It’s like Larroca isn’t even trying to keep him looking consistent or even acceptable. Osborn just sticks out in comparison to how everyone else looks and to be honest, it reminds me of the issues I had with Larroca’s character work when the series started.

Another thing I must mention is how the tenth chapter of World’s Most Wanted feels a little bit weak when compared to the intimate intensity of the last chapter. The character moments are certainly there, but there’s nothing that matches the back and forth between Stark and Madame Masque. Also (POSSIBLE SPOILER!), I have to ask, if Stark doesn’t understand email well, how does he seem to easily figure out how email addresses work?

Conclusion: It’s not perfect, but Invincible Iron Man #17 delivers more of what’s so great about World’s Most Wanted.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Invincible Iron Man #16 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvador Larocca (Artist), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Anyone tired of the “World’s Most Wanted” arc yet? I know I’m not.  It’s refreshing to see a Marvel comic that’s breaking the common “six-issue” rule.

The Story: Madame Masque talks to her “lover” Tony Stark as a captive Pepper Potts awaits her torture. Meanwhile, Black Widow deals with Mariah Hill’s breakdown.

What’s Good: You know what? I really don’t have a whole lot to say about Invincible Iron Man #16. Now normally, that would be a bad thing or a sign that the issue is very “meh.” In this case though, it’s actually a rather good thing because it means that chapter nine of “World’s Most Wanted” maintains (in some ways surpasses) a sort of status quo that the series seems to be comfortable with. The current plot hums along at a pace that feels just right for the character-driven story being told. Matt Fraction’s dialogue and character work is as revealing as ever (I love the exchanges between Tony and Madame Masque). And best of all, Salvador Larocca’s character work looks the best it’s ever looked (it’s about time that Tony Stark looks like the same person in every panel).

What’s Not So Good: My only real complaint about the latest issue of Invincible Iron Man is that the bits with Black Widow and Mariah Hill left me a bit cold. While Hill’s breakdown is understandable and well-written, it seems to come out of nowhere. Hill goes from being a person desperate to get the job done to someone who just completely falls apart in a very short amount of time. Now I understand spontaneous breakdowns are part of human nature, but it seems a little bit out of character considering how hardened and well-trained Mariah Hill is. There is one major saving grace to the whole thing though: Black Widow’s reaction to Hill is a bit similar to mine….

Conclusion: If you like what Matt Fraction is doing, then you are going to find quite a bit to like about Invincible Iron Man #16. If you’re against the whole “World’s Most Wanted” thing, then I suggest sitting out until Fraction’s through telling his entire story.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

The Invincible Iron Man #15 (World’s Most Wanted Chapter 8) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvador Larocca (Art), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The seventh chapter of “World’s Most Wanted” showed that Fraction’s lengthy arc has yet to run out of any steam. That’s quite an accomplishment for Matt Fraction considering that some stories start feeling stretched thin after only two or three issues.

The Story: Tony and Pepper share a moment that Madame Masque sees as an opportunity. Meanwhile, Mariah Hill tries to get Black Widow to help her find Captain America (Bucky).

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: The latest chapter of “World’s Most Wanted” is a bit slower than most, but it’s loaded with the type of character work that has made The Invincible Iron Man such a success. Now I know I’ve said it many times before, but I will say it again: Matt Fraction writes one hell of a Tony Stark. In particular, Fraction writes one hell of a Tony Stark that isn’t quite the Tony Stark that we are all familiar with– a “normal” Stark, if you will. In addition to the great Stark stuff, Fraction also scores with pretty much every other character in the book. Mariah Hill is suitably desperate, Pepper is put to great use as she brings out Stark’s humanity, and Madame Masque is a compelling mix of disturbed, sexy, and villainous.

Now I know I’ve said a lot of negative things about Salvador Larocca’s art in the past, but his work in the latest Invincible Iron Man has a cinematic feel to it that adds a lot to Fraction’s script. While some of the action looks silly and Tony Stark doesn’t exactly look consistent, Larocca hits far more than he misses, especially during the slower panels (which are plentiful). Also, I’ve got to mention that Madame Masque is a character that Larocca does really well.

Conclusion: Fraction once again delivers the goods as “World’s Most Wanted” continues to be one of the best things to come out of the Dark Reign period.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

The Invincible Iron Man #14 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvador Larocca (Art), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Invincible Iron Man is written by the Matt Fraction that made me a fan of Matt Fraction.

The Story: With a mind that’s being deleted cell by cell, Tony Stark encounters the Crimson Dynamo and sees an opportunity. Meanwhile, Pepper Potts gets a checkup and then goes back to being a hero. As for Mariah Hill? She’s contacting a certain assassin for some help…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Another month, another very good issue of Invincible Iron Man that strengthens the argument for “World’s Most Wanted” being one of the best things to come out as a result of the Dark Reign period. The story keeps moving along at a pace that feels just right, pausing long enough for characters to make an impression (like Crimson Dynamo for instance) but never long enough to feel like things are starting to drag. While I’m sure some people will scoff at the logistics of Stark’s “delete my brain” plan, it’s difficult to seriously call it boring or unoriginal.

Creatively, Matt Fraction’s character work continues to be the obvious highlight. He handles his cast so well that you can’t help but get drawn into the world of a mentally deteriorating Tony Stark. In particular, I’d even go as far as to say that Pepper’s transformation into a hero is just as compelling as anything that Stark is going through. It’s the use of (and, almost,  the reliance on) the peripheral character that makes the Dark Reign arc of Invincible Iron Man such an effective piece of work.

I have two complaints about the seventh chapter of “World’s Most Wanted.” The first complaint is that once again Larocca’s art hurts the book whenever there isn’t some technology to show off. The second complaint is that the seventh chapter seems to be all about setting up the rest of the arc as opposed to moving things forward. While the plot definitely advances in interesting ways, it’s clear Fraction is saving the bigger stuff for next month.

Conclusion: Sure it’s a bit slow, but Invincible Iron Man #14 is still a clever, intelligent, and compelling slice of entertainment that’s well worth it’s cover price.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Invincible Iron Man #13 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvador Larroca (Artist), and Frank D’Armata (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Invincible Iron Man is easily one of the best Marvel monthlies. Matt Fraction writes one hell of a Tony Stark and his handling of Stark’s inner circle (which includes Mariah Hill and Pepper Potts) has been absolutely brilliant.

The Story: Tony Stark hits up a technology fair in order to find parts that can be used to downgrade the Iron Man into a form that he can more easily build. He also finds out that having a target on your back brings all sorts of people out of the woodwork. Mariah Hill fights to resist The Controller and finds a way out of Futurepharm. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn interrogates Pepper Potts about the whereabouts of Tony Stark.

What’s Good: The noose around Stark and his friends tightens as Matt Fraction continues to make great use of the Dark Reign scenario that is dominating the Marvel universe. In other words, it’s business as usual in Invincible Iron Man. The writing is absolutely fantastic and I really couldn’t be much more pleased with how “America’s Most Wanted” is progressing. Don’t let the fact that the entire issue is dedicated to setting up bigger and better things for the next month stop you from checking it out.

What’s Not So Good: Salvador Larroca continues to be an extremely bad fit for this arc because of the trouble he has in doing the artwork for human beings. While his artwork for technology looks absolutely fantastic, the people in Iron Man look either something close to awful or, at best, terribly inconsistent. I wouldn’t mind Larroca’s work as much if there was more Iron Man stuff going on, but Fraction’s story is more about the person within it and the people surrounding it as opposed to the suit itself.

Conclusion: Great writing and disappointing artwork is pretty much par for the course when talking about Invincible Iron Man. In that respect, I.I.M. #13 hits par. But it’s not like that’s a bad thing when talking about a series that’s so damn strong.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Invincible Iron Man #12 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvador Larocca (Artist), and Frank D’Armata (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve been loving Matt Fraction’s take on Tony Stark. What I haven’t been loving is the artwork it’s unfortunately saddled with. Thankfully, Fraction’s writing is strong enough to easily handle the burden. As a result, I can’t wait to see where “America’s Most Wanted” goes next.

The Story: Tony Stark faces off against Namor in an undersea lab. Meanwhile, Mariah Hill finds herself face to face with The Controller and all those he has under mind control. Also, Pepper Potts learns how to use her new suit of armor and finds herself asking, “What would Tony do?”

What’s Good: As usual, Matt Fraction’s writing adds an awesome sense of weight and character to nearly every element of the story being told. With Tony, Fraction has you truly feeling his frustration and desperation as he adjusts to his old tech and the limitations that come with it. For Mariah Hill, you get a strong sense thatfor all her experience, she may be in over her head.  In addition, you can’t shake off the awe and the fear that Pepper Potts experiences when donning the suit of armor. Fraction does such a good job with his text, he even manages to make the overexposed (and I like the guy!) Norman Osborn fun to read. It all adds up to a good chapter of what has so far been a very good story.

What’s Not So Good: The problem with giving each main character his or her own section of the comic book is that few of the sections advance far enough in the overall plot to feel really satisfying. While it is good to want more, it isn’t good to want more because you feel you got a bit shortchanged. That’s exactly what I felt after reading Invincible Iron Man #12. I can’t wait to see what happens next, but part of me feels that inevitably some of what happens in #13 is going to feel like it should have happened in #12.

As for the artwork…well let me just say that I would be much happier if Salvador Larocca just took a break from trying to draw regular people. He does some pretty good-looking scenery, technology, and action, but it gets bad when things slow down. People look ugly, bloated, or just flat out inconsistent from panel to panel. It’s sad that, The Controller is the best-looking and most consistent character.

Conclusion: Despite the fact that it doesn’t advance the plot a whole lot, Invincible Iron Man #12 is still one hell of a read. A read that is best read while trying to ignore the hideous faces that pop up from time to time. In all seriousness though, Invincible Iron Man should be on everyone’s pull list. That alone should tell you that issue twelve is worth checking out. And if that doesn’t convince you then the promise of a scene with Namor shouting, “Imperious Rex,” as he blasts Iron Man should.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

The Invincible Iron Man #8 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Salvador Larocca (Art), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: In all honesty, I am a bit disappointed that The Invincible Iron Man is now one of the feature titles of the Dark Reign period. I think I would rather read a truly original Matt Fraction helmed Tony Stark story rather than something shaped almost entirely by the current state of the Marvel Universe. That said, I’m fairly certain Fraction will be able to make the absolute most of the situation without sacrificing what made his first Invincible Iron Man arc such a great read.

The Story: With Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. positioned to take the positions once held by Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D., some major players in the Marvel universe find themselves either out of a job or just starting one. The latest Invincible Iron Man takes that idea and runs with it by focusing almost entirely on the last days of Mariah Hill and Tony Stark on government payroll. Turns out, Mr. Stark has a few tricks up his sleeve for “Commander” Osborn.

What’s Good: Despite the massive universe shakeup that took place between the seventh and eighth issues, the series (thankfully) doesn’t miss a beat. While fairly slow, the introspective narration in Invincible Iron Man #8 does a great job of positioning both the series and the characters for the near future. And thanks to Matt Fraction’s clever script and his handling of Tony Stark’s relationships with Mariah Hill and Pepper Potts, it is now clear that the series will continue to focus more on the characters as opposed to the hoopla surrounding Dark Reign.

What’s Not So Good: Salvador Larocca’s art style works best when the series calls for scenes featuring technology or the Iron Man suit. Unfortunately, the first part of the Dark Reign arc is more about the people than the heroics. While I wouldn’t say anything in the issue looks particularly bad, it never really rises above average. Everything looks solid and competent, but it never really does justice to the book.

Conclusion: The Invincible Iron Man continues to be a must read series thanks to Matt Fraction’s masterful handling of Tony Stark and his supporting cast. If you haven’t jumped on board yet, now is the perfect time to add the series to your pull list.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

True Believers #5 – Review

By Carey Bates (Writer), Paul Gulacy (Pencils & Inks), and Rain Beredo (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: If the True Believers mini-series is testing the waters for a new ongoing title, then so far it has done a pretty good job of selling the team. The odd characters are unique, the artwork is impressive, and the twisting storyline has been quite engaging. Here’s to hoping that the fifth chapter can wrap up the various plot threads well enough to bring everything to a satisfying conclusion.

The Story: The true nature of the S.H.I.E.L.D. project known as “Anathema” is revealed as the True Believers try to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of Max Trent. With all leads pointing to S.H.I.E.L.D. commander Mariah Hill, the team kidnaps her for information. Obviously, Tony Stark is none too happy about that!

What’s Good: For all the twists featured throughout the mini-series, True Believers #5 manages to bring everything together for a satisfying conclusion. And since the “Anathema” project proves to be much more interesting than I had originally thought, the True Believers successfully manage to leave a mark on the Marvel Universe. I sincerely hope the characters are used again sometime in the future, as the successes of the mini-series proves they have the potential to carve out a nice little niche for themselves.

What’s Not So Good: Despite the fact that the story finishes in a satisfying manner, I couldn’t help but be annoyed by the large amount of exposition used to iron out the plot. There is a LOT of dialogue in the book and almost all of it is used to explain one thing or another. In other words, it feels like the story relies on an information dump instead of a natural path to get to the conclusion. Another thing worth noting is how out of date the story feels when all is finally revealed. Had the series come out awhile back, I believe it would have had a much greater impact on the overall scheme of things.

Conclusion: Satisfying, yet still disappointing, True Believers #5 ultimately leaves me confused concerning the editorial decisions regarding the release of the mini-series as a whole.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny