Roxxon and AIM team up to take on Stark Unlimited! But they’re ready for the old Tony Stark. This one? He’s a lot angrier than he used to be. Iron Man is going to war! New armor, old enemies, and unbelievable twists abound in this fresh take on a fury-powered Iron Man. Iron Man #1 kicks off a new volume for the Iron Avenger but it overall feels like a retread of previous storylines bouncing around too many concepts.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Spencer Ackerman takes over the writing duties for Iron Man bringing a focus on corporate maneuvering and a touch of real-world politics within. Tony Stark is back in control of Stark Unlimited but he’s confronted with a hostile corporate takeover while trying to take stock of the state of the company.
Ackerman has some interesting concepts for the series but it never feels like it quite comes together. Opening with Tony stopping an attack on union protesting outside one of his factories and ending with a battle with a new Iron Monger the comic has good bones and underlying ideas. In many ways, the opening feels similar to writer Ta-Nehisi Coates’ debut on Black Panther where there were some great ideas but the actual plot stumbled a lot. Eventually he became a hell of a comic writer.
Tony’s last volume had a lot dealing with his company taken away from him and previous recent volumes also had the exact same plot. Tony controlling his company for a long time would be a far more interesting and new story at this point. His being so open to a union forming and the workers having a say in production feels a bit out of left field as opposed to some grand statement. In other words, there’s little build up for Tony’s current outlook, focus, and direction. Last we saw, he wanted to reform villains with the West Coast Avengers.
That little build up applies to Julius Ohta‘s art which is sub-par. Tony looks like he’s been through the wringer physically coming off as a recovering drug addict. It’s a shocking visual take on Tony that’s never really explained or focused on. I’ve lost extreme weight and I’ve looked similar, but this just feels like it’s out of place. With color by Alex Sinclair and lettering by Joe Caramagna the art just feels off in so many aspects.
Ackerman has some solid ideas. Tony controlling his company but coming up against the wall that is the board is a nice and new take. Tony’s science and technology having to face a mix of mystical and technology is another solid idea. Tony recovering from injury and debating the direction of his armor, again, a solid idea. But, none of it is fleshed out well here and instead rushed through with little build up. Tony wanting a new direction from the company and leaning on the workers for say over the board and stockholders, a great idea.
Iron Man #1 is a new volume but it feels like it veers off in a new direction far too quickly with little build up, justification, or any of its ideas fleshed out. It’s like there’s a missing chapter to bridge the volumes and leads to a rather jarring start.
Story: Spencer Ackerman Art: Julius Ohta
Color: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 7.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 6.85 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Apotheosis Comics – Kindle
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