REVIEW: The Invincible Iron Man - 2

So - if you read my review of the first Invincible Iron Man comic - you'll already know that I thought pretty highly of it. But does issue two match up to it?

***SPOILER ALERT***

Well, yes... But also no.

Issue one was something pretty special. Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca had managed to pull together a wonderfully emotive first issue, truly making people feel the significance of Iron Man 2.0 suicide bombers, by putting us in the shoes of a victim.

Something that created one of the most poignant openings in recent memory.

Issue two, continues this storyline pretty well, reminding people of the terror unleashed on the world with the invent of Iron Man 2.0. 'Monks' attack The Triumph Division (a Philippine super-team), wiping them and the surrounding crowd out in the process. Hundreds dead - without rhyme or reason.

Sounds interesting right? Damn right. So why isn't this at the start of the book? What need is there to have Iron Man 'battle' `M.O.D.O.G.', other than a good excuse for some 'action'? Honestly - there really isn't one. One of the most interesting things about issue one, was how well Tony was portrayed as being helpless.

A superhero, dressed in his battle suit, unable to do anything - utterly dazed and uncertain of what to do.

Now, taking this into account, it's a shame that in issue two Tony has been written as someone who is impassioned - but incredibly arrogant. Someone more like Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark, than Marvel Comics Tony Stark.

And so, even though this issue does have some good points, when it's compared to the last one...

Pete's Score: 3 out of 5
(still worth picking up - but could have been better)

REVIEW: The Invincible Iron Man - 1

It's nice to be able to review a new series of a long running character. Nice, on multiple different levels, but for me - this time around - mainly on a 'about time too' level.

As Iron Man has been featured prominently throughout the Marvel U since Civil War (and just before), it's only right that the character be recognised as worthy of having 'dual book' status.

But what's the first issue of The Invincible Iron Man actually like?

***SPOILER ALERT***

Well, I'm fantastically pleased to report that it's a supreme issue.

I looked very carefully at the book as I read through, and two things struck me throughout. Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca's sheer quality.

I'm not going to lie, I was expecting to pan this book - almost certain that it would be nothing more than a movie cash in. It's so much more than that.

This book could easily contain the beginnings of a chapter in Iron Man's history just as important, if not more than, The Extremis Saga.

From the opening, and truly poingant, suicide bombing to the closing 'Iron Man 2.0' revelation - this issue is an experience to savour.

Pete's Score: 5 out of 5
(rarely do mainstream books come out with as much quality as this issue - buy it or you'll regret it)