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The Invincible Iron Man #9 – Marvel Entertainment
Written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Juan Frigeri, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by vc’s Joe Caramagna. Cover Artist Kael Ngu.
Check out the previous issue’s review!
The Story:
Tony Stark has lost nearly everything. His company is gone, his armor has been seized, his best friend is in prison for a crime he did not commit, and he has been publicly beaten. However, Tony Stark has not lost his will and determination to fight and win! After sending Emma Frost to safety in the last issue, Tony has to work with the her to gain the upper hand and put a stop to Feilong and his Mutant genocide once and for all.
The Writing:
Gerry Duggan has taken Tony Stark to the gutter but continues to prove that he understands a core part of this character. Tony Stark does not quit. When he fails, he finds a way through and keeps moving forward. Each chapter of this series leaves me ravenous for the next. Stark’s inner monologue keeps the story driving forward and Duggan’s writing of Tony’s thoughts and motivations keep me wanting more. As great as the dialogue is, I would be happy to spend entire issues inside the stubborn, tormented mind of Tony Stark. At one point in this issue, Emma Frost takes a trip into Tony’s mind and is surprised at what she sees. I won’t spoil it here, but it is exactly how I see Tony Stark after years of reading the character. On top of the character work, the story itself has been a wonderful and captivating ride. The surprise twist on the final page had my jaw on the floor! I cannot praise the writing on this series enough!
The Art:
What is there to say that I haven’t said already about this art team? From line work to colors to panel layouts, this is absolutely beautiful! The expressions on the faces of each character is truly impressive. At one point, Tony and Emma get into a verbal altercation and the emotion on display is masterful to say the least! Bryan Valenza’s colors are a wonderful mix of vibrant and muted at the same time. It really makes the images pop off of the page. Juan Frigeri’s brutal imagery of a beaten and broken Tony Stark is so well done that I could feel the pain as he limped along the abandoned subway tunnels. This art team is really something special and I am so looking forward to seeing Iron Man’s new armor in action soon.
The Verdict 9.5/10
This series is one that I was nervous about going into. I knew that it would be tied into the events of the Mutant story lines and I am years behind on those titles. I was concerned that Iron Man would be a supporting character in the own book. However, this creative team has crafted a story that has captivated me and proven that, not only is this an Iron Man focused story, but it is shaping up to be one of my favorite runs of my favorite character! Please, if you are an Iron Man fan, do not miss this series.
