Few Marvel superheroes have benefited and suffered from the MCU quite as much as Iron Man. Certainly, the 2008 movie boosted the profile of Tony Stark with the general public. However, it also led to a period of stagnation and repetition in the comics. With every revamp, Tony kept getting pit against new tech billionaires with new weapons, cast from the same mold as Justin Hammer. Thankfully, the new series by Joshua Williamson and Carmen Carnero is a welcome return to classic Marvel Comics, while also being accessible to fans of the movies.
The issue opens with what seems to be a rehash of history that even casual fans know well. A man in a cave. An iron suit made of scavenged parts. A desperate escape attempt.
However, the man is not Tony Stark. He is another scientist, kidnapped by Iron Man villain (and Tony Stark’s ex-girlfriend) Madame Masque. Having recently taken over Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM), Masque is seeking to correct what she sees as the key mistake made by the amoral scientific think-tank.
They wasted years trying to build better weapons than Tony Stark. What they should do, Masque believes, is find the next Tony Stark. This leads them to kidnap scientists and see who can succeed with the same limited resources Tony Stark used to build the first Iron Man armor.
Stark learns of this plot while in the middle of hosting an award ceremony honoring other scientists who did more with less. He is quick to figure out Masque’s game and quicker to go on the offense. However, Tony’s actions attract the attention of an unexpected body, who are concerned about just what Iron Man is up to now.
New Iron Man familiar to MCU fans, but also throwback to classic comics
Iron Man #1 marks Joshua Williamson’s Marvel Comics premiere and it is an impressive debut. His wise-cracking take on Tony Stark evokes memories of Robert Downey Jr. in the MCU. However, it is clear that, as in his DC Comics work, Williamson has done his homework regarding the history of Tony Stark in the comics. This goes beyond his reintroducing a classic villain like Madame Masque.
Ironically, this is most apparent in a move that seems designed to put MCU fans at ease. Williamson reintroduces Pepper Potts as a regular part of the Iron Man supporting cast. He also takes care to show that she’s a different character in the comics than the movies.
Beyond not being romantically involved with Tony, Pepper has an even lower tolerance for his nonsense than in the movies. In this, she makes a perfect counterpart to Tony’s current handler, former Agent of SHIELD Melinda May. Williamson also showcases the heart Tony hides from the world, even as he flirts and quips his way through social situations publicly.
This same retro familiarity is reflected in Carmen Carnero’s artwork. Her design for Tony is close to his classic look, with a prominent mustache and slight swashbuckler’s beard. She also does a fantastic job depicting the tech, with Tony’s latest armor transforming into a hover-bike. Naturally, it still retains the classic red-and-gold color scheme.
Simply put, Iron Man #1 does everything a first issue should. It respects the past without weighing new readers down with continuity. It has expressive artwork and amazing action sequences. This is is everything you could want in an Iron Man series.
Grade: 10/10
Iron Man #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
