IRON MAN: THE INEVITABLE #1 (Feb. 2006)
"This Old Truth." Cover art: Frazer Irving. Script: Joe Casey. Art: Frazer Irving.
I'm wondering after reading this ish just why we need a "special" Iron Man series like this. I'm inclined to think someone owed Casey a favor, or something. Geez, at least Bad Blood was done by Iron Man giants David Micheline and Bob Layton -- they, of any and all IM creators, deserved at the very least a mini-series. At any rate, so what do we have here? Two words: Nothing new. We've got a new-look Spymaster and Ghost, and I suppose that's something, at least. Tony Stark looks horrifically like Adolph Hitler (would a multi-billion dollar playboy's hair really look this bad??), and there he is doing a good deed as Iron Man. Whoopee-frickin' doo. Perhaps the coolest tidbit in the issue is Stark bringing in a shrink to see what she can do about Arthur Parks -- aka the Living Laser. And what's this? Flashbacks from early volume 1 issues?? Who'da thunk it!! Hey wait -- maybe Casey is sly like a fox! He's actually engaging in some continiuity (remember that?), using actual classic villains that Iron Fans all know and love! This actually may prove to be the REAL Iron Man that we're supposed to be reading month after month!
Hube's Recommendation: 3 repulsors!
Fan Reaction: Hube, you were right about Tony having the Hitler look. I noticed it when I bought my copy. The last time I saw both the Spymaster and the Ghost it was in Bad Blood #2 and #45 of the last series. I like the new look for the Ghost, but Spymaster looked too boring. Tony buying the Living Laser and getting him therapy is a weird idea. So far the action looked good when Iron Man busted those arm dealers. I'm glad that Joe Casey is honoring Iron Man's history. But, the Greta Abbot character drawn by Frazer Irving looks like a early '70's high school art project. Was surprised by the ending. To be honest, that's rare for me when I read a comic. -- FastMike
Fan Reaction 2: Casey can tell a good story and he proves that he knows Marvel history as well as Iron Man Lore. This book suffers dreadfully from awful looking art. You're right, Stark does look like Hitler. Also, why go and change the look of two cool Villains the Spymaster and the Ghost. When I heard these two were in this book I was fired up. However, after looking at the art I am very disappointed. Still thing Casey will tell a good story. -- SZKZ
IRON MAN: THE INEVITABLE #2 (March 2006)
"Blind Dates." Cover art: Frazer Irving. Script: Joe Casey. Art: Frazer Irving.
I'm IN!! Casey has me and I am impressed. From the opening few pages of tit-for-tat dialogue between Spymaster and the Ghost (including an almost exact replica of a panel from the Silver Centurion-era IM, circa #221) to the attempts to reach the Living Laser, to the confrontation between Shellhead and the Ghost at SI ... WOW. Casey has brought back the feel -- and attitude -- of Iron Man as it should be. Tony Stark (despite his wretched hair style that makes him appear, again, to be Adolph Hitler) is brilliant, cocky, extremely confident and tough, and it's the villains who appear wary and uncertain as to best ... best Stark/Iron Man. Although current policy at Marvel still forbids footnotes, Casey nevertheless doesn't forget IM history, and makes use of it almost as well as Busiek would. Spymaster explains what happened to his two predecessors, the villains discuss Living Laser's history, and how knowing that Stark is Iron Man can work to their advantage. Scientist/Psychologist Maggie Dillon makes progress trying to communicate with Arthur Parks (the Laser) and the art effects of these "attempts" are very well done. The culmination of the ish is a scuffle between an SE-invading Ghost, Stark ... and a remote Iron Man!
Hube's Recommendation: 4 repulsors!
IRON MAN: THE INEVITABLE #3 (April 2006)
"Those Who Can't, Teach." Cover art: Frazer Irving. Script: Joe Casey. Art: Frazer Irving.
The Ghost thinks he's destroyed Iron Man (it was just a remote unit, natch) and Spymaster finds he -- again -- has to talk some sense into him. Later, at a social function, Stark yuks it up with Sinclair Abbott (Spymaster's secret ID) and his wife. The wife makes a not-so-subtle pass at Stark, and he rebuffs it with a classic "Believe me ... you couldn't handle me." Maggie Dillon and Stark discuss progress on communicating with the Living Laser as well as Stark's stint as the Golden Avenger. Later, Stark has set a trap for the Ghost ... and he falls for it. As noted before, Casey knows his Stark/Iron Man (at least how they should be), and Stark's genius zaps Ghost with a "spatial accelerator" which nixes his intangibility!! The ish closes with an approaching Iron Man telling Ghost "In layman's terms, I've just leveled the playing field ... so let's play." WOO-HOO!!
Hube's Recommendation: 4 repulsors!
IRON MAN: THE INEVITABLE #4 (May 2006)
"Ordinary People." Cover art: Frazer Irving. Script: Joe Casey. Art: Frazer Irving.
Dr. Dillon makes contact with the Living Laser! But the action is where Iron Man and the Ghost are going at it! Shellhead just about has the industrial saboteur nailed and wrapped up when ... a power grid is ruptured! The impending disaster seemingly re-empowers the Laser, who zaps his way free -- through Dr. Dillion! Shellhead averts a major disaster, or has he?
Hube's Recommendation: 3 repulsors!
IRON MAN: THE INEVITABLE #5 (June 2006)
"The Anti-Mask." Cover art: Frazer Irving. Script: Joe Casey. Art: Frazer Irving.
Dr. Dillon is dead, the Living Laser is missing, and Stark is in a foul mood. It gets more foul when Spymaster, aka Sinclair Abbot, chides Stark at a political party. Bonus points for the multi-page psychoanalysis of Stark by Leonard Samson, aka Doc Samson! (I thought that was him standing in the back at Dillon's funeral!) The "therapy" session is interrupted when info on Spymaster's whereabouts becomes known. IM jets off for the showdown -- but Spymaster is well-prepared!
Hube's Recommendation: 3 1/2 repulsors!
IRON MAN: THE INEVITABLE #6 (July 2006)
"Best of the Rest." Cover art: Frazer Irving. Script: Joe Casey. Art: Frazer Irving.
It's Iron Man vs. Spymaster in pitched battle! Casey highlights -- wonderfully -- that prodigious Stark intellect making optimum use of the Iron Man armor to lay waste his long-time (in name only, actually) enemy! But when Shellhead gets the [major] upper hand, something happens -- the Living Laser reappears!! He dispatches of Spymaster's woman, then proceeds to confront IM and SM. The Laser zaps IM from all angles -- he's playing with him -- but IM never panics, and eventually utilizes his repulsors and uni-beam to suck the LL's energy dry! Iron Man takes the contained Laser back to Stark Enterprises for storage containment, while we see a panel of Spymaster (watching IM depart) with a scowl on his face. Overall, a weak concluding issue to what is a decent series. Casey has a very good grasp on IM/Stark; it would be cool to see him as regular writer on the IM book.
Hube's Recommendation: 2 1/2 repulsors!
