US WAR MACHINE 2.0 #1
(Sept. 2003) Script: Chuck Austen. Art: Christian Moore.
Book Two of USWM essentially picks up where Book One left off. But we first see Tony Stark having dreams/nightmares while Bethany Cabe tries to console him. T&A Alert: We see our first-ever glimpse of Beth naked! (Also, Tony Stark’s nude butt, but the hell with THAT! I’m sure the few female IM fans will appreciate it, though.) Stark is furious with Jim Rhodes and Nick Fury for using his designs to develop the War Machine armors. While in training (drunk) to prepare to take out the USWM team, Stark beats the crap out of an armored Happy Hogan! Elsewhere, clandestine bad guys do some shady dealing in nuclear arms, but the USWM team surprises them! Surprise them they may have done, but unfortunately for the team, some of the baddies escape – WITH the nukes! Fury’s pissed!
Like Book One, the art is still computer-generated, but with color this time. It’s a definite improvement. Austen’s premiere ish opens the door for a huge battle between Stark and SHIELD, and the parallel plot where terrorists have possession of a deadly nuke neatly fits today’s own [real] headlines.
Hube's Recommendation: 3½ USWM patches!
