IRON MAN vol.3 #44 (389)
(Sept., 2001) "The Big Bang Theory, part 3."
Cover art: Keron Grant.
Script: Frank Tieri. Art: Keron Grant, Jamal Igle/Stull & Perrotta.
Iron Man tries to discover clues as to who blew up Askew Electronics ... and finds some, with the help of his armor's new spheroid probes and Jocasta. Meanwhile, Askew goes out of business due to the disaster, Stark ends up in bed with his boss, he also greets Rhodey in his new apt., and most importantly -- GETS NEW ARMOR!! It's pretty sharp, too -- S.K.I.N. pours out of the uni-beam, while components are attached over top. One of it's features: The Chameleon Effect! It's back, but this time it's a huge power drain. The others are listed in the letters page. The mystery bomber is revealed to be....The Ghost!! Yes!! MODOK is also involved! Now we're gettin' somewhere!! Things you may wonder about: What happened to Stark's heart attachment? Why did Stark download Jocasta into his armor -- I thought that was one of things that made his last armor sentient! Yeesh! And, how in the world did "Hogan Potts' " landlord let him soup up his apartment like that?? Tieri hits his stride, and Grant's Iron Man is sharp. (But his other characters still are wretched!)
Hube's Recommendation: 3 1/2 repulsors!
Fan Reaction: Yes, the new armor looks good and has some intriguing new features with the possible exception of the spheroid probes which seem visually distracting and downright creepy. That said, the writing (plot and script) continues to be poor - especially compared to the creative revival of many of Marvel's other flagship titles. Nothing personal against Mr. Tieri but why are so many writers opposed to the basic character of Tony Stark? The dichotomy between being an incredibly powerful man/celebrity in real life who can exceed those levels as an Avenger remains largely untapped in the Iron Man canon. This whole Tony Stark as Hogan Potts/Clark Kent (bumbler with glasses who is in reality a dashing hero) has got to go as does the witless dialogue and poor characterization that permeates the last dozen issues. --
Fan Reaction 2: Dude, I have to disagree with ol' Frank there, above. Heres the thing, I live in England right? We dont have all the fancy different comic book companies throwin' ideas to the British public. I personallly think Iron Man is a breath of fresh air into the lives of us British comic book readers, it's wot a comic should be, entertaining, original, and downright fun. Granted, I have only been reading comics for a few years but I know wot I like, and this issue I like! The new armour rocks, the guy inside it could do with a few reajustments but other wise I would say I throughly enjoyed this book and the few before it. Marvel is the only company I have seen in merry old England that actually tries to give us new ideas, and comics. If it weren't for Marvel I'd still be readin' dopey Dennis the Menace, oh, and Keron Grant's art work is blindin' -- it's the best I have seen yet. Thanks for your time. -- "Ed"
