IRON MAN vol. 3 #69 (414)
(Aug. 2003) “Manhunt" part five.
Cover art: No idea!
Script: Robin Laws.
Art: Michael Ryan/Sean Parsons, Rich Perotta.
It’s IM vs. Temugin! The first few pages feature an all-out donnybrook between Stark and theMandarin’s son, and Laws does an outstanding job of playing each character’s strengths: Temugin’s chi, and Tony Stark’s brilliant mind. (One question, however: on page 5, Stark says “I kit-bashed too many circuits…” “Kit-bashed?” What the heck is that? Does Laws mean “kiboshed” as in “ruined?”) IM has smartly prepared for the Temugin battle with a special force-field and a plan which draws on the electrostatic charge of Temugin’s rings – and causes a devastating feedback in said rings. Still, Tem gets the best of IM, and just as Tem is about to apply the final blow, IM asks “Why” regarding the whole sordid affair of the past four issues. Perplexed, Tem realizes his closest adviser, Po, has betrayed him – HE has been responsible for the Stark set-up and associated destruction. Po attempts to “off” Temugin and then IM nabs him for final calling. It looks as if all is set right in every arena – the FBI and Stark, Happy and Stark, Pepper and Stark…but Rumiko won’t take Tony’s call. What a surprise. What the REAL surprise is is Temugin stating that “he’ll seek IM’sdeath no longer,” and also his offer to “crack open the veil of deadening materialism that causes you [Tony] so much pain.”
Laws’ writing in this finale is excellent – he provides a great mix of humor, techno-babble and tie-ins to previous storylines (like IM’s previous tussle with Temugin). The “tribute” to the Chinese embassy dead at issue’s end, though, comes off as too forced. It looks as if this is Ryan and Parsons’ last IM ish, and I must say that their efforts only continued to improve throughout their run. Merely check out Annual 2001 (their first ish together) and scan through each successive issue. If you don’t see gradual greatness, get out the Visine and look again! Hasta la vista, Michael and Sean!
Hube’s Recommendation: 3 ½ repulsors!
Fan Reaction: I think "kit-bashing" is a term in model building or something. I used to play a lot of miniature games and I think kit-bashing is when you open up a new model and put the pieces together. Or if you open several models and start mixing and matching the pieces. I could be wrong but I've definitely come across this term before. Just thought I'd share. -- Frank Rugolo
