The Invincible Iron Man

When The Invincible Iron Man hits stores this May, Marvel Comics is really going to put that new ongoing series' title to the test. The name “Iron Man” is cursed by many of the Merry Marvel Marching Society these days after his actions in Civil War. The once Golden Avenger is even seen as little better than a villain by some readers. Inside the Marvel Universe, his stock is not much better. His behavior is constantly alienating him from the other heroes of the Marvel Universe. If career-ruining events like those in recent Captain America and Hulk issues continue to besiege Tony Stark, his days as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. may be numbered. These dark days may seem like poor timing for good ol’ shell head to carry the lead in another book, but I think Iron Man might surprise us.

The new series, written by Matt Fraction (Immortal Iron Fist, Casanova) and drawn by Salvador Larroca (Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men), will feature Tony Stark donning the Iron Man Armor for some straight super-heroics. The first storyline will feature the progeny of the late Iron Man foe Obadiah Stane menacing the books pages. Coincidently, Obadiah Stane will be seen combating Iron Man on the silver screen beginning in May as well.

While the storyline of Stark verses Stane Jr. just sings of movie tie-in, I have faith that Matt Fraction can make the book something more. He has constantly been delivering inventive adventure comics pack to the gills with action for the last couple years and there is little reason to believe Invincible Iron Man will be any different. He even has familiarity with the character of Iron Man, as Tony Stark has been a recurring guest in the pages of his The Order. The recent baggage collecting around Mr. Stark won’t be ignored in the new series. In a recent interview with Marvel.com, Matt Fraction is quoted as saying, “Post-CIVIL WAR, I think Tony is wracked by the weight of a terrible moral choice he made. He believes in the ends but absolutely doesn't believe the price he—and all of his friends—had to pay was worth it.” He goes on in the interview to say, “It's so much fun to get to try and write Tony out of this hole!”

When the new series arrives in a couple of months, maybe we will see an Iron Man ready to change. The question is, will readers be ready to as well? Fraction has gone on record as saying the main goal of Invincible Iron Man is to make readers fall in love with Iron Man again. I guess in May, we will find out if readers will give Tony Stark a second chance.

-Nick