Writer/Artist: Joe Casey, Eric Canete
Publisher: Marvel, $14.99
Offering a new updated introduction to the villain the Mandarin, this volume is a great jumping on point for any new Iron Man fan and actually a pretty fun update on the first meeting of these two characters. A solid and fun story with great art and beautiful covers makes this something old and new fans should check out.
Casey does a great job of mixing in elements of political intrigue, corporate espionage, and full on super-hero action and offers up a well thought out interaction between Iron Man and the Mandarin. The Mandarin is also built up as an incredible threat, something the main Iron Man comics of the past couple decades have sort of fallen short on in occasion. Of all of Iron Man’s rogue gallery the Mandarin should be portrayed as a unique and massive threat, and Casey does exactly that.
Canete’s art is the perfect compliment to the writing and a spot on choice for giving this a mix of a classic yet very kinetic and dynamic feel. Very well paced layouts and clean storytelling merge with a sharp yet fluid design sense to offer an engaging style that captures the atmosphere and tone of the scripting.
Long time fans might go either way on some details, because like the Marvel Mythos books by Paul Jenkins this volume makes it a point to subtly update the time frame to a more modern setting. It’s not horribly intrusive, it’s just kind of funny that Marvel feels the constant need to do this. From making Rick Jones wear an Ipod when the Gamma bomb went off to having Spider-Man first appear on the Conan O’Brien show and now to have Tony Stark tossing around emails, Marvel wants to make sure you know that everything that’s ever happened has happened within the past ten years or so.
This is one of the Iron Man trades I would make it a point to stock for any upcoming interest in the new movie, simply because it’s just such a fun story and a well priced package. And considering the first movie put out some teaser hints about the Mandarin, it couldn’t hurt to give readers a little background taste ahead of time.
If you like this then try: Iron Man: The Inevitable, Invinvible Iron Man: The Five Nightmares, Essential Iron Man, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Casey), Godland
Related Links: Man of Action
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