Who is the worst enemy Iron Man has ever faced? Some fans may argue it’s a Mandarin, while others may bid for Obadiah Stane or Justin Hammer. But the best Iron Man story features Tony Stark face-to-face with his own flaws. Armor Wars is forced to agree with the fatal aspect of his genius, and the bottle demon watches him fight alcoholism. Iron Man #8 is not on the level of defining the same characters as these stories, but it provides a solid reminder of this.
Part 3 of “Iron Man of the Rebels” sees Tony leaning completely towards creating weapons for Doctor Doom, trying to remove a new world order from within. However, his plans are hampered by Doom’s army and opportunistic supervillains, but by being horribly headed south with Stark Unlimited union workers. Tony is forced to come directly and to come to some difficult truths about how he runs the company.
I admired how Spencer Ackerman approached the struggle by running a company, and how it worked theoretically in a world like the Marvel Universe, run by magic, gods and monsters. Iron Man #8 goes back to this. Union Representative Ramon points out that companies that recognize the union are far from working with it. It’s not just for the tale of Tyyn, but also for the general superhero comics, but also for the heavy thing that Ackerman hasn’t eschewed.
Amazing
Also, the biggest battle sequence in this issue shows that, as teased on the cover, is unlimited union and unlimited security, not Iron Man and Black’s widows. Although there are no superpowers, Julius Ota depicts a desperate magical brawl between the two groups. Even after Tony breaks it, the pure disapproval expression of Ramon flashing him cuts deep. Ohta can speak the facial expressions and body language of his character, which speaks volume.
Michael Dowling shows the few pages that Melinda could attempt to coordinate a strike against Doom, so Ohata is not the only artist on board. This moves the story forward, but especially when you look at the return of the Winter Guards, it felt like it was off the obviously more fascinating storyline Ohta had portrayed. That being said, Alex Sinclair continues to be moved in terms of colour, especially when Tony’s new friend, Vishte Tar, utilizes his magical abilities to spill a golden light that corresponds to Tony’s shining blue rebel rays.
Iron Man #8 reminds me that Tony Stark can sometimes become his own worst enemy, and his mission to defeat Doom is not easy. Of all the worlds under Doom Tie-Ins, this is one of the most layered and fascinating.
“Iron Man” #8 is a reminder that Tony Stark could become his own worst enemy
Iron Man #8
Iron Man #8 reminds me that Tony Stark can sometimes become his own worst enemy, and his mission to defeat Doom is not easy. Of all the worlds under Doom Tie-Ins, this is one of the most layered and fascinating.
Spencer is tackling the ups and downs of running a company again, folding it in pictures of the bigger superheroes of one world under Doom.
Ohta has a great gift for drawing expressions that say far more than words.
Michael Dowling goes on a few pages, but those pages are gorgeous.
One subplot feels problematic in itself, as it is cut into a meaty story.
