Iron Man Directs S.H.I.E.L.D
It’s been a while since I picked up an issue of Iron Man, but I thought I’d give it a try and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The concept of Iron Man direction S.H.I.E.L.D. is strange to me, but I guess in the post Civil War and Planet Hulk era at Marvel anything is possible. This book has booth good and bad points, but I think the good ultimately outweigh the bad. On a scale of 1-10 I’d give it a 6. We’ll start with the bad point first. This issue is REALLY a bad jumping on point for new readers. The overview, and “previously” section really doesn’t give a new reader a clear understanding of what has happened, or how Iron Man even originated. Yes, some people have never picked up a comic before so I feel a brief origin blurb would benefit new readers here. Also, a who’s-who to the characters would probably be handy to new readers also. Now onto the good parts. The art. Both interior and exterior art is on-point. The quality of the artwork surpasses most I’ve seen in newer comics today as Guice proves he has a steady grasp on anatomy, structure, layouts, and plot. The attention to detail speaks volumes and provides much needed drama to what could have been a run of the mill story. Butch Guice has really come into his own and could possibly doing his best work ever. The cover art is also gorgeous. Gerald Parel’s cover work is soft and understated, setting the appropriate tone for the issue. Charles and Daniel’s script is solid with an equal mix of both dialogue and action which kept my attention. The ending hook is also engaging and leaves room for ample plotting for future issues. It did leave me wondering what the ol’ shellhead would be up to next. All in all it was a descent, enjoyable read, but I wasn’t bowled over either. While it delivers a descent story, I’d say wait for the graphic novel or collected issues to get this book. For the best reviews, comic related news and of course, top ten lists check out www.comicbookjournal.net everyday.
July 28th, 2010 at 10:04 am
What an incredible blog post, it really made it simpler for me. Kudos!