Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

Iron Man #1 Review

By Andy Frisk
November 7, 2012 - 15:31

Kieron Gillen, fresh off a critically acclaimed run on Uncanny X-Men, brings his storytelling talents to another of Marvel Comics high profile character franchises. Iron Man #1 launches the Marvel NOW! era of the Armored Avenger's adventures. Tony Stark finds himself going through what Pepper Potts might suspect as being a mid-life crisis, but maybe Tony just wants to blow off some steam...meanwhile the creator of Extremis (a technology that Tony has utilized and battled in the past) meets an untimely end just before warning Tony that it's been replicated against her will and that it is on the market. Looks like Tony's rest and relaxation will have to wait...

I was a huge fan of writer Kieron Gillen and Greg Land's Uncanny X-Men. He created scenarios and re-invigorated old villains. Hopefully, they will bring the same type of new energy to Iron Man. The jury will be out for a while though on this hope. For longtime Iron Man readers Iron Man #1 really isn't anything new...or exciting. In fact, it falls just shy of an introductory piece for the character. Marvel Comics has obviously dictated that Iron Man #1 be written as such, since they are expecting these new #1 issues of their re-launched series to serve as jumping on points. Taking this into consideration, Iron Man #1 is a great jumping on point, but it is nothing for any long time Iron Man comic book reader to get excited about.

As usual, Greg Land's art is impeccably stunning. He effortlessly shifts gears from drawing color mutants to muted colored Iron Man armor tech. His women characters are beautiful and his men are either strikingly handsome or have devilishly evil visages. As usual, I could always do with a little more background detail from Land, but I can find nothing else to complain about, and much to enjoy visibly.

Off to an solid (but not completely reflective of Gillen's potential) start Iron Man #1 is, hopefully, laying the foundation for years of great Iron Man tales to come in the Marvel NOW! era. 

Rating: 7 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12