The Invincible Iron Man #510

Marvel Comics
The Invincible Iron Man #510
By Hervé St-Louis
November 27, 2011 - 17:22

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Matt Fraction
Penciller(s): Salvador Larroca
Inker(s): Salvador Larroca
Colourist(s): Frank D'Armata
Letterer(s): Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist(s): Salvador Larroca
$3.99 US

The three most powerful villains’ families in Iron Man’s universe are allied and are plotting to take him down using the one weakness that has always destroyed him, his alcoholism.

I like how Fraction weaved together the alliance of the Stanes, the Hammers and the Mandarin into one combined force that’s probably too much for Iron Man to take on. I do wonder about when did Justine Hammer and the Mandarin meet and conceived Sacha their daughter who is now in a relationship with Zeke Stane. It seems, in hindsight that all of Fraction’s run on Iron Man since 2008 has been about bringing all these villains to confront Iron Man. This was a long and arduous subplot and I’m happy that it’s finally reaching a climax because I’m tired of Fraction only rewriting stories of the past. Now, he’s brought back the alcoholism. I would say he’s reached the bottom of the well now. The alcoholism used in Fear Itself was a great ploy to get Stark what he wanted. But I didn’t expect to see it continue here. Do we really want to read about Tony Stark being drunk again? I don’t. And that’s my problem with Fraction. All he can do is draw upon the great stories of the past, like the armour wars, Stark losing his company, his rivalry with Hammer and his villains. He’s not adding much to the overall Iron Man mythos, and that annoys me. Speaking of drunkenness how did the Mandarin ever found out about the deal Iron Man made with Odin? Did I miss another tie-in comic book from Marvel?

Larroca executes the visuals well. He’s to be credited for this book still being one of the top one at Marvel Comics. It’s his vision and continuous work the last three years that has made this book with it is and allowed Fraction to get away with poor and unimaginative stories. Fraction owes Larroca a lot for making his pitiful work, the last two years seem better than it really is.

Rating: 7/10