So… it’s part four and only now Tony Stark is “World’s Most Wanted”?  Truth be told, though, you can’t blame that on this issue, especially since it was good. Supposedly, this is a 12-issue arc (?), so this sets up multiple plot threads for later exploration.   Plus, we get an old fashioned slugfight between Iron Man and War Machine.  It’s been a few years since one of those.

At the end of last issue, the penny dropped and all three of our main stars– Tony Stark, Maria Hill, and Pepper Potts– all went about their separate ways as Osborn officially made them outlaws.  As we open this issue, we find Pepper adjusting to the little gift Tony gave her last issue, Maria at Futurepharm, and Tony meeting up with former Anthem (of the Order) Henry Hellrung before facing off against War Machine in a ruse to convince Osborn that Rhodey isn’t in cahoots with him.  All are handled well, if some are a bit brief.  This issue demonstrates once again the calculation of Tony Stark, ready for anything.  There’s also something that rarely happens in Iron Man books these days: an Iron Man villain showed up!  Beyond the Mandarin and Modok, the character’s rogue gallery has been terribly sparse since the days of Tony as Defense Secretary.  Sure, the Ghost shows up in Thunderbolts, but that’s honestly a shell of the former awesomeness that was the Ghost.  To see one of Tony’s enemies pop up in his book is a refreshing sight to behold.

While I feel the pace has slowed over the last couple issue of so, this issue was fun and exciting.  Larrocca, I feel, is getting much better, especially when he gets to draw machinery like the Heroes Return armor which has never looked better.  Even Norman “Why must I see your annoying brillo-pad’d face in EVERY Marvel book I buy?!” Osborn got relegated to two panels here.  And next issue looks to be good with a showdown with a character I hope Tony mops the floor with.  If Fraction can keep this momentum of progression and fun going, things will be aces.