“Invincible Iron Man” #505 is part two of Matt Fraction’s Fear Itself tie-in. I thought the last issue was the best book linked to the Marvel event of the whole crop. While this issue isn’t perfect, it’s still a good book that truly feels relevant to Fear Itself.

Many have pointed out that Fraction has sputtered recently on this title and that’s a hard point to argue. But I’ve still found his work good and really thought he picked it up last issue. This is also a solid issue that mostly serves as an action book over anything else. But while a lot of pages focus on a fantastic battle with the Serpent-possessed Grey Gargoyle, the action is bookended by some of those great moments of character interaction that Fraction is known for. There’s a great opening flashback between Tony and his father and an ending sequences between Tony, Pepper, and Bethany. I loved them and they were the type of scenes I have enjoyed throughout this series.

Salvador Larroca is Salvador Larroca here. I’m one of the guys that loves his work and here he gives me lots to feed on. He makes Fraction’s character moments better with some nice character design but really excels in the action sequences. I still say he draws one of the best versions of the Iron Man armor you will find. He’s been consistent and a real asset to the book.

One negative I found is that it’s a really fast read. There are many pages with very little dialogue and the book seemed to be over in a flash, even while stopping to admire Larroca’s frantic action scenes. While I loved the book, I wish there was a little more to it. I also had mixed feelings about the ending. It’s far from climactic yet it’s perfectly reasonable. I felt that the last page could have packed a little more pop considering the circumstances.

But those are relatively minor gripes. Overall this is another great issue by Fraction and Larroca. In many ways, these last two issues have been a return to form for the book and as a fan, I’m thrilled.