IRON MAN #28
Review by: Tork
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Price: 3.99
This review contains spoilers, click here to read
Since the Mandarin's return in issue 15 of this volume of Iron Man, we've seen the new Director of SHIELD and his old oriental nemesis dance around each other in a game of cosmic chess to see who would the better of whom. The story has had its ups (the fight in issue 26, the nice interactions between Dugan and Stark) and a good share of downs (the "ghosts of Christmas past" tangent, massive decompression, and an abrupt break right in the middle of the story for a World War Hulk tie-in). So far, the story has teetered between the half-way decent and tragically bland. As I said in my last review, I was really wanting to like this story, but was forced to consider woefully middle-of-the-pack, a shame for a character whose status is about to be blown up via a movie, cartoon series, and a secondary Iron Man title with A-List creators on board. So, I came into this issue hoping for the best, but not surprised if it fell short.
And truth be told, it didn't suck. In fact, I enjoyed it a great deal.
Where I thought much of the story went along far too slowly and without any real impacy, such was not the case for this issue. This issue had its flaws to be sure, but all in all, I thought it a pretty good effort on the whole from the Knaufs and Del Toro. There was plenty of action and some good character moments to be sure. I was really impressed, to be honest.
The issue opens with Jack Kooning heading into the Mandarin's base in China to go kill everyone in the building, stop the virus attack, and bring the Mandarin to justice a la Jack Bauer. It's a nice plan... except for the fact that Kooning gets his head chopped off on the outer rim off before he even has a chance to do anything. It's a sad if a little anti-climatic ending for Kooning. Still, I'm not quite sure where Kooning's character could have done and it does set the Mandarin up as not screwing around here. Nothing, not even the American Defense Secretary, is going to get in the Mandarin's way.
Concurrently, Tony Stark is still up in front of the UN trying to explain he's not nuts and that the Mandarin is going to kill 97.5% of the earth. Here is where my biggest complaint is with this issue. In trying to ask the UN to give him the legroom to save the day, Tony says, Cap fought and died because he thought registration would destroy the superheroes' ability to operate and then adds that the UN should take this opportunity to prove he was wrong. I get what he's saying, but it comes off as incredibly insensitive and cruel, implying that he wants the UN to prove that Cap basically died for nothing. I can't see Tony Stark saying that at any point in time. Still, it's only a single line and only momentarily detracts from the story at hand. Finally, Val Cooper attempts to sentence Tony away to the 42 as a terrorist before Acting Director Hill pretty much issues a lockdown and kidnaps the UN more or less. Here we see a nice interaction between Dugan and Stark that shows how much Tony has earned Dugan's respect. It's a bit hampered by the revelation a couple weeks ago concerning Secret Invasion, but I can't blame the Knaufs for that.
So, once again, Iron Man sets out in search of the Mandarin, now clad in the Silver Centurion armor. Why he's not out in more upgraded armors like the Modular version or the Tin Man, I know not, but I suppose it's fine. Lots of folks like the Silver Centurion armor as their favorite armor, so I guess it's fine. Regardless of the armor, Iron Man wastes no time finding the Mandarin and yet another epic battle between the two old foes begins. Like the fight in #26, this one has a lot of grace and good pacing that feels almost more at place on a ballet stage than in a superhero battle. Yet, this one is different is one respect: Iron Man is definitely more brutal here. From burning off part of the Mandarin's face to blowing off two of the Mandarin's robot fingers, Tony truly shows he's not screwing around he rips five of his enemy's rings from directly out of his spine. It's a little extreme, but since vaporizing Mallen's head and stopping the Crimson Dynamo's heart, you never know what to expect from the guy anymore.
Nevertheless, the Mandarin seems to have to won as the Extremis missiles launch. With some quick thinking (and some Rambo-level manliness), Tony saws the ball of his foot off to get the power dampener off (granted, it'll heal... but yeesh) to launch the missiles into the coldness of space where the tech freezes. It's a tad wonky, but it works. Then, Iron Man manages to freon stream the Mandarin and save the day. Yet, the madman escapes by the end. This take on the Mandarin has certainly become very intriguing. Since the series reboot, it seems the central point of the book is bringing humanity and how far Tony's willing to take things. To that extent, it's clear the Mandarin's been retooled to mirror that image so the change in personality and motivation (the third time since Hands of the Mandarin) makes a degree of sense. It'll be interesting to see where things will go from here with Iron Man's most classic foe.
Overall, I thought this was a good end of the story and the Knaufs' run. I've felt much of their run has been rather hit-and-miss but this issue was certainly in the former category. Hopefully, Stuart Moore can keep up the momentum of this issue when he takes over next month.
And truth be told, it didn't suck. In fact, I enjoyed it a great deal.
Where I thought much of the story went along far too slowly and without any real impacy, such was not the case for this issue. This issue had its flaws to be sure, but all in all, I thought it a pretty good effort on the whole from the Knaufs and Del Toro. There was plenty of action and some good character moments to be sure. I was really impressed, to be honest.
The issue opens with Jack Kooning heading into the Mandarin's base in China to go kill everyone in the building, stop the virus attack, and bring the Mandarin to justice a la Jack Bauer. It's a nice plan... except for the fact that Kooning gets his head chopped off on the outer rim off before he even has a chance to do anything. It's a sad if a little anti-climatic ending for Kooning. Still, I'm not quite sure where Kooning's character could have done and it does set the Mandarin up as not screwing around here. Nothing, not even the American Defense Secretary, is going to get in the Mandarin's way.
Concurrently, Tony Stark is still up in front of the UN trying to explain he's not nuts and that the Mandarin is going to kill 97.5% of the earth. Here is where my biggest complaint is with this issue. In trying to ask the UN to give him the legroom to save the day, Tony says, Cap fought and died because he thought registration would destroy the superheroes' ability to operate and then adds that the UN should take this opportunity to prove he was wrong. I get what he's saying, but it comes off as incredibly insensitive and cruel, implying that he wants the UN to prove that Cap basically died for nothing. I can't see Tony Stark saying that at any point in time. Still, it's only a single line and only momentarily detracts from the story at hand. Finally, Val Cooper attempts to sentence Tony away to the 42 as a terrorist before Acting Director Hill pretty much issues a lockdown and kidnaps the UN more or less. Here we see a nice interaction between Dugan and Stark that shows how much Tony has earned Dugan's respect. It's a bit hampered by the revelation a couple weeks ago concerning Secret Invasion, but I can't blame the Knaufs for that.
So, once again, Iron Man sets out in search of the Mandarin, now clad in the Silver Centurion armor. Why he's not out in more upgraded armors like the Modular version or the Tin Man, I know not, but I suppose it's fine. Lots of folks like the Silver Centurion armor as their favorite armor, so I guess it's fine. Regardless of the armor, Iron Man wastes no time finding the Mandarin and yet another epic battle between the two old foes begins. Like the fight in #26, this one has a lot of grace and good pacing that feels almost more at place on a ballet stage than in a superhero battle. Yet, this one is different is one respect: Iron Man is definitely more brutal here. From burning off part of the Mandarin's face to blowing off two of the Mandarin's robot fingers, Tony truly shows he's not screwing around he rips five of his enemy's rings from directly out of his spine. It's a little extreme, but since vaporizing Mallen's head and stopping the Crimson Dynamo's heart, you never know what to expect from the guy anymore.
Nevertheless, the Mandarin seems to have to won as the Extremis missiles launch. With some quick thinking (and some Rambo-level manliness), Tony saws the ball of his foot off to get the power dampener off (granted, it'll heal... but yeesh) to launch the missiles into the coldness of space where the tech freezes. It's a tad wonky, but it works. Then, Iron Man manages to freon stream the Mandarin and save the day. Yet, the madman escapes by the end. This take on the Mandarin has certainly become very intriguing. Since the series reboot, it seems the central point of the book is bringing humanity and how far Tony's willing to take things. To that extent, it's clear the Mandarin's been retooled to mirror that image so the change in personality and motivation (the third time since Hands of the Mandarin) makes a degree of sense. It'll be interesting to see where things will go from here with Iron Man's most classic foe.
Overall, I thought this was a good end of the story and the Knaufs' run. I've felt much of their run has been rather hit-and-miss but this issue was certainly in the former category. Hopefully, Stuart Moore can keep up the momentum of this issue when he takes over next month.
Story: 4 - Very Good
Art: 4 - Very Good
Art: 4 - Very Good
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