Wow! Who’d have thought that the best use of Tony Stark in a comic book for the month of April would come in Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D..

For those who have not been on this train, this is the same book that featured such middling plots as ‘Tony Stark on psychiatric leave’ and ‘Maya Hansen’s fancy new biology project’. How could the same creative team end up with the absolute gem that issue #28 has become? Perhaps the authors took a page out of the Ed Brubaker playbook and realized that it is just as necessary to tend to minor characters and details as it is to plot the protagonist’s plans.

Without wanting to reveal too much, this issue features: the death of a minor character, the resurgence of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a powerhouse organization, Iron Man’s disfigurement, a knock-down drag-out, an indictment, and a commendation. If I didn’t look twice, I would have sworn that this was a special double-issue. Despite the heavy action load, the plot flowed effectively, which is a tribute to the writing and art.

With regards to the art, it was fine, if not exceptional. And that’s all I have to say about that.

If I weren’t a subscriber, I am sure that I would not have read this issue. And the loss would have been mine. In a month in which Wolverine is still chasing Mystique for the fourth consecutive issue and Thor is still rebuilding Asgard while feeling badly about his mixed feelings about his Dad, Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. seems as though it is hitting me over the head with meaningful plot. Read up, Marvel fans!