Iron Man: Armor Wars Prologue

Bob Layton co-plotted and provided pencils and inks for the 10 issues inside this trade paperback. With that bit of information, I want to go on a slightly off topic tangent. I think it's creepy that as soon as I started reading this book 5 days ago, I began getting inundated with suggestions to make Bob Layton a friend on Facebook. I also got a multitude of posts from others praising his artwork. I started receiving ads from eBay suggesting artwork by Layton as well as other Iron Man back issues. 

Here's the thing, I hadn't put anything on my social media about my reading 'Armor Wars Prologue.' I hadn't taken any pictures, texted, nor sent an email to anybody about this book. I hadn't even mentioned reading it out loud to my wife. I bought this book years ago, and forgot all about it. So how did the Internet know that I was finally reading this book? I'm telling you, this 'coincidence' sure is spooky.

Okay - now about the book...

Tony Stark has pulled himself out of the ashes. Newly sober, Stark is again making a name for himself. Obadiah Stane may have taken Stark Industries away from Tony; but thanks to a lengthy court battle, the billionaire playboy regained his wealth and has started up a new company: Stark Enterprises. Only it's not a smooth transition for Tony.

His new orbiting space station has been rendered unusable by AIM. A beloved member of his inner circle has betrayed him. Rhodey's new helicopter was in reality a malfunctioning transformer that nearly destroyed his company. Now there's a literal ghost in the Stark machine that could cause Stark Enterprises to declare bankruptcy should Tony's new clean energy turbine go bust! Thrown in a handful of B-list villains, the evil industrialist Justin Hammer and the massive headache of California rush hour traffic, it's no wonder that Iron Man will declare war on anyone who steals his technology and there's been a long list of foes who've taken something from Tony Stark and his armored bodyguard.

You know you're getting old when disaster upon disaster faces a beloved protagonist and all you can think of is 'How much did that cost?' For decades, it has seemed that Tony Stark has had a near unlimited bank account. It's actually a little satisfying to actually find the businessman running low on funds. No, I don't secretly want Tony Stark to go broke. But I can't tell you how many issues of The Avengers and Iron Man that I have read where it seemed like Tony had carte blanche to repair any and all damage brought about by his destructive adventures as Iron Man. I just found it a little more relatable having Tony Stark sweating bullets because all of his economic stability rests on a really tricky financial gamble.

I just shelled out a fortune for a new car. Mind you it was used and it seems to be a great car. But I've been on pins and needles, afraid that I purchased a lemon and that's how Tony has been feeling about the new energy tech company he bought with his last line of bank credit. 

I came to this book with the mindset that I was going to sell it afterwards. I also wasn't sure if I wanted to read about the Armor Wars. But after reading, I find that I would be completely open to a complete run of the first Iron Man series of stories and I want to read the follow up to this book. So much for trying to clear some room off my shelf. Writer David Michelinie and Bob Layton did too great of a job to part with this read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Iron Man: The End (trade paperback eidtion)

An aging Tony Stark is coming to the apex of his career as both an inventor and super hero. He’s created a technological utopia and for a while it seems like most of his foes have been vanquished. But when an armored for from Tony’s past returns, Stark must decide whether to suit up one last time or face the reality- it may be time to pass the torch to someone else.

The End wasn’t so much a sad story as bittersweet. Though, there was a lot of elements that reminded me of Batman Beyond. Since that classic Batman cartoon came first, I’m thinking that it heavily influenced some aspects of this book.

My copy of The End was a trade paperback reprint of that tale along with a unique look at Tony Stark’s origin at becoming Iron Man and his first meeting with Rhodey.  Featuring re-mastered art of Tales Of Suspense #39 and Iron Man #144, that story is framed between an all-new tale that has Tony Stark running out of time before a nano-virus wipes his memory. I liked this story but I think it ended too soon and I would’ve actually liked a little more backstory as to how Tony became infected.

Lastly, there are reprints of Tony Stark facing off against Madame Masque, the Ani-men, and a crippling bullet. Those tales are Iron Man #116 and #244. They were pretty good, especially the Madame Masque tale. I never knew Tony Stark was wheelchair bound for a while during the 80s and again I would’ve like more backstory instead of the tale I was presented.

Overall, not a bad book but also not my favorite collection of Iron Man stories either. As for being part of the Marvel: The End series, this collection had the best art I’ve seen (thus far) but was a little thin on plot as mentioned earlier.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Marvel Fanfare #44

Set in the aftermath of the Armor Wars, Tony Stark and Rhodey attend a technical symposium hosted by Doctor Doom! In Latveria!! It’s there that a computer virus designed to infiltrate Iron Man’s armor corrodes and infects Doctor Doom instead. It’s up to Stark, Rhodey, and a new team of international Iron Men to stop the tiny nuclear reaction in Doom’s armor from destroying half of Europe.

The issue is filled with Great CGI-quality art and fantastic scripting by Ken Stacy. And there’s a very fitting cameo that literally pops up to save the day!

Worth Consuming.