Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creating his suit in IRON MAN(2008).
© Paramount Pictures
Comicscape: I Am Iron Man
By: Kurt AmackerDate: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Marvel Studios released the long-in-the-making cinematic adaptation of Iron Man this weekend. Thus far, it has garnered both rave reviews and over $100 million in box office grosses. Despite a few minor flaws, the film resets the standard for Marvel’s cinematic output after three-and-a-half moribund years. Marvel’s film adaptations took a notable dip beginning with Blade: Trinity in 2004 and, hopefully, ending with Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer last year. John Favreau’s Iron Man adaptation suffers from a few of the problems that plague so many superhero origin films, but it ultimately proves worthwhile. Please note that this week’s Comicscape contains spoilers, so feel free to skip to The Spinner Rack if you haven’t seen Iron Man.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) controls weapons manufacturer Stark Industries, balancing his life as a corporate mogul, a brilliant engineer, and a boozing, womanizing, playboy. Though he occasionally faces an activist or a reporter that questions his line of work, his wit and charisma keep most of his detractors at arm’s length—or running towards him with arms wide open, as it were. But, when terrorists using Stark Industries weapons kidnap him in Afghanistan, his worldview becomes more complicated. After demonstrating Stark Industries’ new multi-warhead Jericho Missile, his convoy is attacked by an Al-Qaeda-like terrorist group called the Ten Rings. Stark would’ve died, but for an electromagnet that the captive Dr. Yinsen (Shaun Toub) attaches to his heart, which prevents shrapnel from the attack from killing him. The terrorists’ leader, Raza (Faran Tahir), demands that Stark reconstruct his Jericho Missile for the group. But, Stark and Yinsen instead engineer their escape. Stark first constructs a miniature arc reactor to protect his heart, and uses the source to power an iron suit with flamethrowers. Yinsen dies in the escape, and Stark heads to the desert, ditching his armor. After being rescued by his Air Force liaison, LtCol. James Rhodes (Terrence Howard), Stark returns to the United States and promptly disbands his company’s weapons division. His former mentor, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), is understandably horrified. Rather than continue to manufacture arms that ultimately fall into the hands of America’s enemies, Stark decides to build a new suit—the one all Maniacs know and love—and bring the fight himself. After a daring raid on Ten Rings, Stark decides to locate his company’s rogue weapons and destroy them. His secretary, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), discovers that Stane engineered Stark’s failed assassination and has sold weapons directly to Ten Rings. The terrorist organization has already recovered the remnants of the armor Stark used to escape the first time. After betraying the group, Stane uses Stark’s old suit to begin work on a creation of his own—something larger and more terrifying than the red and gold masterpiece Stark uses for good.
Congratulations are in order for all of the performers in Iron Man. Though many reviewers have already stated it, Robert Downey, Jr.’s own experiences with substance abuse lend a dark undercurrent to his Tony Stark. The film does not depict the character’s experiences with alcoholism, as first seen in Bob Layton’s 1979 arc Demon in a Bottle. But, the film often shows Stark with a drink in his hand, even at arguably inappropriate moments. Favreau and Marvel have laid a dark path for Stark in the next film, and the audience can only watch as the circumstances are aligned for the character’s fall. But for now, Maniacs can enjoy Downey as Stark, watching him quip, seduce, and charm his way through the first third of the film. After his experience in Afghanistan, Stark experiences a sudden yet believable change of heart, and transitions from a wisecracking arms manufacturer to a wisecracking superhero. By the end of the film, he has acknowledged his role. And, via an amazing cameo by Samuel L. Jackson, the film itself acknowledges it. Tony Stark is Iron Man—a superhero in every sense of the word, straight out of a comic book. The supporting cast of Iron Man turns in equally strong performances. Jeff Bridges makes a seamless and believable transition from a concerned, if somewhat amoral, friend in Obadiah Stane. When the audience learns of his betrayal, the bearded visage that once looked paternal suddenly feels as well-suited for Stane’s megalomania. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts finally spells it out for everyone near the film’s end—Stane is not only greedy, but quite mad. Speaking of Paltrow, she turns in a strong, believable performance as Potts—Stark’s secretary-turned-love-interest. In more than a couple of superhero films, the female supporting characters falter. Paltrow as Potts reverses the trend with grace and aplomb. She is a woman almost in over her head, but always smart and resourceful enough to jump out in time. As LtCol. “Rhodey” Rhodes, Terrence Howard provides the grounded perspective Stark so often lacks. In many ways, he provides the audience’s perspective, trying to keep up with his manic friend. His performance renders the film’s fantastic goings-on even more so. He reminds the audience that, in a world very similar to our own, there seems to be a yellow-and-gold man flying through the air, and it’s almost unbelievable. And, for die-hard Iron Man fans—or anyone that takes five seconds to look online—he provides a potential glimpse at the forthcoming sequel. In one scene, the film alludes to Rhodes’s role as War Machine in the comic book. Maniacs can only hope.
In many ways, the film counter’s the comic book characters origin as a Communist-smashing warrior for democracy. Rather than a Cold War-era rallying cry, the cinematic Iron Man serves as a kind of wish fulfillment for many Americans. No one likes the terrorists in Iraq or Afghanistan or wants to see them succeed—outside of a few people on university campuses—but most realize that that kind of militancy springs from circumstances far more complicated than a hatred of freedom. In the film’s case, Stark realizes that the very weapons he creates enable America’s enemies and bring destruction to those in their path. Read as far into the implications of that as you care to, or not. But, Stark ultimately responds with a good old-fashioned ass-kicking that means—yes—killing some terrorists. Thus, the film accommodates the more complicated feelings about the subject felt by most Americans, but indulges our collective desire to see the bad guys go down. Some may see Iron Man as a left-wing polemic against American presence overseas or the War on Terror, but it keeps its heart and its balls in the right place: those who prey on the innocent must be stopped, sometimes using force.
Iron Man represents a pleasant turning point for Marvel’s cinematic output, and a great start for its own Marvel Studios. As most Maniacs know, Iron Man stands as the first in a series of films designed to precede an Avengers movie. Marvel plans to release another Iron Man film along with a Thor film in 2010. Summer of 2011 will see the release of a Captain America film, with an Avengers movie to follow shortly thereafter. Supposedly, there’s an Ant-Man project in there somewhere directed by Edgar Wright, but that wasn’t mentioned in the recent announcement. Hopefully, The Incredible Hulk will live up to the standard set by Iron Man, and Marvel’s output will continue along the same path.
The Spinner Rack
By Ben Johnson and Kurt Amacker
DARK HORSE COMICS
Abe Sapien The Drowning #4 (Of 5) $2.99
Batman Grendel Ltd Ed HC $99.95
Ben: And the award for $100 best saved this month goes to…
Black Magic 2nd Ed TP $14.95
Kurt: Must be a book about my conception.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #14 $2.99
Color Of Rage TP Vol 01 $14.95
Conan #50 (MR) $4.99
Ben: The end is nigh! P.S. Someone dies and nothing will ever be the same.
Kurt: Yes, this is the last issue of the series. Yes, there will be another series in a few months. No, there is no good reason to relaunch, but just roll with it.
Domo Embroidered Patch $4.99
Ben: Mr. Roboto.
Eden Its An Endless World TP Vol 10 (MR) $12.95
Oh My Goddess Rtl TP Vol 29 $10.95
Star Wars Clone Wars Photo Comic $9.95
Ben: In a recent trip to hell I checked out Satan’s comics and POG emporium and this was the only book on the racks.
Kurt: This is clawing the bottom of the barrel with no fingernails left, isn’t it?
Star Wars Legacy #23 $2.99
X Omnibus TP Vol 01 $24.95
Ben: I’m wary of picking this up should my fond memories be proven false.
DC COMICS
Action Comics Annual #11 $4.99
Ben: Is this the big one?
Kurt: Actually, this concludes Richard Donner and Geoff Johns’s first arc together. It’s been a long time coming. I don’t know whether to be thrilled or enraged.
All New Atom #23 $2.99
American Splendor Season Two #2 (Of 4) (MR) $2.99
Batman Death Mask #2 (Of 4) $2.99
Kurt: The first issue was really good. I’m not normally into manga, but I really liked this. Check this out.
Countdown To Mystery #7 (Of 8) $3.99
Crayon Shinchan Vol 02 (MR) $7.99
Crossing Midnight #18 (MR) $2.99
DC Special Raven #3 (Of 5) $2.99
Ben: Adventures on the short bus.
Kurt: Ben said it! Not me!
DC Universe Special Justice League Of America $4.99
Ben: Helmets and corks on forks collide in this exciting one-shot.
Detective Comics #844 $2.99
Exterminators #29 (MR) $2.99
Exterminators TP Vol 04 Crossfire And Collateral (MR) $14.99
House Of Mystery #1 (MR) $2.99
Ben: New Vertigo series premiere. Looks very Clive Barker (before he sucked (unfortunate choice of words)).
Kurt: Wow, you’ve managed to offend both the disabled and the gay community in one column. That’s a record, even for me.
Infinity Inc #9 $2.99
JLA Presents Aztek The Ultimate Man TP $19.99
Ben: Midnight openings prepare to welcome this most treasured of series.
Jonah Hex #31 $2.99
Justice League Unlimited #45 $2.25
Kiichi And The Magic Books Vol 01 $9.99
Ben: For the fourteen year-old girl in all of us.
Kurt: I had the foulest, most terrible joke ever for this space. But, dear Goth, I simply cannot bring myself to share it. You’ll have to use your imaginations.
Looney Tunes #162 $2.25
Metal Men #8 (Of 8) $2.99
Midnighter #19 $2.99
New Dynamix #3 (Of 5) $2.99
Nightwing #144 $2.99
Question TP Vol 02 Poisoned Ground $19.99
Rann Thanagar Holy War #1 (Of 8) $3.50
Kurt: I remember reading The Rann/Thanagar War leading up to Infinite Crisis a couple of years ago, and holy hell did it suck.
Supergirl #29 $2.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Raising Cain #1 (Of 3) (MR) $3.50
Tor #1 (Of 6) $2.99
Vinyl Underground #8 (MR) $2.99
War That Time Forgot #1 (Of 12) $2.99
Ben: The bloody third clash between the U.S. and Britain, otherwise known as the Pig War.
Women Of The DCU Series 2 Batwoman Bust $55.00
Ben: For ladies only.
IMAGE COMICS
Bomb Queen TP Vol 04 Suicide Bomber (MR) $14.99
Dead Space #3 (Of 6) $2.99
Ben: The best horror-video-game-comic-book-prequel ever.
Dynamo 5 Annual #1 $5.99
Gemini #1 (Of 5) $3.50
Ben: Something somewhat novel in the tights genre.
Jack Staff #16 $3.50
Kurt: I just might after I get this column finished.
Lucha Libre #4 $6.99
Madman Atomic Comics #8 $2.99
Pretty Baby Machine #1 (Of 3) (MR) $3.50
Ben: Warranty lasts only until the end of the first trimester.
Kurt: That, or a Christian rock alternative to the first Nine Inch Nails album.
Scud The Disposable Assassin #24 $3.50
Suburban Glamour TP Vol 01 $9.99
MARVEL COMICS
Amazing Spider-Man #558 $2.99
Ben: Is anyone reading this?
Kurt: Reading what now?
American Dream #1 (Of 5) $2.99
Ben: Captain America is back, and this time he has boobs.
Kurt: And what isn’t made better by boobs?
Avengers Invaders #1 (Of 12) $2.99
Cable #3 DWS $2.99
Kurt: All right, is anyone actually reading this?
Captain America Prem HC Vol 02 Death Capt Amer Dm Var $19.99
Captain America Prem HC Vol 02 Death Capt America $19.99
Dark Tower Long Road Home #3 (Of 5) $3.99
Essential X-Men TP Vol 01 New Ptg $16.99
Fantastic Four TP New Fantastic Four $15.99
Foolkiller #5 (Of 5) (MR) $3.99
Kurt: When is a superhero a serial killer?
Franklin Richards Not So Secret Invasion $2.99
Hulk TP World War Hulk $24.99
Invincible Iron Man #1 $2.99
Ben: What an amazing coincidence this would launch the week following the movie. Weird.
Kurt: It is written by Matt Fraction, so it can’t be all bad.
Invincible Iron Man #1 Djurdjevic Var $2.99
Invincible Iron Man #1 Layton Var $2.99
Invincible Iron Man #1 Tan Var $2.99
Iron Man TP Enter The Mandarin $14.99
Iron Man Viva Las Vegas #1 (Of 4) $3.99
Iron Man Viva Las Vegas #1 (Of 4) Skrully Var $3.99
Ben: This cover written by Joss Whedon.
Iron Man War Machine TP $29.99
Ben: More Iron Man? This is getting spooky.
Kick Ass #2 2nd Ptg Romita Jr Var (MR) (Pp #812) $2.99
Logan #3 (Of 3) $3.99
Logan #3 (Of 3) Black & White Var $3.99
Lords Of Avalon Sod #4 (Of 6) $2.99
Ben: Suck on Dis!
Kurt: I don’t know if we’re allowed to call each other sods on here.
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #39 $2.99
Marvel Two-In-One #11 $4.99
Mighty Avengers #13 SI $2.99
Moon Knight #18 $2.99
New Avengers Illuminati TP $14.99
Nova #13 $2.99
Omega Unknown #8 (Of 10) $2.99
Punisher War Journal #19 $2.99
Kurt: I’d just like to point out that this will be bloody awesome.
Punisher War Journal #19 Skrully Var $2.99
Ben: I’m holding out for the Skrully Zombie variant.
Secret Invasion #2 (Of 8) SI $3.99
Ben: I accidentally gave my wife one of these. At least that’s what I told her.
Kurt: And then she returned the favor with a not-so-secret invasion that cries a lot.
Secret Invasion #2 (Of 8) Yu Var (Pp #811) SI $3.99
She-Hulk Prem HC Jaded $19.99
Ben: Jaded… Oh I get it!
Thunderbolts Reason In Madness $2.99
Ben: There have been a sh*t-load of Thunderbolts specials.
Kurt: That’s because Warren Ellis is behind schedule and Marvel is trying to keep the book around.
X-Factor Quick And Dead $2.99
Ben: Starring Sharon Stone and directed by Sam Raimi.
Kurt: Burn in hell reading back issues of Youngblood—all five of them.
Young X-Men #2 DWS $2.99
Kurt: I’m up, he sees me, I’m down!
Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@mania.com.
