Tags
Alex Ross, Cafu, Christopher Cantwell, Frank D’Armata, Hellcat, Iron Man, Iron Man #1, Iron Man #1 Review, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Patsy Walker, Tony Stark
Iron Man #1
Review by Paul Bowler.
Tony Stark decides to get back to basics in Iron Man #1 as Marvel Comics launches a brand new ongoing series from the all-new-creative team of writer Christopher Cantwell, artist Cafu and color artist Frank D’Armata.
Right from the outset its clear writer Christopher Cantwell is aiming for a more refined and contemporary take on the character. While the opening slugfest with Terrax provides us with the necessary prerequisite of Iron Man action, the real nuts and bolts of the issue follows Tony Stark’s attempt to get his life back on track. Reinvesting his billion dollar exit package from Stark Unlimited, along with all the high-tech toys and equally high-profile image is the easy part, recalibrating his life with a 1978 Dodge Aspen, a new pad, and street racing while every CEO, financier and entrepreneur worth their salt has something to pitch to him proves to be a more challenging balancing act for him. Fortunately Patsy Walker, aka Hellcat, arrives to keep Tony grounded.
Cantwell ensures the pace of the issue flows smoothly while significant refinements to Tony’s life unfold along the way, one could almost say it reads a bit like superhero mid-life-crisis, and the parallel narrative of social media posts peppered throughout brings the scrutiny on Stark’s world into sharper context than ever before. Patsy Walker is another unexpected surprise, one that that totally blindsides Tony during his most soul-searching moments, and she proves t a perfect foil for Stark’s ego as well. Throw in a D-list villain and a threat with biblical connotations and Christopher Cantwell sets up this new Iron Man series in fine style indeed.
The art by Cafu is a real treat as well, rich with detail, expression, and dynamic viewpoints it makes this issue a veritable feast on the senses. Full framed, overlapping panel layouts allow scenes to shift seamlessly from one to the next, with media interviews, street racing, encounters with old friends and old enemies are all rendered in Cafu’s distinctly lavish visuals and beautifully complemented by color artist Frank D’Armata’s exquisite use of muted pallets, rich tones, and deep shadows. The new Iron Man armor design by Alex Ross is a glorious reinvention of the characters classic look, it even gets showcased with a good old-fashioned suit-up scene, and the overall aesthetic is pleasingly nostalgic yet sufficiently updated enough to make this relaunch feel all the more special as a result.
Much like Tony Stark, this new series suits-up with an upgraded sense of reflection and confidence, quickly finds it feet, and embarks on a bold new era filled with potential. With its excellent and witty storyline by Christopher Cantwell, great art by Cafu, and superb cover by Alex Ross, Iron Man #1 feels like a much needed breath of fresh air for the character, and I’m really excited to see what this new creative team have in store for old Shell-Head in the months to come.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Christopher Cantwell / Artist: Cafu
Color Artist: Frank D’Armata / Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover: Alex Ross
About The Author
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
Sci-Fi Jubilee 
I definitely enjoyed it a lot. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
I was very impressed with this issue. It a great start to the new Iron Man series and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops. Love that cover by Alex Ross as well!
The cover is indeed very cool!
Its a great cover, I really like the new Iron Man armor design by Alex Ross.
I’ve long been an Iron Man fan, way before the MCU was even a thought! I couldn’t get in to Dan Slott’s run so was very much looking forward to this relaunch and was hugely impressed. In a single issue it felt like a return to the heyday of the 90s Iron Man comics with a bit of a modern twist. I like the characterisation of Tony as well, I think previous writers have tried too hard to base him on Robert Downey Jr’s performance in the Marvel movies often to mixed results. He just seemed more balanced here.
The art was great, think I’ll have to pick up the hardcover volume (if it gets one) when this first arc gets collected. Batman #99 was good but Iron Man #1 (Detective #1,027 was fairly decent as well) would be my pick of the week.
I’ve always been an Iron Man fan as well so been looking forward to this relaunch. I only managed one issue of Dan Slott’s run, it was awful. This new run feels closer to the 80’s / 90’s version and far less influenced by the MCU portrayal of Tony Stark. I really like the story and art by this new Iron Man creative team. Love the retro styling of the new Alex Ross designed Iron Man suit as well. Iron Man #1 was certainly the comic I enjoyed the most this week as well.
Is the Tony Stark here as cheeky as the character in the films?
A little bit. Recent comic series have written Stark in much the same way as his is in the MCU, but this new series feels more closer to the comic book version of old. I really like the new Iron Man suit with its more classic look as well. This new Iron Man series is certainly a good jumping on point for new readers as well.