The Invincible Iron Man | |
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Cover to The Invincible Iron Man #1. Art by Salvador Larroca. |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Schedule | Monthly |
Format | Ongoing series |
Genre | Superhero |
Publication date | July 2008 – present |
Number of issues | 34 (+ 1 Annual) |
Main character(s) | Iron Man |
Creative team | |
Writer(s) | Matt Fraction |
Artist(s) | Salvador Larroca |
The Invincible Iron Man is an Eisner Award-winning comic book ongoing series written by Matt Fraction with art by Salvador Larroca, published by Marvel Comics and starring the superhero Iron Man.
Contents |
Story arcs
"The Five Nightmares" (#1-7)
Iron Man fights Ezekiel Stane, son of Obadiah Stane, as he tries to destroy Stark Industries.
"World's Most Wanted" (#8-19)
With his Extremis powers failing, Stark uploads a virus to destroy all records of the Registration Act, thus preventing Norman Osborn from learning the identities of his fellow heroes. The only copy remaining is in Stark's brain, which he is trying to delete bit by bit while on the run in one of his extra armors.[1] As Osborn has him hunted as a fugitive, Stark travels worldwide on his quest to wipe out his mental database, going so far as to inflict brain damage on himself. When Osborn personally catches up to the debilitated Stark and beats him savagely, Pepper Potts broadcasts the beatings worldwide, costing Osborn credibility and giving Stark public sympathy. Stark goes into a vegetative state, having previously granted Donald Blake (alter ego of the Norse-god superhero Thor) power of attorney.[2] During this catatonia, Pepper receives a holographic message from Tony revealing a way to 'reboot' his brain, returning him to normal. While Donald Blake and Captain America resolve to use this method, Tony offers to remain in his near-brain dead state, if it would make things easier for Pepper.
"Stark: Disassembled" (#20-24)
A message is displayed to Pepper by the armor in which Tony reveals there is a way to reboot his mind but offers to remain like that if it makes things easier. He also says Osborn can't copy his or S.H.I.E.L.D. technology and that it will take Captain America, Thor, and himself to clean the mess Osborn will do once he goes crazy. Donald Blake (Thor) and Captain America (Bucky) decide to use it even through Pepper doubts Tony can come back when so many others can't. Meanwhile, Madame Masque hires Ghost to kill Tony. In Stark's subconscious, he is trapped in a never ending loop where machines attack when he attempts to dig for something before the scenario resets. In his subconscious, a hallucination of his parents (Howard and Maria) help him find an iron chest which was what he was digging for. He puts it on but nothing happens. In the real world, Tony's recording outline how to reboot him, involving installing Pepper's electromagnet onto his chest, jack the hard drive Maria Hill recovered from Futurpharm into his head and then use Thor's thunder to boot his brain. However when it happens there is no result so Doctor Strange is called in to help Tony come back while Ghost arrives only to fail. Tony's brain is successfully rebooted; however, the reset point was sometime before the Civil War, leaving Stark with no knowledge of the current status quo.
"Stark Resilient" (#25-33)
Justine Hammer and her daughter (Sasha), heads of Hammer Industries, demonstrate the newest in corporate security technology: Detroit Steel, a tall robotic exo-suit that is very well equipped, as shown on video battling a group of corporate saboteurs. However, General Bruce Babbage doesn't see the suit any different than the other faulty machines Hammer Industries sold them. The women show that the suit is piloted by Lieutenant Doug Johnson III. Justine then attempts to sway the military people into purchasing various models of Detroit Steel, each that can endure a certain environment. However, one soldier states that Tony Stark is back.
In Broxton Oklahoma, Tony Stark is going over plans for a new Iron Man armor. He asks Pepper Potts, who is concerned about his well-being, about the state of Stark Industries. She answers "It's not... your company.. so much... any more.".
At a hospital, Maria Hill is telling Rhodey how much Stark remembers from his brain reboot. Rhodey laments how much his old friend has forgotten, what he had done. After wishing that he could go ten minutes without "Tony Stark". He then asks Hill about something good she did. She replies that Steve Rogers wants her to be part of the new Avengers team. She then asks Rhodey's question back at him. He answers that he's doing black-ops stuff.
Stark reviews how Ezekiel Stane crippled his repulsor production facilities. The only thing he has left is a helicopter and a few laptops. Stark then "rehires" her as his CEO of his new company, though he can't pay. He then goes to New York to seek out Reed Richards to help him create his new suit.
Meanwhile, Babbage yells at Justine for attempting to con him and advises her to leave war to the military and Stark. As they two parties drive away in their respective limos, the Hammers tells Johnson that the negotiation went horribly, to which the women start laughing. Johnson didn't understand and thought they were laughing at him, till they tell him that they are having Babbage play into their hands.
In New York, while forging the new armor, Stark and Reed Richards discuss the new upgrades. Because his body cannot survive or do anything with his new chest implant, therefore, the new suit has to be an upgrade to his Extremis modifications and take advantage of his entire being.
In Oklahoma City, Pepper has arranges a meeting with the military generals, to inform them that Stark Industries, for all intent and purposes, is broke. Just then, there is a sonic boom, before Stark arrives through the door. He then states that while he's rebuilding the company, Stark Industries will be withdrawing from weapons development. Babbage yells him, reminding him that Stark Industries that had kept America safe and asks whose side he is on. Stark answers that he's on his own. As the generals walk out, Babbage tells Stark that he's broke, so if he wants money, he should reconsider.
In Manassas, Virginia, there is an auction for decommissioned H.A.M.M.E.R. armaments. Justine quickly buys all of them.
Back in Broxton, Stark is helping with the rebuilding, when he sees Thor descend from the sky. The fellow Avengers have a talk. Stark apologizes to Thor for all of his sins, explaining that at the time, he believed that what he was doing was right. Thor remarks that that's the old friend he knows. He offers Asgard's treasuries to help him fund his company, which Stark declines, declaring that he will build it up piece by piece.
Later, Stark announces the title of his new company -- Stark Resilient. He then gives out a big speech detailing his repulsor implant and how other people envied it. He offers it to the worlds to help solve the fossil fuel problems in thirty years. If they don't, he'll put them all out of business
Up on the rooftop, Pepper berates Stark for making such an outlandish proposition. As she and Maria take off in a helicopter, Stark forms his new Iron Man armor around his body to take it for a spin.
In Pakistan, the Hammers receive word about Stark's proposition. They then get a call from Babbage, who wants to purchase Detroit Steel. Justine agrees to it, before meeting with a few Pakistani guerillas.
In Akron, Ohio, the Spymaster is delivering any incriminating evidence to a man named Marc, in exchange for some new technology. But once he's done, he kills Marc.
Meanwhile, the Hammers are showcasing Detroit Steel to Pakistani guerrillas, as well as selling to them the H.A.M.M.E.R. weapons surplus, all based on old Starktech. The only reason the Hammers are selling is because they are influencing more strife.
In Broxton, Oklahoma, Tony Stark explains to Maria Hill that everything about Iron Man is in the very flash drive he gave her. It is meant to be given to Captain America, but he doesn't elaborate further than that. It is need-to-know for Cap. He then tells her an anecdote about a mistake he made with another woman. The lesson of the story is that he believes that what he has done was for the greater good and he'd do it all again. Hill then walks out on him
Stark contacts Carson Wyche, a former employee of his whom he fired after presenting a new type of PDA twelve years ago. Wyche currently runs a company that manufactures electric cars, and Stark wants to be his partner in using repulsor energy to help power his cars.
Rhodey interrupts their meeting to inform Stark of a shipment of crates being delivered, courtesy of Steve Rogers. Changing into his Iron Man armor, Stark tears apart one crate to find the battered-up Mark 0 suit inside. Also, several other shipments have been sent.
Meanwhie, Spymaster is torching Marc's office. He then spots Justine's helicopter touching down. Disembarking, Justine offers up a ton of cash to take down Stark Resilient while the company's getting on its feet.
Up to nine Iron Man armors have been recovered, including the Mark 0. Stark then prepares to melt them down.
Tony talks with Pepper, who wants her Rescue suit back. Tony is reluctant, but Pepper states that she wants a new suit, just like Tony's new suit. Despite this, Tony replies that he doesn't want to lose Pepper. Pepper says the he won't lose her, and then she asks him if he remembers anything about his time on the run. Although he denies this, Tony remembers the time when he kissed Pepper. Tony tells Pepper that she is the new CEO of Stark Resilient, so she needs to find a way to prevent her time in the field from compromising her obligations to the company, then, they will talk. Pepper replies that she knew he would say that.
Tony and Pepper meet with Bambi Argobast, who wants to return to Stark's company. Tony tells her that Stark Resilient is still a young company and it cannot afford to pay employees, but Argobast still insists in helping.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, a group of mercenaries is attacking a subway station. However, Detroit Steel appears and stops them, while Justine and Sasha Hammer watch.
Pepper is prepared for a surgery that will place an electromagnetic battery inside her so that she can pilot the Rescue armor. Tony and Arbogast watch the surgery as they receive an emergency call from Tokyo. Tony then finds Rhodey, dressed in his War Machine armor. Rhodey tells him that maybe he should walk away while he still can. But Tony says that he doesn't want to walk away. They will go to Tokyo, because that is what they do.
General Babbage watches the happenings in Tokyo and calls Justine Hammer, who tells him that the Japanese government has signed on with them. General Babbage then calls the Secretary of Defense and tells him that they are getting into business with Hammer Industries.
Iron Man and War Machine then fly to Tokyo.
Awards
The Invincible Iron Man won the 2009 Eisner Award for Best New Series.[3]
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a number of individual volumes:
- Volume 1: The Five Nightmares (collects #1-7, 184 pages, hardcover, December 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3461-1, softcover, March 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3412-3)
- Volume 2: World's Most Wanted, Book 1 (collects #8-13, 152 pages, hardcover, August 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3828-5, softcover, November 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3413-1)
- Volume 3: World's Most Wanted, Book 2 (collects #14-19, 160 pages, hardcover, January 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3935-4, softcover, May 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3685-1)
- Volume 4: Stark Disassembled (collects #20-24 and Annual #1, 136 pages, hardcover, July 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4554-0, softcover, January 2011, ISBN 0-7851-3686-X)
- Volume 5: Stark Resilient, Book 1 (collects #25-28, 128 pages, hardcover, September 2010, ISBN 0785145559, softcover, February 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4556-7)
- Volume 6: Stark Resilient, Book 2 (collects #29-33, 136 pages, hardcover, February 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4834-5)
As well as a Marvel Omnibus edition:
- The Invincible Iron Man Omnibus, Volume 1 (collects #1-19, 344 pages, March 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4295-9)
References
External links
- Invincible Iron Man at the Comic Book DB
- Invincible Iron Man at the Grand Comics Database
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