The Invincible Iron Man #23 Review

The Invincible Iron Man #23

In The Invincible Iron Man #23, Tony Stark inches ever closer to regaining his mind and returning from the dreamscape of his imagination.

Last month, I criticized that this story arc was suffering from a five-part decompression.  This issue by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca seems to rebound a little bit as Dr. Strange is hanging out inside Tony’s head to bring him back from his vegetative state.  Strange tells Tony that he needs to believe he is Iron Man to get on the road to recovery.  The stronger he tries and the more he believes, the imaginary world around him ignites in what appears to be a raging inferno.

Meanwhile, back in Broxton, OK (the current epicenter of all things Marvel), Maria Hill and Pepper Potts stands guard over the comatose Stark and vulnerable Strange.  The girls exchange an uncomfortable conversation when they find out they have each recently slept with Tony.  Instead of being angry at one another, they turn to Tony with their frustration and anger.

Back inside Tony’s head, Strange and Stark discuss the flashes of memories Tony constantly sees.  He describes everything is like a puzzle.  He’s presented choices to make.  When he makes the right one, he moves on to the next fork in the proverbial road.  When he’s incorrect, machines “Sentries” come and wipe out the world and resets it.  Tony also reveals that the big bad in this dream world is known as “the Bureaucrat”.  He’s unable to really give a clear explanation of who he is other than everyone in this world of his works for the Bureacrat and if you don’t, you die.  Tony admits to being scared of the things that go on inside of him, the things that are making up this world he’s in.

In the school Pepper and Maria have stashed Stark away in, the Ghost has zeroed in on Tony’s location.  Rhodey shows up in the basement to see Tony, but notices blood on his forehead.  He realizes that the blood is coming from him.  The Ghost has shot him in the back.  As he moves in on Stark for the kill, Tony and Strange are confronted by one of hte Sentries.  Tony becomes enraged by the situation and in finally letting loose, the repulsor tech in his chest ignites and destroys the sentry.  He turns to Strange and accepts that he is Iron Man and is ready for the next step to escape this world.

Even though I still believe this arc could have been completed in four or less issues, it’s still succeeding on several levels.  First you have Larroca’s art.  That has never been in question.  The style Larroca uses is unique and particularly stylish.  There’s a great deal of detail and realism in his people and places.  I’ve always thought Larroca’s art was quite good, but he’s evolved into a leader in sequential art.  I don’t think he’s one that is mentioned often in the conversation of great artists, but I believe he’s every bit as good as anyone else in the field today.

Where the story succeeds is how it makes you feel.  There’s patience in the scenes with Pepper and Maria.  There’s frustration in the dreamworld with Strange and Stark and there’s anxiousness knowing the Ghost will eventually find Tony.  The more I think about it, the more I’m beginning to think that the longer arc was done on purpose to make us feel each of these states.  You’re sucked in to each situation because you are waiting for that moment that Stark wakes up and does something really cool, but it hasn’t happened and no one knows why.

All in all, this issue is setting up the conclusion nicely.  We’re moving ever closer to Iron Man’s return, a new Iron Man series to go along with this one, and Iron Man 2.  This might just be a huge year for the Golden Avenger.

(Image courtesy of Marvel Comics.)