Customer Reviews

Invincible Iron Man Vol. 4: Stark Disassembled

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fraction and Lorroca (on art) get very strong reactions. They earned their Eisner award earlier on this series and they show no signs of letting up. Even though some have issues with Fraction's writing on other titles (he tends toward the pop-cliche's and cultural fads a bit, strong premises on x-men with sometimes weak conclusions) he's definitely at his best here in Iron Man. Some don't like Lorroca's (and D'Armata's) shiny and plastic looking faces like cartoon celebrities. But ya know what, when you get past the stylistic choice, it's pretty great stuff.

This story in particular gets a million bonus comic points for doing what few comics do these days: deliver. You want to see the tony stark in a coma like on the cover? He's out for five issues. Really. You want to see Thor's lightning channeled through Captain America's shield in an attempt to rejuvenate him (the original cover to ish 21)? It actually happens! No exaggeration. And it is in fact as cool and over the top and inspiring as you'd expect, without at all feeling contrived. You want Tony's inevitable recovery (and let's not pretend there was in fact any doubt he would recover two months before his big sequel hit theaters) without it feeling like a, well... cheap and inevitable reset? Fraction actually pulls off a relatively poignant and meaningful method of bringing him back that isn't a reset at all, but a progression that builds off of Extremis and his Civil War stance in new ways without voiding them (ahem... One More Day...)

For a story that starts with a solid 6 pages of Tony's head talking at us from a recording (and I mean like 16 panel double spreads), the story actually kicks off in a pretty high gear with elongated suspense. There's guest appearances from Bucky, Steve, Thor, Dr. Strange, and Rhodey, and the Ghost is looming in the background the whole time with Siege breaking out simultaneously right outside (although only brief mention is given --it's why the heroes disappear quickly). But it's Maria Hill and Pepper who rise to the challenge. And all the while, Tony's inside his own head, abstractly making sense of himself, providing another level of depth to what's taking place.

From what I can see of Stark Resilient so far, Fraction isn't resetting Tony at all, he's truly disassembling him, and reassembling all the same components anew. Not so he can go backwards and get rid of anything recent (the last four years of Iron Man have been the best ever), but to probe the depths of it.

This is really great stuff and it's keeping Fraction's career and high profile at Marvel justified.

It wasn't too long ago that, in terms of popularity, Iron Man's series was gazing at the hind end of the top 50 list, maybe even lower. And now look at the thing. Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca come on and rehabilitate this title into one of the most acclaimed comic books currently ongoing. Sucker even won the 2009 Eisner for Best New Series. And I'm sure the live action films have nothing to do with this resurgence (yeah, right).

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN Volume 4 collects issues #20-24 and presents the five-part "Stark: Disassembled" arc. Rather than give up his repulsor technology and the secrets stored in the Superhero Registration Act database to Marvel's Mad Dog Flavor of the Year, Norman Osborn, Tony Stark had self-induced a mind wipe and so placed himself in a persistent vegetative state. These next five issues disclose what happens after, and it's a mixed bag, but more tremendous than not.

This arc starts out really promisingly. In Broxton, Oklahoma, Tony's body vegetates as Tony's friends take in a recording in which Tony either makes his final testimony or paves the way for his return, although he leaves that option entirely up to his friends. Either way, the man reveals bits of that good old hubris which made him such an insufferable character but then he also drops nuggets of humor and insight which then makes me want to give him a second chance. Fraction writes Tony's recorded presentation - and this entire issue, for that matter - in such a way that readers will salivate for further developments. If you're caught up with the latest Iron Man doings, then you know that Stark, being a good, cautious techhead, had backed himself up in a hard drive before he started flirting with the Extremis technology. What sinks in now is that Tony had left in his most trusted friends and allies pieces and clues instrumental to successfully rebooting him. His master plan would include Maria Hill, Pepper Potts, Captain America, Rhodey, Donald Blake and his hammered alter ego.

It's initially surprising to me - but not after thinking it over - that Pepper Potts is the one who has the most reservations about restoring Tony. We then also note once again the sheer impact the presence of Steve Rogers has. Pepper's reservations fly.

Elsewhere, Stark's coma apparently is enough to get Osborn to back off, and the head honcho of H.A.M.M.E.R. has now declared Iron Man off limits for termination. Not that Madame Masque is inclined to listen. She harbors really serious issues against Tony Stark. She enlists the services of another old Iron Man foe, the Ghost, to take out Iron Man while he's at his most vulnerable.

I'm still giving this arc 4 stars out of 5, because Matt Fraction overall writes an absorbing tale and because Salvador Larroca continues to draw like it's a passion and not a job. But here's the thingee: When you break down the plot - which is slow moving - to its essence, it consists primarily of a whole lot of Stark in a coma while, in his torturous mindscape, the real Tony does some grave soul searching. In the real world his friends are twiddling their thumbs wondering what to do - that is, until the deadly Ghost finally makes it to tiny Broxton, Oklahoma and that effectively puts a moratorium on all the thumb-twiddling.

I am not a fan of introspective metaphysical angst, especially when visualized in someone's psychic plane. I realize that Fraction felt that that segment was crucial to Stark's redemption, but, well, it was hard for me not to simply skim thru all that stuff. And when all is said and done, Fraction doesn't have anything revelatory about Tony's character. All the expected guilt trips surface. I guess it's a necessary plot point. And, really, this is my only beef with Fraction's run so far.

*SPOILERS alert for the coming paragraph*

Wait, I'm lying, I do have one more nitpick. There wasn't a doubt, was there, that Tony Stark would eventually get rebooted? But one twist that Fraction implements is that Tony's memories now only go back to before Civil War, and I smell a cop-out and a put one over. I hope that Fraction isn't suggesting that since Tony can't now remember his shady - and, let's face it, fascist - moves during Civil War, well, then, absolution cometh. That would really be wick wick wack. Okay, that's two beefs with Fraction's run so far. But those are it.

*SPOILERS end*

Everything else is groovy, really. After 24 issues Fraction and Larroca have achieved the unthinkable, which is to make Iron Man likable again. What's more, they've elevated his comic book into must-read status. With the world's foremost futurist stuck in his own mental telenovela, his supporting characters prove that they can stand on their own feet. I don't think anyone has written Pepper Potts as well as Fraction. One of the best moments in this arc features Dr. Strange in action as he readily demonstrates that he is the Master of both the Mystic - AND Martial Arts. It's too bad his good moment doesn't last too long. But, trust me, there are other good moments in "Stark: Disassembled." You should pick this one up.

this one isn't for the kids and that ain't due to graphic content. the slow pacing in vol 4 is a huge risk for what's been a very marketable series. it works great as long as it stays in reality. tony's last recording & pepper's debate are great pieces of writing that do great things for the characters. in the hands of a lesser creative team this should cause a revolt and possibly a series cancel. 4+ straight pages of a single talking and barely moving head is really dicey for this business, but works beautifully here and i give props to the team for pulling this amazing feat off. the time inside tony's psyche however is more cliched fluff than substance and goes on forever. for all the time they spend in his head i don't understand or care for tony's character any more or less as a result. i was actually a little excited to get know his parents some, but for all the time that they are in frame i only get the vaguest sense that they had a dually positive and negative impact in his life. what parents can't you say that about?

there are some great moments that will last in your memory for a while. it's great to see the avenger's trinity coming together for their prodigal brother. dr. strange is fantastic (once again, only in reality though). there are other goodies i'll let you discover.

get this if your a fan of the series. otherwise there are much better entry points into this great run by fraction & larroca.

This is a nice attempt to wipe Civil War from our minds, but ultimately it just feels hollow compared to the previous volumes of The Invincible Iron Man.

First off, Pepper Potts regresses into a whimpering, Tony Stark worshiping, completely cowed and uninteresting character. This is such a huge step backwards, and it's not helped that we're told through Tony Stark that we should be happy she is this way.

Maria Hill is here and has all of two interesting things to do through the several issues. Same with any of the characters; most disappear very early to fight in The Siege Marvel event. There's more development in a few pages between some doctor and hotel owner.

The Tony Stark worship isn't isolated to Pepper Potts. Captain America even has a line about how he's better than the lot of them. It sadly echoes the joke of DC comics, where no matter what super-duper powered wheover is there, it's Batman who needs to save the day.

Tony Stark himself has absolutely no character growth. Instead, it's just a retread of his legacy and the people who've died in his life. That was already explored in detail through the last few volumes; why is it being brought up again? Especially considering the outcome isn't a renewed sense of purpose, or a change of focus in what the Iron Man suit will be used for. It's just there and it's so cliched.

There is absolutely nothing here that needed to be stretched out into anything except a couple issues, not the four or so collected here. Get it, if you absolutely feel the need for a complete collection of the volumes, but the only truly relevant element comes from the last two or three pages.

This is poor value for money.

matt Fraction is doing amazing things with Iron Man and with the Marvel Universe. Great read, great art and a good place for people to jump into Iron Man. It resets the character and helps launch into the "Heroic Age" of marvel comics and highlights Iron Man's supporting cast well.

Though I've been into comics since the early 1990s, to be honest I truly wasn't immersed into the world of Iron Man until the feature film. Around that time "Invincible Iron Man" kicked off in the comics and taking the advice of my local comic shop owner, I used it as my launch point into the world of Iron Man.

I've been hooked ever since and this installment, 'Stark Disassembled' is no let down. The writing and the art of the series continues to hold its ground as the issues progress. Volume 4 is a terrific ride, continuing on right where it's predecessor left off (I won't ruin it for any of you, I'll just say...READ IT).

The trades are a great way to compile story arcs in their entirety and for those patient enough to wait for their release I high reccomend picking them up (plus it cuts down on the wear & tear on the original prints).

I got done reading Stark Disassembled and almost immediately had the next installment ordered. Highly reccoment picking this up.

"Invincible Iron Man Vol. 4: Stark Disassembled"
Written by Matt Fraction
Illustrated by Salvador Larroca
(Marvel Comics, 2010)
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FINALLY a Marvel book that offers some sense of closure and purpose to the endless series of crossover/tie-in/must-read/game-changing/over-hyped mega-events that have dominated the company's output for the last several years. And what a great book it was, too! A well-written, suspenseful, and -- most importantly -- meaningful story arc in which Tony Stark gets his mojo back and is also brought back into the fold of Marvel's good-guy superhero fraternity. I mostly just liked that this book was fun to read, and that it seemed to be moving us forward, and hopefully out of the morass that has subsumed so many great characters in favor of a convoluted, unsatisfying big-picture marketing events. Is Marvel coming back to the "real" world? Let's hope so! If their upcoming books are as good as this one, you can definitely Make Mine Marvel! (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

Great Book!! not as great as Vol3 but great story, as always Stark had a backup plan from the start. The book was a premier edition which is pretty sweet considering how its value could go up in a few years if i hadn't opened it. The edges were slighlty wrinkled despite the plastic and intense packaging. But great buy considering i saved about $10 compared to Borders.

If you know what this is, you should buy it, just a heads up that it doesn't contain the also very awesome Annual. What the heck, publisher description, why you gotta be like that.

This is a weird and long winding narrative that asks more questions that it reveals, and feels like a needless departure.

I am not a fan of this type of metaphorical abstract approach.

casual readers should skip it, or watch my video.-

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