Customer Reviews

Iron Man: Beneath the Armor (Iron Man (Del Rey))

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With the upcoming Iron Man film coming to theatres soon, Iron Man is a highly visible reminder of Marvels colorful characters that have made it to the big screen. Those who have viewed the trailer online, are anxiously awaiting the film.

In the meanwhile, exactly who is Iron Man after all these years? Inventor? Politician? Alcoholic? Government stooge? With a 40 plus year history for the Stan Lee/Larry Lieber/Don Heck creation, 216 pages is a `small' look at a massive history. After reading Andys' clear textual analysis of the various eras of Iron Man, my take on Iron Man is more precise. Some might argue that Tony Stark is lost in Iron Man, others would say that Iron Man is the indestructible part of Mr Stark. Like Batman, the lines between one face and the other can blur into a smooth palette. Different circumstances, different results, same resolve. That is basically Iron Man. Moralistic. Idealistic. Capitalistic. (Kind of like a rap isn't it?)

The various writers in his history have taken him from the prison his health and addictions put him in , into a position of authority. Just consider the Civil War saga...what part did Iron Man play in that? Andy has not forgotten the artists either. His discussion includes Don Heck, Bob Layton, Stuart Kaminski, Gene Colan, Dave Cockrum and a host of others. Who can forget "Demon With A Broken Bottle?"

Andy Mangels has done a wonderful job of taking readers through the complex history of Iron Man in a logical, passionate fashion. Coupled with an interesting variety of illustrations culled from comic books, toys, and animated specials, the presentation is a fascinating love affair with the Iron Man Mystique.

As a historian, I deeply appreciate the history and character histories he has included. This is not a fluffy grade 3 level book, but rather an intellectual discussion of our favorite Shell Head. Look for this at your local book store. Del Rey and Marvel will make sure you can find it EVERYWHERE!

Tim Lasiuta

www.marvel.com
www.delreybooks.com

With the release of the Iron Man movie this weekend, I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of Iron Man: Beneath the Armor. From Iron Man's early beginnings to his current incarnations, Andy Mangels gives a detailed chronicle of the stages of Iron Man throughout the years in comics, cartoon, and film. Colorful images from the original comics accompany this history of Iron Man in all his forms. Interesting tidbits from behind the scenes offer special insight into the creative minds from the writers and artists.

With special sections on character bios, from friends to foes, and an armor gallery, this is a wonderful addition to any Iron Man fan's collection. And it's a wonderful way of getting caught up on what's happened in Tony Stark's life for those of us who haven't followed the comics for long.

With the immensely successful release of the Iron Man movie a couple of weeks ago, you are certain to be able to walk into your local bookstore and find several re-printings and new volumes on this rather iconic character. Publisher Del Rey and Author Andy Mangels' contribution is Iron Man: Beneath the Armor a retrospective look at the comic book hero from his inception up to the recent release of his first live action film, starring Robert Downey Jr.

Thoroughly researched, Mangels' book takes us all the way back to Iron Man's first appearance in Tales of Suspense, and looks at creator Stan Lee's influences. From there the reader progresses through the birth of Iron Man's own comic, the constantly shifting roles that Tony Stark/Iron Man play in the Marvel Universe. Much of this story is told from interviews that the artists and writers had given over the years, and Iron Man's story comes to light through the eyes of his creators. Mangels then brings all of these interviews together to show the recurring theme of the Iron Man character, the concept of an ordinary man doing ordinary things. Page after page this comes through, and yet all the while we learn the strange and convoluted history of Iron Man.

As a supplement to the movie, Iron Man: Beneath the Armor is superb. As a work in its own right, it is extremely helpful in understanding the comic book industry by examining the permutations of the character of Iron Man. All Iron Man fans need to add it to their library, collectors should use it as a resource for identifying missing issues, artists will learn about the re-envisioning common to comic books, and writers will learn about how even the most established character can be taken in new directions. I highly recommend Iron Man: Beneath the Armor by Andy Mangels as a visual and intellectual feast.

I liked this book. It does get very Fanboy. Which can be a bit over the top on detail. Yet I liked it. The Iron Man encyclopedia is very good at the end. I actually didn't know much about Fin Fang Foom. That was my favourite bio. The book is very well sent out and the writer has done alot of research.

I did get a little bogged down in the book just purely on the detail. I was thinking about 110 pages in. When am I going to finish this. I will be keeping this book on my shelf though.

An unintentional treatise on the problem with comics' continuity obsession, this comprehensive story of Iron Man becomes headache-inducing when it shifts from objective history of the comics to an attempt to explain 45 years of oft-discarded continuity as a cohesive timeline. (And wow! `80s-`90s Marvel Comics were UGLY!)