Comic book reviews for The Invincible Iron Man #501, The Invincible Iron Man #502, The Invincible Iron Man #503, and How I Met Your Mother by Matt Fraction
Average rating: 3.25/5
The Invincible Iron Man #501 by Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca
Another plot in the way of Tony completing Stark Expo? Aren’t we just supposed to have a big battle at the Expo itself? Also, I don’t care how B, C, or D the villain is, don’t you always at least tell the Avengers that you’re fighting one, Tony?
I feel like this tale would be more interesting if Tony had any reason to be sorry. He still feels like Doc Ock is the same loser that he mocked at the conference all those years ago. And again, not really a big reveal that Tony’s been an arrogant jerk all his life. I don’t really know what Fraction is trying to say by telling stories about Tony’s jerkitude coming back to bite him again and again with different villains when Tony never feels any sympathy for those villains.
Especially since Doc Ock is completely unsympathetic in any manner.
I do find the whole proposal to rebuild Asgard with Tony’s energy solution very interesting. I feel bad for Tim; but at least Pepper remembers people and she’ll probably save his butt. I loved the layout on the last page with Pepper knocking on the door and Larroca drawing a kind of blueprint for the hotel room. Every time I’m getting a little “meh” with his art, he does something brilliant. Maybe he should work on a mystery comic.
The Invincible Iron Man #502 by Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca
Anytime there’s a story where Pepper Potts is awesome, my enjoyment of this title becomes a lot more. There should just really be a Pepper Potts title all the time: The Invincible Pepper Potts, starring Pepper Potts and some dude no one’s heard of as her love interest/manservant.
Okay, I’m so glad that Tony finally outsmarted Doc Ock. I knew it was just a matter of time, but a snoozer of a plot.
How much did I love Pepper basically kicking down the door? She is so the boss. And also could’ve completely taken out Sandman.
So are Tim and Pimacher boyfriends? Pimacher does rock the ’70s gay porn stash. If so, I wholeheartedly support this turn of events.
The Invincible Iron Man #503 by Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca
First, what the hell is going on with this cover? I get the tie-in to the story. But what is Tony Stark wearing, a man-kini or a thong? Or a loincloth? I didn’t really notice the oddness of the transition from Tony’s chest and stomach to his hip and groin until looking at the cover online without all the UPC codes and Marvel logos all over it. I don’t understand.
On to the issue itself…
So yes, I feel back into this title. Back with the Pepper love.
You know what I loved? I loved that Pepper messed up. I love that she went back to take care of Electro and Sandman, and she fucked up. Pepper put on such a light-show that they escaped. She felt bad about it; and she’ll do better next time.
Tim and Pimacher are just adorable. Especially as they try to help Tony pitch to the Asgards. Which yeah, I totally understand why Tim wasn’t happy. But you know, Tony is buddies with Thor, and he is the boss at the end of the day. I also really loved the moment where Tony considered Doc Ock’s words about a traitor and thought Pimacher might be one for a second, and then decided otherwise.
While usually I don’t have a humiliation squick, the scene where Tony calls Doc Ock “master” pushed me slightly toward the icky factor. Yeah, Tony probably needs to be knocked down a level or two, but Doc Ock isn’t the one to do so. In fact, if anything, Tony walks away from the encounter like it meant nothing to him.
I’m not thrilled with this being a Fear Itself tie-in as I haven’t been reading it.
How I Met Your Mother by Matt Fraction
Art: Howard Chaykin
While this is a totally believable how Howard and Maria Stark met story, I really hate Chaykin’s art. Like cannot stand it at all. Especially in a story that supposed to be a quick, sexy tale about how some rich lovers meet for the first time and the spot of trouble they get into.
That said, I also didn’t follow the part of why Maria was hanging out with Obadiah Stane anyway or why Howard would partner up with him. (If this comic is supposed to an Iron Man movie tie-in.)
Check out how awesome Pepper is, buy Invincible Iron Man Vol. 8: The Unfixable by Matt Fraction