About Heroes

Writers: Daniel & Charles Knauf
Artists: Roberto de la Torre & Johnathan Sibal

Like New Avengers, Iron Man falters this week as well. Last issue was an interesting look into how Tony Stark runs S.H.I.E.L.D. This issue delves away from that, and goes into the Mandarin storyline that was teased last issue. Tony plays detective with the Extremis inventor Maya Hansen into a terrorist group that foiled a S.H.I.E.L.D. mission with some bio-technology that Iron Man can't disable. The portion of the issue that deals with the Mandarin is good, but not the best part of the issue. I'm really interested in Tony leading S.H.I.E.L.D. and having his own red and gold strike force that is almost like their elite officers. If they could turn this book into Rainbow Six type book, great, but Iron Man is no detective. He has other people to do that for him now, he shouldn't be doing it himself unless absolutely necessary. That point is made in the book, though as we see how Tony is having difficulties with his new responsibilies. He's spending too much time investigating, and not leading. Put Tony into his position full-time and this book will improve a good amount. I have a detective book. Two, both are Batman. This is Iron Man. He's about kicking ass. Another thing I like about this book is that the Knaufs don't write Tony as a jerk like Millar and Bendis may do. He's a real person to them, making this my favorite portrayal of Iron Man so far. He's not too cocky or weak, but the right amount of both as a character who has been an Avenger, but also has too much responsibilty now.

Roberto de la Torre is great on this book. If Lenil Yu weren't on New Avengers, I'd say he could do that book as well. His style is a mix of Maleev on the Confession and the best of what Patrick Zircher had on the last arc. No complaints here, though most of the great art moments were found in the last issue, and not here. It's still good nontheless. C+