Ultimate Comics: Iron Man #3 Spoilers and Review

[Plawsky]

Solid issue! Can't wait for the last one. I hope Edmonson sticks around the UU for years to come.

If I have one gripe, it's that Tony and Rhodey are being protrayed as friends. Friends with a bit of tension, but friends nonetheless. From my understanding of the Ultimate Avengers series was that Rhodey was just a voice actor that was hired to voice the Rhodey character in the Spanish Ultimate Iron Man cartoon, and Tony screwed him out of the rights to his own character so he never even saw a cent from the profits. I always took it as in the UU James Rhodes never personally knew Tony Stark and actually kind of hated him.

I always got the feeling that Rhodey was close with Tony, possibly even helping him develop some of the IM tech, and just happened to do his own voice for the show. I'm not sure why Gregory would give a WM suit to some random voice actor. Or why they would name the TV character after the voice actor. Or why Gregory would invent War Machine and base it on armor from a cartoon.

There may well have been a falling out at some point, but I think that Rhodey (and War Machine) has been around for longer than we know.

[Balfro]

I always got the feeling that Rhodey was close with Tony, possibly even helping him develop some of the IM tech, and just happened to do his own voice for the show. I'm not sure why Gregory would give a WM suit to some random voice actor. Or why they would name the TV character after the voice actor. Or why Gregory would invent War Machine and base it on armor from a cartoon.

There may well have been a falling out at some point, but I think that Rhodey (and War Machine) has been around for longer than we know.

That is a good point, but as we know James Rhodes is actually a military pilot, and he apparently did Voice acting at some point. It's not out of the realm of possibility. It is also possible that the Rhodey character was named after his voice actor, TV shows do stuff like this all the time. Look at Supernatural; the Executive Producer is named Robert Singer and they threw in a character in the show named after him, Bobby Singer. We also know that Gregory Stark does whatever he can to outdo and overshadow his brother. Creating a real-life version of the War Machine armor depicted in the cartoon show and using the military pilot that Tony screwed out of royalties for his hard work to pilot it sounds EXACTLY like something Gregory would do. Also, keep in mind that Rhodey didn't build the armor, Gregory did.

I guess at this point continuity points to it being an old friendship gone somewhat sour. I just kind of liked that in the UU they had a completely different relationship than in 616 and movies, in that they DIDN'T have a relationship.

[Wolverine12]

I always got the feeling that Rhodey was close with Tony, possibly even helping him develop some of the IM tech, and just happened to do his own voice for the show. I'm not sure why Gregory would give a WM suit to some random voice actor. Or why they would name the TV character after the voice actor. Or why Gregory would invent War Machine and base it on armor from a cartoon.

There may well have been a falling out at some point, but I think that Rhodey (and War Machine) has been around for longer than we know.

They gave Mark Hamill a light sabre and the force and he is a voice actor. Does the Joker, so he is kinda crazy too :)

[Sparrowsabre7]

Solid issue! Can't wait for the last one. I hope Edmonson sticks around the UU for years to come.

If I have one gripe, it's that Tony and Rhodey are being protrayed as friends. Friends with a bit of tension, but friends nonetheless. From my understanding of the Ultimate Avengers series was that Rhodey was just a voice actor that was hired to voice the Rhodey character in the Spanish Ultimate Iron Man cartoon, and Tony screwed him out of the rights to his own character so he never even saw a cent from the profits. I always took it as in the UU James Rhodes never personally knew Tony Stark and actually kind of hated him.

No, I think that Millar left it pretty vague on that front, considering he has the same name as the Rhodey in the show I'm pretty sure it's reasonable to assume that they were friends but had a falling out, and this is going some way to explain that. That's how I interpret it anyway.

As for this issue...it was ok.

I'm calling it now though: The Mandarin Child is Tony's son with that girl who died mysteriously in the first issue who was kept secret from him for years and now wants to reclaim what it sees as theirs because Stark kind of screwed its mother out of business by not working with her.

[DoctorOak]

This mini makes me sad that we're only getting minis. I think it's time for the UU to grow up and accept more on-going books. This would have been an excellent beginning to a proper Iron Man on-going, and Edmondson has done a much greater job with the character in these three issues than Humphries has done in his entire run.

This series has been an excellent treat in amongst a lousy event and a very weak Ultimates and X-Men showing. More of this and less of that, please.

[Fizicks]

This mini makes me sad that we're only getting minis. I think it's time for the UU to grow up and accept more on-going books. This would have been an excellent beginning to a proper Iron Man on-going, and Edmondson has done a much greater job with the character in these three issues than Humphries has done in his entire run.

This series has been an excellent treat in amongst a lousy event and a very weak Ultimates and X-Men showing. More of this and less of that, please.

I agree completely that Edmondson has indeed done a much better job in his three issues than Humphries had since he came into the UU.

However, I wouldn't want too many ongoings as that would make it increasingly difficult to retain a closely-knit universe, which is one of the greatly appealing aspects of the UU. I'm gonna say four (five maximum) on-goings would be ideal. And I'd rather have a Fantastic Four ongoing than an Iron Man one (we're already getting Iron Man in the Ultimates).

So what I'm really saying is, have Edmondson take over the Ultimates instead.

(PS. And you're putting UXM in the same category as Ultimates? You out of your mind? I'm not even that huge of an X-men fan to begin with but UXM is currently my favourite UU title!)

[DoctorOak]

I agree completely that Edmondson has indeed done a much better job in his three issues than Humphries had since he came into the UU.

However, I wouldn't want too many ongoings as that would make it increasingly difficult to retain a closely-knit universe, which is one of the greatly appealing aspects of the UU. I'm gonna say four (five maximum) on-goings would be ideal. And I'd rather have a Fantastic Four ongoing than an Iron Man one (we're already getting Iron Man in the Ultimates).

So what I'm really saying is, have Edmondson take over the Ultimates instead.

I would definitely agree with Edmondson taking over the Ultimates. Or pretty much anyone, really. I would also prefer a new on-going of a non-Ultimates character, but I can't deny that this solo Stark story would just be an excellent springboard to a full run of stories. The fact he's got the strongest supporting cast of any of the other Ultimates helps that a lot.

(PS. And you're putting UXM in the same category as Ultimates? You out of your mind? I'm not even that huge of an X-men fan to begin with but UXM is currently my favourite UU title!)

I don't really understand why everyone else is so happy with the current UXM run. It doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. My thoughts on the latest issue are a pretty good summation of the reasons why:

To sum up this issue:

* All girls must be sexualised in every capacity at every moment. Also, everyone was given a free boobjob along with the patch of desert.

* That includes throwing in bi-sexual/lesbian relationships between Psylocke and Rogue, apparently. (The over-sexualisation of those panels was extremely distracting from the actual event taking place, too).

* Whatever character Kitty used to have, she now doesn't. She is an entirely different character with an entirely different face, body and mind. Maybe I wouldn't mind, but I thought Ultimate Kitty was a magnificent character and her relationships with the X-Men and Spider-Man cast were a massive part of the success of both those books. Especially in USM.

* Peter's been dead a few months, Kong's disappeared altogether and Kitty jumps straight into bed with Wolverine Jr just because he wanted it. There was absolutely no development of Kitty's feelings towards Jimmy - it was all about him. It's either just terrible writing or plain creepy. Not sure which.

* I don't get the Nomi stuff at all outside of the blatant fact Wood is turning her into Magneto V.2. There's been no good explanation for why she's turned up all nutty-butter, or why anyone is even giving her a moment of their time given that she's clearly just a daft little girl.

* Is Storm's character the next to disappear altogether? She certainly seems to have no knowledge whatsoever of the fact she and Kitty were both X-Men.

* While there was literally no action in this issue (again), the mutant seed stuff was at least a good move. As was bringing in Tony Stark for it.

Ultimately, having issue after issue full of dialogue can work really well if the characters are written really well - but this just isn't the case. Maybe they'd be ok characters if they were brand new and Wood was creating a whole new world... but he's not. It's as if he's never even read any of the previous books with these characters in them. The overt sexualisation in this issue may just be an art problem, but it made it feel quite sleazy. Ultimate X-Men was never one to shy from putting people in bed together (especially when it involved Wolverine), but all the girls running around with padded bikinis is just childish.

Hopefully, next issue, the X-Men actually remember they're mutant superheroes and use their powers to hit something instead of talk a whole lot.

The characters have become cardboard cutouts, the scenario is dull as hell and the relationships are just so forced that they all feel shallow. It's better than the Ultimates in a lot of places - but at least the Ultimates isn't short on action. Humphries may be more of a Michael Bay, but Wood seems more like he's trying to make the next Hunger Games or Twilight than an X-Men book.

Given that Bendis is being his usual slow self in getting USM into a steady pace (not helped by having to give time to the Divided We Fall rubbish), Edmondson's Ultimate Iron Man is easily the best Ultimate read since Hickman and Spencer were (entirely wrongly) given the boot. Editorial is choking the life out of the UU.

[Bookem Danno]

Ultimate Comics: Iron Man #3

This chapter was alright. I suspect that not knowing much of the UU history of Stark helped my grading of this. However, it still kinda reads merely like a 'What If: Iron Man Met Mandarin This Way Instead' - which isn't really scoring points for any unique twist to the plot pitch. But this might change somewhat in the finale when we see the true identity of 'the entity' called Mandarin - rushed reveal though it may be.

Not sure how I feel about the static hexagon visual effect of the boot jets and repulsor propulsion. Is this new? I can't make sense of it yet - is it like an anti-grav f/x. And when the movement lines are added - does it switch to engine thrust with artistic license keeping it the same hexagon? The nano-swarm entering his armor could have been presented better too.

I wouldn't want too many ongoings as that would make it increasingly difficult to retain a closely-knit universe, which is one of the greatly appealing aspects of the UU.

Agreed!

I always got the feeling that Rhodey was close with Tony, possibly even helping him develop some of the IM tech, and just happened to do his own voice for the show. I'm not sure why Gregory would give a WM suit to some random voice actor. Or why they would name the TV character after the voice actor. Or why Gregory would invent War Machine and base it on armor from a cartoon.

There may well have been a falling out at some point, but I think that Rhodey (and War Machine) has been around for longer than we know.

Yeah, this sounds confusing - as per the point above. Still, Rhodey was very entertaining this time with exciting plane tag and plane catch. Also, his character moment saying no to Tony was interesting enough in the context of the mini regardless of his confounding UU backstory.

[Robbie_Jee]

I agree with Doctor Oak, I think this is the best Ultimate book on the stands atm, and really should be the start of an ongoing series. I don't want this story to end next issue.

I always got the feeling that Rhodey was close with Tony, possibly even helping him develop some of the IM tech, and just happened to do his own voice for the show. I'm not sure why Gregory would give a WM suit to some random voice actor. Or why they would name the TV character after the voice actor. Or why Gregory would invent War Machine and base it on armor from a cartoon.

There may well have been a falling out at some point, but I think that Rhodey (and War Machine) has been around for longer than we know.

Yeah.. and then tried to kill him in Ultimate Avengers Versus New Ultimates...

[ebari]

I thought it was a good issue my questions is who the Mandarin Child ? is it Anthony ? other thing I was wondering are they going to use Tony's blood to take over the satellite defense system ? godamnit I cant wait till the next issue.

[Balfro]

I like how in the issue Tony mentioned that his DNA was needed, hinting that the villain will in fact be Tony's father, but then at the end the just take some of Tony's DNA :P

[Codah]

I thought it was a good issue my questions is who the Mandarin Child ? is it Anthony ? other thing I was wondering are they going to use Tony's blood to take over the satellite defense system ? godamnit I cant wait till the next issue.

I believe the dialogue was something to the effect of "We are the Mandarin, child"

[Sinx]

Edmonson needs to take over for Humphries. This miniseries has been consistently great.

[thwhtGuardian]

Probably the best issue produced in the ultimates line in some time, I loved this from start to finish.

Like others, I'm a little concerned with how everything is going to be tied up in a single issue but I'm willing to bet it does well.