Invincible Iron May by Matt Fraction / What is Your Verdict?

[Scavenger]

I'm posting this for a friend who's too shy to post to a big forum like here:

Matt Fraction's Invincible Iron Man is supposed to be read as a serial story. One issue continues to the next, and the next, and the next, etc. Why is it then that, from what I can tell, the only way to enjoy his stories is to forget what you already read by him?

Example One: During "The Five Nightmares" arc, one of Tony's nightmares is that his Iron Man technology will fall into the hands of people other than him. This makes a certain sense, given his history. However, when trying to track down Ezekial in later chapters, his plan to find Stane is by putting authentic Iron Man technology on the market. His plan is not to lure in buyers or use a decoy, he puts actual armor tech up for sale.

Example Two: After Pepper Potts is injured, she comes to Tony and tells him she would rather be an invalid that to have her life spared by his technology which has blood on it(1). Once Tony assures her it's someone else's technology, she immediately relaxes and enjoys being able to float. Several issues later, Pepper Potts has no qualms at all about donning a version of the Iron Man armor which, by virtue of everything we learned in "The Five Nightmares" arc, is undoubtedly made with the same blood-soaked technology as the Arc Reator and other armors.

Example Three: We learn that, thanks to the Skrull Virus, Tony Stark no longer has access to his Extremis powers which help him fly his Extremis armor. However, in the very next issue, we learn that thanks to Extremis, Tony's brain can be plugged into a computer and erased bits by bits. All speculation is pointing to a similar computer-like metaphor being used to reload his intelligence at the end of the "Most Wanted" arc.

Example Four: Tony Stark can no longer fly his modern armors due to memory loss, so he's resorting to using older and older armors, which require modified interfaces. However, specifically because Pepper Potts has no real experience flying the Rescue armor, it comes pre-loaded with a JARVIS to help her out.

Four glaring contradictions: Tony wants no one to have his armor, so it puts it on the black market; Pepper doesn't like the idea of StarkTech pacemaker in her because it was created by weapon's research, but she gladly dons a StarkTech weapon(2); Tony lost his abilities to mentally interface with computers, so he has to mentally interface with computers; and finally, because Tony can't fly modern armors with built-in automatic pilots, has to resort to older armors which require him to build simplified controls.

For the time being, let's ignore characterization. Right now, I just want to know how people currently reading IIM able to reconcile these kinds of glaring contradictions that seem to be major plot elements. If the stories were one-offs, ala Marvel Adventures Iron Man, I'd be more forgiving, because each story would be self contained. From what I can tell, Fraction's stories build on previous stories by design, but from what I can see of his designs, he's got square pegs seamlessly plugging into round holes.

What kind of reading system am I supposed to use to enjoy this kind of linear progressing unreality?

---

1. I'm ignoring the fact that Pepper Potts, of all people, telling Tony Stark she's rather be an invalid than to be saved by Iron Man's technology is probably somewhere along the lines of Lois Lane suddenly cringing at the idea of kissing a damn, dirty alien like Superman.

2. A defensive-only armor is more of a weapon than any pacemaker.

[Shellhead]

I started losing interest after about issue #7, in part due to the butterface artwork. I assumed that the character reversals represented lies or unresolved internal conflicts. Then I read #12, which featured an absurd portrayal of Namor, one of the easiest Marvel characters for any writer to get right. I realized that Fraction didn't care, so I didn't care. I don't buy Iron Man anymore, or for that matter any Marvel comics, though that isn't specifically Fraction's fault.

[LungerTony]

Fraction's been sucking lately. Fraction can write quality stories, but lately - not so much. I didn't recall those contradictions on my own, reading it monthly and all...but I recall them now that you mentioned them, and it is pretty bad.

The previous major arch by the Knaufs was far superior to Fraction's run so far.

I love IM, so I am willing to stick it out, but I already dropped UXM because of him.

[Sighphi]

Yeah this book has tremendous goofiness going on.
One big ones that had me laughing was that one of the reasons Osborn got where he is at now is because he said his systems are kick butt and nothing like what happened with Starktech in SI will happen to Osborn tech. Then in the first or second issue of IIM after SI Stark hacks into HAMMER systems and screws them up.

[LungerTony]

It's really disappointing because coming hot off SI, one of the characters that was one of the most impacted, and had a unique opportunity for really good, and special stories was Stark.
And it's been kind of blah...

The best part about it is Stark made out of Maria Hill. I liked that.
But then he did the same with Potts. I didn't like him getting anything remotely romantic with Potts. Flirtatious, yeah, but not sleeping with her. Doesn't seem right - they just never had that kind of relationship, and especially with Hogan.

[XPac]

I think the books is okay.

It doesn't exactly blow me away... and it's not as well written as Director of SHIELD. But I wouldn't exactly say it sucks either.

It's sort of on the light side, which I think doesn't always capture the right vibe post CW and SI. It almost has a cartoon vibe at times... which isn't necessary a bad thing.

But the truth is that I don't think I'm much a fan of Fraction as a writer in general. I think the Order was the only thing the guy's written (at least off the top of my head) which really impressed me.

Hopefully he brought his A game for Utopia.

[Mark_S]

Possibly Fraction just has a lousy memory.

Mark_S

[Syrant]

1. Iron Man's technology was already on the black market. That's how Ezekiel was able to get as far as he did. Throwing a traceable part out there as bait wasn't going to hurt him that bad.

2. The technology that Pepper thought she had was being used at that very moment to make living bombs out of people. I think it's normal for her to be a little frightened at the thought of having that same thing in her. She appreciated being saved by his technology, she just wanted it out after it finished it's job.

3. I don't think Tony is still using Extremis. He said that before the Skrulls planted the virus, Extremis changed his brain into a hard drive. Even though they were able to mess with his technology, they couldn't get his brain. He's using "repulsor powered terminals" to access that hard drive.

4. I'm sure Tony would love to have armor preloaded with JARVIS. But at this point, he can't even remember how to use a screwdriver. Although, I don't see why he didn't foresee it earlier...he seemed to have his plans laid out.

[marvell2100]

I like Fraction's IM so far. The World's Most Wanted arc is good and his handling of Tony and the other cast members has been top notch imo. This is much better than his UXM. I think he works best just handling a single hero and supporting cast rather than a multitude of heroes.

[SquidSquod]

I think they're fine. Fraction's run is end-loaded which means he will save the surprise at the end like in the last arc where Tony will commit self destruction of his company to prevent bigger danger and he let loose his dozens armor as a show of force against a supposedly smarter opponent (which in reality Stark is still smarter). So I believe there's going to be surprise at the end, he thought about that far ahead. While for the detals between the start and the end, Fraction ain't very good or at best so-so on this.

[mikekerr3]

Originally Posted by Shellhead

I started losing interest after about issue #7, in part due to the butterface artwork. I assumed that the character reversals represented lies or unresolved internal conflicts. Then I read #12, which featured an absurd portrayal of Namor, one of the easiest Marvel characters for any writer to get right. I realized that Fraction didn't care, so I didn't care. I don't buy Iron Man anymore, or for that matter any Marvel comics, though that isn't specifically Fraction's fault.

I figured out he didn't give a damn with IM#7. What took you so long

[Shellhead]

Originally Posted by mikekerr3

I figured out he didn't give a damn with IM#7. What took you so long

I really enjoyed his work on Immortal Iron Fist, so I kept giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[TOAA]

I figured out he didn't give a damn with IM#7. What took you so long

You guys are slow, i figured that out when he gave interview even before #1 was released

[asdlkgh]

Jeez. IIM hate all around. I think this book is great, the debut arc and the Spider-Man issue were fantastic. This current arc is a little too decompressed, its still keeping me interested.

Those contradictions the OP stated are pretty weak and if you reread the story and give it some thought I think you'll understand the reasoning.

Example One: During "The Five Nightmares" arc, one of Tony's nightmares is that his Iron Man technology will fall into the hands of people other than him. This makes a certain sense, given his history. However, when trying to track down Ezekial in later chapters, his plan to find Stane is by putting authentic Iron Man technology on the market. His plan is not to lure in buyers or use a decoy, he puts actual armor tech up for sale.

I'm not sure if we read the same thing here. He put out that armor specifically so he could track down Stane, as he is highly mobile and hard to track. So yeah, his plan was the lure him in. It makes perfect sense to me. Not only that, but in the epilogue issue (with Spider-man) he goes out and tracks down the remaining stuff on the black market.

Example Two: After Pepper Potts is injured, she comes to Tony and tells him she would rather be an invalid that to have her life spared by his technology which has blood on it(1). Once Tony assures her it's someone else's technology, she immediately relaxes and enjoys being able to float. Several issues later, Pepper Potts has no qualms at all about donning a version of the Iron Man armor which, by virtue of everything we learned in "The Five Nightmares" arc, is undoubtedly made with the same blood-soaked technology as the Arc Reator and other armors.

Well first of all, she was about to be captured by Osborn and uses the suit to save Stark Industries, her freedom, and possibly her life. She was backed into a corner and had to use it or else. Outside of that, the Rescue armor has absolutely no weapons on it.

Example Three: We learn that, thanks to the Skrull Virus, Tony Stark no longer has access to his Extremis powers which help him fly his Extremis armor. However, in the very next issue, we learn that thanks to Extremis, Tony's brain can be plugged into a computer and erased bits by bits. All speculation is pointing to a similar computer-like metaphor being used to reload his intelligence at the end of the "Most Wanted" arc.

I'm going to have to read this issue again, but this is how I see it:

Extremis allows his to mind to act like a computer. He uploaded things onto his brain-hard-drive but since his techno-powers failed he can no longer access the files. They are still there, he just can't access them.

Think of it like this: You downloaded a document but then your operating system somehow gets deleted off your computer. The document still exists on your computer, but you can't access it because theres no operating system on it. Thats how it is right now, with the SHRA files being like the document, and Extremis being the OS.

The way I see it, if he still had the powers he could simply delete the files much the same way you delete it on your computer -- just hit the delete button and throw it in the trash bin. Since his powers are gone, he can't do that and must hook himself up to computers to delete the data. Since his brain doesn't work as a computer anymore, trying to simply delete files becomes much harder and it ends up having massive side-effects like brain damage.

Example Four: Tony Stark can no longer fly his modern armors due to memory loss, so he's resorting to using older and older armors, which require modified interfaces. However, specifically because Pepper Potts has no real experience flying the Rescue armor, it comes pre-loaded with a JARVIS to help her out

I don't even see how this is a contradiction. I don't even understand the point you are trying to make. He created the Rescue suit with JARVIS as a sort of tutorial service because Pepper has no idea how to use armor. Tony would never need that because not only is he a master of the Iron Man armor, Extremis made the armor a part of him just as much as his arms or legs were a part of him. He doesn't have those powers anymore so yeah a JARVIS system would be pretty useful, but he'd have absolutely no idea how to install such a thing in an armor now. Besides, the older armors are probably too dated to even have such a function.

But then he did the same with Potts. I didn't like him getting anything remotely romantic with Potts. Flirtatious, yeah, but not sleeping with her. Doesn't seem right - they just never had that kind of relationship, and especially with Hogan.

Theres always been some sexual tension and supressed feelings between them, so when Tony is you know.. DYING, I think thats a pretty big motivator to get intimate. You know the whole "now or never" aspect of it.

[TOAA]

Well first of all, she was about to be captured by Osborn and uses the suit to save Stark Industries, her freedom, and possibly her life. She was backed into a corner and had to use it or else. Outside of that, the Rescue armor has absolutely no weapons on it.

I think he might be reffering to first arc where she gets all "omg what have you done, remove it from me now!", after few pages, "OMG i can fly, you are so awesome Tony!"

Imo that was BS and final nail to me dropping IIM.