COMICS IN THE CAN- Episode XXXVI (Iron Man #23)

COMICS IN THE CAN
I used to have time to read my comics in a coffee shop. Now I have to read them in the bathroom. Then I write reviews of them. I wash my hands in between.

IRON MAN #23

I'm really starting to get annoyed by Marvel and all these false Number 1 issues. They know that number one issues tend to sell better than other random numbered issues so lately they've been plastering giant #1s on the covers of issues that are simply beginning new storylines. And while I can see some logic in it for providing a jumping on point for new readers (at least that's the party line), it just feels like a cash grab. And if you're going to do it, give us a great recap of what we need to know. Even just their standard page. This issue was sorely lacking in that. I mean, I know about the Mandarin's rings and why the journalist has no hands, but the average joe picking up this book for a #1 doesn't. Maybe if they are bandwagon jumping just for a #1 they don't deserve to know what's going on. I don't know. This is turning philosophical and I'm just here to review an Iron Man comic.

So the Mandarin's rings are searching for new wearers and we learned last issue that one of the 'new mandarins' is trying to collect all the rings for himself by destroying the other wearers. We also learned that person was Malekith, king of the dark elves (lead villain in the most recent Thor movie, for those who care). Iron Man is in the middle of battling the most recent ring bearer, the disgraced composer of a Broadway musical about him wielding the lightning ring when Malekith reveals himself and takes the composer's hand, including his ring. Tony then enlists the aid of his 'specialist', Shevaun Haldane aka Dark Angel.

Not to be confused with the grossly under appreciated Jessica Alba series of the same name, this Dark Angel is apparently a character from Marvel UK who was given power by the Angel of Death and used it to fight techno-mystics. I don't know. The Brits are weird. And somehow she's now the IT girl for Tony Stark's version of Arkham Asylum (Starkham?).

Tony gets her to build him a new stealth armor and portal so he can go straight to Svartalfheim and take on Malekith and, of course, is materialized right in the middle of Malekith's throne room....

Nothing terribly earth shattering or status quo upending happened in this issue. And that's ok sometimes. We got a new supporting character, some sly snarking at the real world with the troubled Iron Man Musical, plus it's always fun when heroes face off against other heroes' villains.  I especially liked Tony's reasoning for not involving Thor. The Nine Realms are fantastic and magical, but they have their dangerous political landscapes as well.

Plus, Dark Angel is a busty redhead in a tight t-shirt. How can you go wrong with that?