The Following is a BREAKING NEWS Special Report. Iron Man Still Rules. Written by Christopher Cantwell, drawn by Angel Unzueta, colored by Frank D’Armata, and lettered by Joe Caramagna, Iron Man #8 finds Ol’ Shellhead replaced by Ol’ Cat Ears; focusing on co-lead Patsy Walker, her storied, trauma-filled history, and her once-again blossoming psionic powers. Powers that call to one of Marvel’s best cult fave characters, Guardian of the Galaxy, Moondragon. We go now live to the CXF Studios for more.
Hello and welcome to the ComicsXF Cable News Network, or the CXFCNN, I’m your host, Justin Partridge.
We come to you today/this afternoon/balmy evening with Breaking News. Iron Man #8, of the newest volume of Iron Man post the dismal Daniel Slott tenure, still rules.
While other pundits have called it “boring” and claimed it “doesn’t have enough explosions”, THIS Not-A-Critic feels comfortable telling those dorks to kick rocks and read it again as it does, in fact, Rule and Rule Hard. Focusing inward on the title’s best new addition this month, Patsy Walker, Iron Man #8 provides a soundly in character and deeply affecting journey to the center of the Hellcat.
Tony Stark is still missing and his Not-Avengers including the new arrival War Machine are still trying to shake off Korvac, locked in a deadly deep space dogfight. But as the fight rages, another tempest is growing in the mind of Patsy. Threatening to once again break her mind and consume her new teammates in a pisonic fire, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen.Thankfully, Patsy has some friends in high places as the Gargoyle (quickly becoming the odd heart of this non-team) and Moondragon come to her aid. The latter of which diving deep into her memories in order to usher her back to a place of comfort and sustainability.
What follows is a wryly written, tersely powerful, and visually resonant “walking tour” of Patsy’s comic book history, delving all the way into her days as a romance comic lead pre-superpowers. Though Cantwell’s slightly aloof style might turn off some of the more picky readers out there, to me, Iron Man #8 delivers us the best possible version of that. Calling to mind some of the more personal and character focused efforts of the still criminally underrated (and undervalued) Halt and Catch Fire.
By focusing on Patsy and largely Patsy alone (alongside some tremendous Moondragon moments, which we will discuss later), Cantwell finally provides the title the effecting lead it’s been craving. Sure, his take on Tony has been fun enough, but snark and self-sabotage alone does not a compelling lead make. Patsy as a foil has been wonderful, tempering some of Tony’s worst aspects while trying to keep his Not-Avengers on some kind of rails as he dealt with the constant Korvac attacks and his frankly ruined spinal cord. But now Patsy as A LEAD, unmoored from the cartoonish and frankly disposable Kate Leth characterization and supported by her storied history, slots so well into the fabric of this title. Finally providing Iron Man a legimatelly compelling emotional lead while Tony takes all the stupid and bomastic decisions for himself for the moment.
And then we have the Moondragon, a welcome face from Patsy’s past who brings an arcanely entertaining energy to the title, precisely when it needed it. For more, we go to Chief Space Wife Correspondent and one half of our current Guardians of the Galaxy coverage team, Allison Senecal. Allison?
Allison S.: Happy to see Moondragon firmly back in Marvel’s box of toys now that Ewing has decided to build her up and take her in new directions again. I’ve missed seeing older favorites like Heather (and Patsy!) in fun guest and supporting roles. Cantwell doesn’t hit on the Two Heather Merger situation which I’m a little surprised at, since I’d think Patsy would notice a difference, but otherwise this was a treat. I kinda imagine this as Heather’s off-page psychic training of Patsy (back when they were both sorta-Avengers) finally making it on-page. Remember when Heather just took off with Patsy and they went on a six-month Girls’ Trip? Neither does anyone else, it’s ok.
Thank you for that, Allison. Very informative and VERY sapphic.
So, as you can see, the facts are obvious. With this month’s focus on one of the volume’s best new elements and a grounded, yet expressive set of visuals, Iron Man #8 continues to shore up the title and it’s characters for interesting growth in the cold vacuum of space. Obviously, this book isn’t going to be for everyone, but I feel like Iron Man is still low key providing fun superheroes, keenly written scripts, and emotionally intelligent new takes on Marvel Icons that might get lost in the shuffle of bigger, or at least more profile books.
From where I’m sitting, Iron Man #8 is just another in a string of solidly compelling comics. Comics that genuinely treat these characters like real people with problems beyond the kind you can punch through. I am okay with it being a little “boring”, if it keeps it’s heart this prominently on it’s sleeve. And keep giving me some random space lesbians for my trouble.
This is Justin Partridge for the CFXCNN signing off and saying, keep it heavy, comic fans.
((PS: Much like the issue itself, I feel obligated to also say: If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal ideations or having harmful thoughts, please know you are NOT alone and there are resources available to help.
If a loved one or personal counselor is unavailable, please seek out a local helpline or contact the National Suicide Provention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or online at https://suicideproventionlifeline.org/.
As the great Mavis Staples once said, “Every tear on every face tastes the same. You are not alone.”
Be well and be kind. Even to yourselves.))
Justin Partridge has loved comics all his life. He hasn't quite gotten them to love him back just yet. But that hasn't stopped him from trying as he has been writing about them now for a little over a decade. With bylines at Newsarama, Shelfdust, PanelXPanel, and more, Justin has been doing the work and putting in the time! Comics have yet to return his calls. Usually he can be found on Twitter screaming about Doctor Who.
Allison Senecal buys books professionally and comics unprofessionally.
