IRON MAN Vol. 4. Issue 1: (Jan. 2005)  "Extremis, part 1."  

Cover art: Adi Granov

Script: Warren Ellis

Art: Adi Granov

Iron Man starts anew -- again -- this time as a computer-generated former (still?) arms dealer who received his heart injury in the first Gulf War! The issue begins with some shady characters entering an abandoned warehouse. One of the trio is then injected in the back of the head with something -- something which causes him agony and to throw up some funky black liquid. A few pages later, we see that a Dr. Aldrich Killian is responsible for this "Extremis" ... drug(?) and loosing it into the general public. He writes a final "goodbye" and then puts a bullet into his eye.

Cut to: Stark International (not Enterprises). Reminiscent of vintage 1970s IM comics, there are myriad peace protestors outside with signs saying "Guns don't kill people -- Stark does," and "Stark Arms New World Order." Tony has agreed to an interview with John Pillinger (who had to modeled on perpetual CNBC "Geraldo" show guest [lawyer] Gerry Spence), an obvious liberal filmmaker who hounds Stark about his arms dealing. It's here we see the new Iron Man "origin" in flashback, which is essentially unchanged from the vintage genesis except for the time frame. Pillinger pounds Stark with tough questions over several pages, making one wonder if Ellis is yet just another in a long line of modern Marvel writers with a left-wing agenda. That is, until the final panels of the Stark-Pillinger exchange where Tony bluntly turns the tables on his accuser/interviewer: "Have you changed anything?" he asks of Pillinger. "Intellectuals, critics and activists follow your films closely, but culturally you're almost invisible, Mr. Pillinger. Have you changed anything?" Pillinger calmly responds, "I don't know."  Extremely well-done, Mr. E.

 Tony afterwards heads to his "garage" where we finally see the new Iron Man suit. It's not really changed much since the last volume 3 issues. While in flight Stark receives a call from Dr. Maya Hansen, an old acquaintance of his and who now works for the same company as the [now-deceased] Dr. Killian. Maya cryptically informs Tony about the Extremis debacle, and Tony agrees to meet her for further discussion. Later, we witness two of the three shady characters from issue's beginning "checking in" in the final of their group who was injected with Extremis. There are several dents in the steel door. We see the Extremis-dude in a bad way, but saying "I'm alive." (We previously had seen him in a "cocoon-like" state several pages before, by the way.)

Score one for the new creative team. The script is well-paced, interesting, and avoids clichés. Granov's GGI art is splendid, reminding true IM fans of the classic CRASH graphic novel from the late 80s, but of course with greatly updated art tech. Stark's "inner suit" (under the armor) also tips its hat to CRASH. Granov, besides patterning John Pillinger after Gerry Spence, had to have used Tom Cruise as the model for Tony Stark. The image of Tony in the 1991 Gulf War IS Cruise, for goodness sake! One bit of a downer are the rather "plain" interior helmet graphics, but after a second (and third) look-through, these just add to the realism of the hero. Consider me hooked.

Hube's Recommendation:                             4 repulsors!


Fan Reaction:  I thought the artwork was excellent. The protester scene isn't really dated because of the current Iraq War.  When I saw the new origin scene I became concerned that Marvel will delete Wong Chu and Professor Yinsen from current Iron Man history. -- Fast Mike 


Fan Reaction 2:  Dude, THE WHOLE ISSUE WAS A CLICHÉ! It's BEEN DONE! Sheesh. The "Trendy New Writer Curse" strikes again. -- Mike Kalibabky


Fan Reaction 3: First off, I would like to say that your index is by far the best index on the web today. Your hard work is greatly appreciated and enjoyed.  I have been a devoted Iron Man reader since Vol 1 # 69, never missing an issue. Been through the ups (the Mantlo years,armor wars,Len Kamienski era, Busiek era) and downs (the Crossing,teen Tony and Hogan Potts). While there
is no doubt about it that Vol 4 #1 has breathtaking artwork and, what appeares to be, the start of a very good story plot, as a long time reader (31 years), a little sad. Yes, when they did the Heroes Reborn I accepted the fact that Iron Man was created from scratch in a pocket universe, and that was fine. But to re-write Iron Mans history (as the other poster correctly stated "deleted Wong Chu,Prof Yinsen) is uncalled for. If they wanted to "update" Iron Man's origins, why not do this in the upcoming Ultimate Iron Man series? I'm just very dissapointed that they basically destroyed any continuity that existed on this title and am seriously
considering ending my 31 year run on this book. -- adm712@msn.com


Fan Reaction 4: I have to disagree with you.  "John Pillinger" is a barely-disguised clone of a radical journalist from my home nation, John Pilger. Here's a Wikipedia link including a photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pilger. Love your work! -- Chaingun