Written by Scott Snyder.
Art by Manuel Garcia; Lorenzo Ruggerio; & Dave Sharpe.
Collection Cover Art by Mike Fyles.
SUMMARY:
Released in 2011 by Marvel Comics, this 112-page hardcover assembles the four-issue 2010 Iron Man Noir mini-series. Set in mid-1939, brash billionaire industrialist Tony Stark is his alternate reality’s Indiana Jones, who revels in risking his life.
Celebrated for his pulpy globe-trotting exploits, Stark even brings along his own personal scribe, Virgil Munsey, chronicling these ongoing adventures for the macho periodical, ‘Marvels: A Magazine of Men’s Adventure.’ Still, each issue opens with a journal-like message from Stark updating readers on his current whereabouts.
For his present quest, in addition to Munsey, Stark has brought along his best friend, James Rhodes, and fellow adventurer/Tony’s girlfriend-assistant, Dr. Gialetta Nefaria. Entering an ancient temple’s underground cavern deep in the British Honduras jungle, Stark intends to acquire a mystical jade mask for an unknown purpose. Betrayal and murder await him, as his expedition is ambushed by Nazis led by Dr. Heinrich Zemo and Commander Baron Strucker. Stark and Rhodes find themselves lucky to escape with their lives.
Once back in the U.S., it’s revealed that Stark has a mechanical heart that needs routine recharging. Also, in the works is an experimental suit of battle armor under the supervision of Stark’s chief engineer, Jarvis. Relying upon a male pseudonym, Pepper Potts is soon recruited as Virgil’s literary ‘Marvels’ replacement. Stark’s curiosity into his ex-girlfriend’s private papers reveals that Nefaria evidently deduced the possible location of Atlantis before her apparent death.
Pepper then joins Stark and Rhodes on their next excursion: to retrieve a mythical power source known as ‘orichalum’ from Atlantis. Accompanying is the Nemo-like Captain Namor, who supplies their sea voyage deep into waters off the Spanish coast. Subsequently discovering the remains of Atlantis in Stark’s futuristic submersible, his team succeeds in acquiring the ‘orichalum.’
Yet, the same Nazi horde as before again intercepts them and takes Pepper as their prisoner. Aware that only ‘orichalum’ would permanently resolve his need for a mechanical heart, a repentant Stark pushes Jarvis into taking drastic measures. It’s no longer just about Stark living out his wild adventure fantasies – not when Pepper’s fate is in jeopardy because of him.
Donning their experimental armored suits, Stark and Rhodes’s dual Iron Men launch a desperate strike upon the Nazis’ hidden island base to save Pepper and recover the ‘orichalum.’ Standing in their way is a dark Nazi secret linked years before to Stark’s own past. The subsequent battle may cost this impetuous Iron Man far more than just his mortal life.
Notes: This title is also available digitally and as a trade paperback.
REVIEW:
Keeping in mind writer Scott Snyder’s pulpy steampunk vibe, Iron Man Noir concocts a solid-enough read – no matter how derivative his Indiana Jones-style caper actually is. For instance, though, the mystery behind Stark’s mechanical heart isn’t revealed, the macho action plotting supplies sufficient twists to keep readers intrigued. More so, the art team crafts a likable visual homage reminiscent of vintage cliffhanger serials.
Iron Man Noir is by no means a must-read, but its uniqueness makes for a energetic library find.
Note: Though I routinely bemoan Marvel & DC’s blind eye towards parental advisory labels, Iron Man Noir presents an oddity. On its back cover, in small print, there is a parental advisory. Apart from a few ghoulish images mostly conveyed through inference (i.e. a Viking skull with blonde hair still attached), I’m baffled by what this book’s advisory is for. Iron Man Noir, by comparison, falls far short of the occasionally vile content that DC and Marvel peddle to potentially young readers.
Still, given its overall violence quotient, I’d recommend Iron Man Noir as appropriate for teens-and-up.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
In a full-page format, each Mike Fyles cover precedes its issue. Including concept artwork and sketches, Snyder and Garcia supply a thirteen-page walkthrough of their Iron Man Noir # 1’s script. It’s a nice bit of padding considering this book’s page count is definitely skimpy.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
Note: If one is interested in a similar pulp re-imagining, there’s a two-part Superman & Batman caper reprinted in Elseworlds: Justice League, Volume 1. Accompanying an alternate-reality World’s Finest duo on their Indiana Jones-style globetrotting proves the highlight of this mostly disappointing Elseworlds compilation.
