Primary Feature (Issues # 1-3) Written by Joe Casey, with Justin Theroux (as co-plotter).
Primary Feature Art (Issues # 1-3) by Barry Kitson; Ron Lim; Tom Palmer; Victor Olazaba; Stefano Gaudiano; Matthew Southworth; Matt Milla; & VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Cover Art (Issues # 1-3) by Adi Granov.
Iron Man 2: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. One-Shot Written by Joe Casey.
Artists: Tim Green II; Juan Doe; VC’s Joe Caramagna; Felix Ruiz; Ian Hannin; VC’s Clayton Cowles; Matt Camp; & Ian Hannin.
Cover Art by Salvador Larroca.
Collection Cover Art by Adi Granov.
SUMMARY:
Released in 2010 by Marvel Comics, this 152-page trade paperback compiles the three-issue Iron Man 2: Public Identity mini-series followed by the one-shot Iron Man 2: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – all from that same year.
Set after the first Iron Man film (2008), Public Identity presents a prelude to Iron Man 2. Tony Stark’s maverick international presence as Iron Man is making U.S. military leadership uneasy. Unable to corral Stark’s impulsive yet benevolent intentions, the military secretly recruits weapons designer Justin Hammer and U.S. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross to help devise immediate alternatives. Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, despite exasperation with his own friend, tries to keep Stark attuned to the military’s ongoing concerns.
Interspersed with flashbacks to Howard Stark’s own past as a high-tech weapons manufacturer, Tony’s troubled childhood growing up is conveyed. Tony’s present-day playboy antics are of concern to Pepper Potts. Overseas, Iron Man successfully a notorious minefield with his own futuristic take on a mine-attracting magnet.
After a Hammer-designed armored ship goes down with the unidentified U.S. pilot landing in enemy hands, an exhausted Iron Man returns to battle. Stark and Ross later angrily confront one another. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Nick Fury has been shadowing Stark before sending in a covert operative for closer surveillance.
The 24-page Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has Nick Fury, Agent Phil Coulson, and, finally, “Black Widow” Natasha Romanova, entering Stark’s orbit from different angles. In the eight-page “Who Made Who,” Fury has an undercover S.E.A.L. commando to observe Iron Man’s actions in the field. Yet, he may be unaware that Stark is conducting his own counter-intelligence. The eight-page “Just Off The Farm” has Agent Coulson recruiting a new S.H.I.E.L.D. operative named Hendricks via a trial under gunfire.
Lastly, “Proximity” (8 pages) sets up Black Widow’s undercover surveillance assignment at Stark Industries during Iron Man 2. Case in point: posing one of Stark’s legal notaries, Natasha Romanova devises a ruse to infiltrate his palatial beachside estate.
Note: This title is also available digitally.
REVIEW:
Deeming Iron Man 2: Public Identity a glorified movie ad would be accurate. Given its content, including a third of its page count as total padding, that should come as no surprise.
While its overall writing is fairly sharp, the primary feature’s artwork isn’t nearly as slick as the glossy paper it is printed on. Public Identity’s artwork, in that sense, is deliberately generic. Only Nick Fury resembles Samuel L. Jackson; to a lesser degree, this take on Justin Hammer passably resembles actor Sam Rockwell. One isn’t likely to recognize the other actors (i.e. Don Cheadle; Gwyneth Paltrow; William Hurt; and even Robert Downey Jr.) based upon their comic book counterparts. The story, overall, makes for an okay read, but the overindulgence playing up Iron Man 1 and 2 is a given.
The trio of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D tales prove fairly good, as are the likenesses of actors Jackson, Clark Gregg (with Coulson murkily seen), and Scarlett Johansson. Hence, casual fans will get a little more insight as to Iron Man 2’s plotting, as far as why some of its pivotal supporting players are joining the franchise. As for the Spotlight magazine, it’s fun to peruse once, but clearly the iconic Avenger’s die-hard fanbase is whom it would most appeal to.
Iron Man 2: Public Identity, overall, is by no means a must-read – except for the film’s ardent fans. At most, this book offers a welcome library find for nostalgic fans as to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s early days.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Adi Granov’s full-page Iron Man 2: Public Identity cover for each of the three issues precedes its story. The same applies to Salvador Larroca’s Agents of HIELD one-shot cover.
Also included is 2010’s 48-page Iron Man 2 Spotlight promo magazine. With movie promo images and a plethora of Marvel artwork, the magazine consists of:
- Full-page cover and then a table-of-contents;
- Jess Harrold’s interview with artist Adi Granov (7 pages);
- Four Granov covers (1 page) and his Extremis Armor sketch designs (2 page);
- Chris Arrant interviews co-writers Marc Guggenheim and Brannon Braga about the Iron Man vs. Whiplash feud (3 pages);
- Black Widow: # 1 With A Bullet” promo summarizing the character by Dugan Trodglen (4 pages);
- Harold interviews writer Matt Fraction (10 pages);
- John Rhett Thomas interviews writer/artist Bob Layton (8 pages);
- Arant interviews writer Warren Ellis (5 pages); and
- Trodglen reviews Marvel’s definitive Iron Man moments (5 pages).
- The last page is filler.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars
