Written by Kurt Busiek & Sean Chen
Art by Eric Cannon; Sean Parsons; Steve Oliff; & RS / Comicraft / DL
Cover Art by Sean Chen; “Caddod;” & “Licqhid!”
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Field of Honor,” this October 1998 issue for Iron Man’s third series was published by Marvel Comics. Near death in Paris, a battered Tony Stark receives Black Widow’s electrified version of CPR. Yet, he desperately needs her to retrieve his armor at the bottom of a nearby river. Tony realizes now that the Mandarin and the Spymaster were in cahoots setting up his near-assassination.
While a chastised Black Widow seeks help from the Avengers, Iron Man pursues a lead on the Mandarin (during a montage of their long-time feud) into Russia. Briefly interacting with Russia’s Winter Guard, a depleted Iron Man goes solo against Mandarin’s flying dragon-shaped battle station.
REVIEW:
Combining solid artwork with a cliffhanger storyline, Invincible Iron Man # 9 is a vintage Marvel adventure from co-writers Kurt Busiek and Sean Chen. Tony’s grittiness declining hospitalization in favor of playing Iron Man makes for a compelling read. The plot is further aided by guest star Black Widow, as well as effective assists from Jim Rhodes, Pepper Potts, and Happy Hogan. For Iron Man fans, this terrific issue merits a chance for re-discovery.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There is a single-page “Bullpen Bulletins” news-and-notes column, as well as a single-page “Iron Filings” letters-and-answers column. A two-page fold-out cover spells out the Iron Man series synopsis and offers single paragraphs re: “Pepper” Potts; “Happy” Hogan; Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff; and the Mandarin. The previous issue is also summarized re: Black Widow’s rescue of Tony Stark from a mercenary gang beating in Paris.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
