Broken Frontier

Even though some might consider it sacrilege to read a comic solely based upon seeing the main character in two films, author Fred Van Lente deserves the praise that few in the profession can claim.  He's taken a successful, marketable comics-turned-action film hero and produced a comic that is not only accessible to new readers, but one that is fun and enjoyable to read.  This is the book Marvel needs to promote alongside the DVD releases if it wants film goers to give comic books a first or even second glance.

This is by far the best issue of the new series in terms of art and story.  Unlike the previous two issues, artist Steve Kurth's work really brings the story to life.  For the first time, readers can connect not only with the superheroics of Iron Man, but also with the human characters in ways that were not possible in prior stories.  Although Van Lente has referenced Tony Stark's childhood before, his focus on the young Stark in the beginning fits nicely with how the rest of the story unfolds.  Furthermore, the theme of superheroes involved in international political conflicts is much stronger here and Van Lente does an excellent job of making it far more complex and detailed.

In issue #2, audiences were introduced to a Muslim woman who is giving Stark shelter within Trasnia to launch his assault on the Zmaj Iron Men who have been utilizing Stark's technology in a brutal ethnic cleansing.  Angered over Stark's refusal to kill the Zmaj forces, Nina Demir reaches out to neighboring Latveria and its leader Doctor Doom for assistance.  Dispatching his emissary the Dreadknight, Doom is able to not only obtain valuable Stark property and technological secrets, but also to learn that Stark himself is piloting the Iron Man in Trasnia.

Readers also witnessed Tony's capture by the Zmaj in the last installment and now, in issue #3, Van Lente incorporates story elements from the first Iron Man film into his tale as Tony discovers that someone within Stark Industries may be using his own genetic code to breach company security and sell weapons to the Zmaj.  The introduction of Dragana adds another dimension to the story as well, not only because of her ethnic ties to the plot but also her skills with technology.  Along with the reappearance of Doctor Doom, Van Lente has established a solid foundation here to develop these plot threads in subsequent issues.

The remainder of the story is an action-driven ride as Stark escapes from prison via a modified Iron Man suit, combats the Dreadknight, and escalates the international conflict.  Yet, the image of Henry Gyrich walking in on Pepper Potts at the end should elicit genuine laughter from readers and reflects on Van Lente's strengths as a writer.  Iron Man Legacy is a pleasure to sit back with and enjoy, and in a medium where decades of continuity obsession usually prohibits new readers or makes current comics too obscure, Van Lente's latest work is a much needed relief.