Invincible Iron Man #3 (Review & SPOILERS)

[Prof. Warren]

Riri Williams ascension to becoming the new Iron Person in the MU continues here, courtesy of Bendis, Caselli, and co.

***SPOILERS***

The issue begins with Stark Industries CEO Lynch angrily storming into the lobby of Stark Headquarters. MJ and Friday are both there to greet him as he demands to know who's running the company. With Stark indisposed or incapacitated, Lynch believes that the board is authorized to take over and says that there's no way that a hologram and a glorified assistant are going to continue to run Stark Industries.

Friday and MJ break the news to Lynch that Tony made changes in his living will prior to being incapacitated. SI is now in the hands of Tony's mother. When Lynch says that Stark's mother died years ago, Friday informs him that Tony recently found his biological mother - Amanda Armstrong - and that's who's running the company now.

An incredulous Lynch confronts Amanda who puts the dumbfounded exec (who, as a fan, remembers Amanda from her music career days) in his place politely and quickly and when he exits, Amanda, MJ and Friday discuss the fact that while Amanda will be technically be the head of SI that behind closed doors the job of actually running the company will be Friday's.

Then the question comes up of who will fill the shoes of being an Iron Man or Iron Person for the world. MJ and Friday tell Amanda that Tony has already put that in motion, telling Friday to give his successor all she needs to succeed. Friday then tells Amanda that Tony's already sent this person his favorite thing...himself.

When then see A.I. Tony coaching Riri in Chicago, working on armor and debating what her new code name should be. They continue their conversation as Riri flies around, assisting in various battles across the country.

Finally, Riri ends up on a rooftop where she vents her anguish to Tony about the loss of her best friend and step dad. As she talks, Tony blurts out "Iron heart" as a possible code name, which Riri immediately has to stop and consider. As she does, Pepper Potts lands in her Rescue armor to introduce herself to Riri and see what's up with this new armored superhero.

While they talk, their respective armors start to dismantle from their bodies. Jumping down to fight them are Tomoe and her squad of ninjas.

To Be Continued!!


***END SPOILERS***


It's been said many times that either you like Bendis or you don't. I definitely do, even if I might find him occasionally trying and/or disappointing. But when he's on his game, he's great and I feel like he's 100% on his game with this book. Three issues into this new volume and I absolutely love Riri. And I'm really loving A.I. Tony. So much so that I'd be ok if he stayed in this form for awhile (Pepper has one of the best lines of the issue when she tells an exasperated Riri that "Tony thinks creating an A.I. that is exactly like him with no mute button is a gift.").

Speaking of A.I. Tony, one of his early suggestions to Riri for a code name is the hilarious "FE-male", incorporating the chemical symbol for iron.

Watching Tony and Riri interact is a joy and Bendis clearly delights in their relationship. And Caselli is killing it on art with all the grace and expressiveness that you'd expect.

I know some fans feel like Riri was shoehorned into this book and that there was a bit of bait and switch involved and all that but all I care about is what's in the book itself and what's in the book is freaking good. In an earlier age, this storyline would've just played out in the main series with no reboot. It would've been issues #478 to whatever, you know? But we don't live in those times. Now it's necessary, from a business and monetary perspective to always get new eyes on a book and a new volume is a reliable way to do that. But if you look at this as just a continuation of the previous volume, it doesn't feel like such a jarring shift and it doesn't feel like Tony has become yesterday's news. He's front and center in this book, sharing panel space with Riri the whole way through. Yes, it's A.I. Tony but in some ways it feels like A.I. Tony is more "Tony" than the real thing. Despite not being there in physical form, it certainly doesn't feel like he's "gone" anyplace.

So, big thumbs up on this issue. Best of the new volume so far.

[millernumber1]

I really liked Pepper, Mary Jane, and Friday in this issue. The art was solid, and Tony was funny.

[Michael Watkins]

did she fight a supervillain?

[Prof. Warren]

did she fight a supervillain?

She takes on a few foes (including the Rhino) in a montage scene of sorts as she talks to Tony and dives into several battles.

[Lonewolf36]

did she fight a supervillain?

Villain and giant monster.

[InformationGeek]

It was better than the last two issues, that's for sure. Bendis' dialogue quirks where everyone talks the same way felt obvious like usual, though the main character has more personality and background already than Miles Morales so there's that. Will continue to keep looking at, but the real test will come after the first story arc.

[Michael Watkins]

She takes on a few foes (including the Rhino) in a montage scene of sorts as she talks to Tony and dives into several battles.

thanks. I sort of remember seeing the Rhino in the preview.

[Spidey616]

Glad to see Tony's biological mom still has a role to play.

[Bossace]

Anyone else want to see the Tony A.I. Interact with Friday?

[Tycon]

I hope Amanda Armstrong gets the same role that Aunt May had to Miles.

[Agronac919]

Whatever happened to Arno Stark?

[jackolover]

Riri Williams ascension to becoming the new Iron Person in the MU continues here, courtesy of Bendis, Caselli, and co.

***SPOILERS***

The issue begins with Stark Industries CEO Lynch angrily storming into the lobby of Stark Headquarters. MJ and Friday are both there to greet him as he demands to know who's running the company. With Stark indisposed or incapacitated, Lynch believes that the board is authorized to take over and says that there's no way that a hologram and a glorified assistant are going to continue to run Stark Industries.

Friday and MJ break the news to Lynch that Tony made changes in his living will prior to being incapacitated. SI is now in the hands of Tony's mother. When Lynch says that Stark's mother died years ago, Friday informs him that Tony recently found his biological mother - Amanda Armstrong - and that's who's running the company now.

An incredulous Lynch confronts Amanda who puts the dumbfounded exec (who, as a fan, remembers Amanda from her music career days) in his place politely and quickly and when he exits, Amanda, MJ and Friday discuss the fact that while Amanda will be technically be the head of SI that behind closed doors the job of actually running the company will be Friday's.

Then the question comes up of who will fill the shoes of being an Iron Man or Iron Person for the world. MJ and Friday tell Amanda that Tony has already put that in motion, telling Friday to give his successor all she needs to succeed. Friday then tells Amanda that Tony's already sent this person his favorite thing...himself.

When then see A.I. Tony coaching Riri in Chicago, working on armor and debating what her new code name should be. They continue their conversation as Riri flies around, assisting in various battles across the country.

Finally, Riri ends up on a rooftop where she vents her anguish to Tony about the loss of her best friend and step dad. As she talks, Tony blurts out "Iron heart" as a possible code name, which Riri immediately has to stop and consider. As she does, Pepper Potts lands in her Rescue armor to introduce herself to Riri and see what's up with this new armored superhero.

While they talk, their respective armors start to dismantle from their bodies. Jumping down to fight them are Tomoe and her squad of ninjas.

To Be Continued!!


***END SPOILERS***


It's been said many times that either you like Bendis or you don't. I definitely do, even if I might find him occasionally trying and/or disappointing. But when he's on his game, he's great and I feel like he's 100% on his game with this book. Three issues into this new volume and I absolutely love Riri. And I'm really loving A.I. Tony. So much so that I'd be ok if he stayed in this form for awhile (Pepper has one of the best lines of the issue when she tells an exasperated Riri that "Tony thinks creating an A.I. that is exactly like him with no mute button is a gift.").

Speaking of A.I. Tony, one of his early suggestions to Riri for a code name is the hilarious "FE-male", incorporating the chemical symbol for iron.

Watching Tony and Riri interact is a joy and Bendis clearly delights in their relationship. And Caselli is killing it on art with all the grace and expressiveness that you'd expect.

I know some fans feel like Riri was shoehorned into this book and that there was a bit of bait and switch involved and all that but all I care about is what's in the book itself and what's in the book is freaking good. In an earlier age, this storyline would've just played out in the main series with no reboot. It would've been issues #478 to whatever, you know? But we don't live in those times. Now it's necessary, from a business and monetary perspective to always get new eyes on a book and a new volume is a reliable way to do that. But if you look at this as just a continuation of the previous volume, it doesn't feel like such a jarring shift and it doesn't feel like Tony has become yesterday's news. He's front and center in this book, sharing panel space with Riri the whole way through. Yes, it's A.I. Tony but in some ways it feels like A.I. Tony is more "Tony" than the real thing. Despite not being there in physical form, it certainly doesn't feel like he's "gone" anyplace.

So, big thumbs up on this issue. Best of the new volume so far.

Thanks for the wonderful review and spoilers. I've wanted something like this when I don't have the book yet.

I'm concerned Friday is still in existence after Tony AI was created, because Tony could still run the company. But as Tony stated, Friday is essentially Tony anyway. I agree with Lynch that the board is in control of Stark Industries now, not some blow-in like Amanda. I'm so glad Bendis filled in the politics of the company and how it was disposed, but I would have wanted a formal Will dispensation with Lynch and his board present.

It's charming that Tony leaves his company to Amanda, his mother, and that so many Stark women congregated in this issue, MJ, Friday, Pepper Pots/Rescue, and Amanda. That puts into question the existence of Tony's brother, Arno, now in ANAD, because I wonder if Amanda knows of his existence from Tony? I would have thought Arno would be the natural executor to Tony's estate. I think it's a wonderful snub to the board who treated Stark like an errant school boy pre-CWI, so the humor in that stroke of putting them in their place, does not go unnoticed.

The status of Tony Stark in the MU does require stating, though, after CWII. Tony just functions as a recording. He does not have a presence as the real Tony Stark. The Tony AI is specifically there only as a specialist advisor to one person, Riri, and nobody else. Leaving Tony AI in Riri's care ostracises Stark from the Marvel Universe. He has no authority, or real time influence in the World. He might as well be dead.

From the review, I am not particularly anamoured by Riri as a character. She seems to be clingy and reliant on Stark far too much. I would like to see her manipulating Stark, or more firmly, tossing Stark on a garbage dump to demonstrate that she doesn't require his help. She seems to fall in behind Starks authority here because of her fragile state.

[jackolover]

Anyone else want to see the Tony A.I. Interact with Friday?

Yeah, 10 chars

[Prof. Warren]

From the review, I am not particularly anamoured by Riri as a character. She seems to be clingy and reliant on Stark far too much. I would like to see her manipulating Stark, or more firmly, tossing Stark on a garbage dump to demonstrate that she doesn't require his help. She seems to fall in behind Starks authority here because of her fragile state.

My review may not have done Riri justice as she is definitely not clingy and reliant. Given her age and inexperience she's certainly in need of some mentoring but she's not just being led around by Stark.

[jackolover]

My review may not have done Riri justice as she is definitely not clingy and reliant. Given her age and inexperience she's certainly in need of some mentoring but she's not just being led around by Stark.

Good to know. She just sounded whinny about the deaths in her family, and that comes across as clingy and reliant. A teenager as a super hero? Phew, that would take a lot of patience, if you were her mentor. Maybe if the Tony AI were the Robert Downey Junior character, he didn't seem to take much crap from kids, and could talk their language.