It's been a while since I've really enjoyed Iron Man, and what I sampled of Grell's run didn't really sit well with me. The continuing storylines that I see in this issue (Happy drinking? Pepper had a miscarriage? Rumiko's still around?) don't fill me with any great desire to pick up the back issues. However, I'm a fan of Robin Laws's gaming writing, and so I'm intrigued to see in what direction he takes the "Manhunt" story originally plotted by Grell. The story is a bit of a mixed bag, as should be expected when one writer is taking over for another, but the central idea is good, and there are some very interesting scenes in this issue.
The ramifications of building cutting-edge technology and being in the public eye sit at the heart of this story, and that's exactly the kind of thing I want to see in Iron Man. When the story is focused on the unusual bombing that comes from Stark Technology, or the pressure being put on Stark as a result, I was very interested. When the story is instead focused on the marriage problems of Happy and Pepper (again) or alcoholism (again) or the Rumiko/Tony relationship (again) I was bored stiff. This book has the most boring supporting cast and some of the most cliched subplots I've seen in modern super-hero comics.
When the book is focused on the plot of "Manhunt," however, it's pretty good. The sequence where Iron Man uses his capabilities to rescue people from the collapse of a building was solid, and the brief sequence between Nick Fury and Iron Man was terrific, a good showcase of both characters. In addition, I loved seeing Tony having to deal with the press and his "only show in town" bit with Pepper was very well done. I also have to admit that, while I find the supporting cast boring and utterly replaceable, the cliffhanger reminded me that their expendability could be used in a more positive way to make for a more interesting story.
Ryan and Parsons are an improvement over the ill-suited manga style artwork of Keron Grant, but they still aren't what I'd call the ideal Iron Man team. Ryan tends to draw his characters somewhat compact, not unlike the work of Todd Nauck, and the result is that adult characters like Tony, Nick Fury and Pepper all come off looking as teenage or younger versions of themselves. The Iron Man armor also looks more goofy than impressive, especially when Tony has the helmet up. The work is solid, perfectly capable in terms of storytelling and with well-done faces, but the style just looks too cartoony for my tastes on this book.
It's hard to judge "Manhunt" at this point, since it's the work of two writers who weren't actually collaborating, and who may not have actually spoken to one another, but there's both good and bad in this opening chapter. I hope that as the focus of the story shifts to the main plot, we'll see more strong character moments and less cliche, as well as a tone that puts Iron Man at the center of business politics and technology rather than exploring social issues where he just doesn't fit.
