Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: “The Singularity: Part 3”
Written by: Mark Ricketts
Pencils by: Tony Harris
Inker: Tom Feister
Colors by: JD Mettier
Lettering by: Randy Gentile
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Assistant Editors: Schmidt, Wiley and Lazer
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Throughout the years, I’ve only picked up Iron Man from time to time. When a new team started, I’d check it out again, or when a book was relaunched, I would try it then too. So when Mark Ricketts and Tony Harris started their run on the book, I thought I’d give it another shot. I’m glad I did because this current story has been my favorite Iron Man story of all time. Pretty auspicious, I know, but like I said, I don’t have a whole lot to base it against. (I never read the Iron Wars story, though I hear that’s really great too.) Anyways, for some reason, I was quite taken with this story. I realize that Iron Man’s armor going against Tony Stark’s will is not exactly something new, but what really struck me about this arc is that from the first issue, there were some pretty exciting, and probably irreversable changes taking place. This is by far my favorite of the Disassembled crossovers.
As we start off this issue, Iron Man is hoisting Tony Stark over his head and throwing him through a window. This is pretty much the pace for the entire issue, as the next 20 pages are a nice long fight.
Tony is confused as to what is going on (as I’m sure we all would be if we woke up one day and had to fight an armored version of ourselves) so naturally (or not so naturally) he suits up in armor himself.
Meanwhile…Tony’s friends, Happy and Pepper (ugh, those names…awful) somehow gain access to the mysterious “nerve center” of Stark Enterprises to find out who is behind this anti-Iron Man tirade. It’s the weirdest part of the book, but becuase of Tony Harris’ pretty pictures, it’s forgivable.
We get a nice little cameo of the armors of Iron Man’s past, as kind of a nod, perhaps due to the fact that this current series has only one issue left.
The issue ends with more fighting, and the reveal of just who is in the ‘bad’ Iron Man armor. And it is…..some guy with a really messed up face!! Honestly, I have no idea who is it, but they really need to get to a plastic surgeon, and soon. Maybe as a loyal Iron Man reader, I’m supposed to know who is it….but I’m not one, so I don’t. But that is fine. It didn’t diminish my enjoyment of this issue one bit.
I will be sad to see this creative team leave after next issue, but I look forward to the end of this (to me) very compelling story.
The Final Word: Finally, after all these years, I’m made to really enjoy Iron Man. Great issue.
