Invincible Iron Man #7

Review: Quirky issue begins with an extended scene of the Mandarin (no longer a stereotyped Chinese warlord but a stereotyped Chinese magician) intimidating Madame Hydra as punishment for trying to kill Tony Stark. It's flashy and offers a more fantastic angle to the standard sci-fi tropes that loom large in Iron Man's legend. Then Thor gives Iron Man some advice: don't look back in anger; Thor is surprisingly portrayed as one who has insights into human behavior appropriate for one who has lived among humanity for some time—and opposite to the big clod he frequently comes across as in more recent comics and in the movies. Too bad he couldn't have gotten his own series at this time. And finally (ignoring the Doc Samson subplot which is actually a Hulk storyline) we learn that, instead of building up to a Happy/Pepper romance over several years, we're starting off with it (which is better than Hank and Janet Pym starting off as an abusive couple as in the Ultimates). And there's a surprise ending: Rebel is still alive! Since Tony's plan to be a good guy superhero was motivated by Rebel's apparent death, I wonder if this is going to going to destroy his resolve? We'll see, ha ha!

Comments: Title comes from a famous play by John Osborne.