Iron Man: The Inevitable #2: Review

Mar 2006

Joe Casey, Frazer Irving

Story Name:

Book two: Blind dates

Review & Comments

Rating:

Iron Man: The Inevitable #2 Review by Rob Johnson (February 4, 2014)

Ghost was only introduced in the #219-221 story that claimed to kill off Spymaster 1. He tangled with IM a few times in the late 80's, then wasn't reused until the early 00's. Living Laser predates them all, dating back to Avengers #34 in 1966. He's been a staple Marvel villain since then, but only joined the ranks of Iron Man foes in #152 of IM's original series. There he was turned into laser energy (previously he had only *used* laser weapons). He was dispersed into outer space in #289. There are 3 accredited appearances of Living Laser between then and now:- He's in 1 panel full of villains in Alpha Flight #121, but doesn't take part in the ensuing fight. And he's in his old pre-energy-form costume. I chalk that up to a mistake. He makes a more substantial appearance in Hulk #418 in his energy form in a smaller group where he speaks 1 line. But it's of no consequence so I can ignore that too. The Official Index places Living Laser in the breakout in New Avengers #3. This current series refers to Iron Man being part of the Avengers again, and so must happen after that initial Avengers arc. But try as I might I can't actually identify LL there, so I'm going to dismiss this supposed app too.

After exposing himself as Iron Man in IM(1998)#55, Tony Stark was made Secretary of Defense in #78. As part of Avengers Disassembled Stark was fired from his Defense job in Av#501 and claimed to retire as Iron Man at the end of his own 1998 series, passing the armour on to an employee. But we know he really continued to be IM in the 2005 series. This raises the question of why Stark doesn't appear to use his Extremis armour here? #5 will confirm that he *has* undergone the Extremis process. And already the existence of the New Avengers indicates this. But at the point of publication of this issue the Extremis arc of IM(2005) wasn't yet completed, so either it wasn't yet clear how the new armour worked or the editor/writer were hedging their bets. The 1st Spymaster bedevilled Iron Man throughout his 1st series, from #33 to #220 where Ghost supposedly killed him. However Dark Reign: Made Men will reveal that he didn't really die. The 2nd Spymaster was awarded the name in #254 and was last seen in Iron Man: Bad Blood. His death in flashback here has not been contradicted.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Iron Man: The Inevitable #2 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

The new Spymaster and the Ghost discuss what happened to previous Spymasters. Ghost killed the 1st one by materialising him in a wall. Iron Man got the 2nd Spymaster put in jail, where the new one arranged for him to be killed.

Ghost is willing to work for Spymaster for the money, but doesn't share his goals. Spymaster thinks that, now that he's taken on the role he's also taken on the status of 1 of IM's major foes. And as such it's he and Ghost's duty to oppose him.

Spymaster is particularly offended by the fact that Tony Stark is now denying being Iron Man. (Ghost wasn't even aware that Stark was ever outed as IM - he's not interested in celebrity gossip.) And he doesn't like that Stark was made Secretary of Defense.

Spymaster tells how Living Laser was transformed into intelligent laser energy, and how part of the energy has been incorporated in an intelligent laser weapon. Stark got hold of that weapon last issue, and Spymaster wants Ghost to help him steal it.

Spymaster now drops a bombshell. He's not going to pay Ghost for his services. He knows that Ghost only charges a fee as a front. Really Ghost is an anti-corporate terrorist. And Spymaster is offering him a chance to bring down Stark International. Ghost agrees.

Tony Stark has hired Dr Maggie Dillon to communicate with Living Laser inside the laser weapon. She uses advanced Stark tech to do so, and senses a screaming consciousness within. Meanwhile her body undergoes a shock reaction.

Stark is too busy being a business man and Iron Man to attend Dillon's experiments. But he sends her some notes on Arthur Parks, the Living Laser. He was a brilliant and mild laser scientist, who seems to have been tipped over the edge by rejection from his girlfriend Lucy and turned into the bombastic supervillain.

Dillon's 2nd attempt gets her closer to the laser consciousness, but leaves her in a 2 day coma. Tony thinks she should stop, but Maggie insists on continuing.

Stark is considering how to monitor Dillon in the next session, when Ghost invades Stark International. The villain blasts at Tony's briefcase (presumably assuming the Iron Man armour is in there), and wounds Stark. He leaves to find the laser weapon he was sent for.

But Tony activates a remote armour, which arrives and battles Ghost. Ghost defeats the armour. He is now convinced that TS is IM, and thinks he's killed him.

But the armour has delayed him long enough for the site's emergency lockdown procedure to kick in. So Ghost flees. (I would have thought such situations are exactly what Ghost was designed for.)