Invincible Iron Man #289: Review

Feb 1993

Len Kaminski, Tom Morgan

Story Name:

The Light at the End

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #289 Review by T Vernon (August 28, 2018)

Comments: Living Laser was last seen in issue #263; he will return in SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP: MODOK'S 11 #1-5. Moroboshi International was introduced in issue #281; this is the first appearance of CEO Osamu Moroboshi. Rhodey quotes the McDonald's employee question “Do you want fries with that?”

Review: Attractive issue features a lot of spectacular art with a shiny silver Iron Man battling a glowing yellow villain; the latter character seems to bring out the best in artists, first John Romita Jr and now Tom Morgan. And the build up to the battle features much offbeat humor to give a battle scene a unique flavor. But the big shocking moment comes when Rhodey learns that Tony is still alive—and if this had been 1993 I would have gone crazy waiting for the next issue to hit the newsstand; no longer a problem with trades and Marvel Unlimited and I feel much better.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #289 Synopsis by T Vernon

The Living Laser bursts into James Rhodes' office intent on taking his revenge against Tony Stark. Rhodey tells him Stark is dead and offers him a job with Stark Enterprises. Laser is interested, figuring he could always destroy everyone later if he needs to. Rhodey gives him a tour of the research labs and dashes off to don the silver armor which has been newly painted with Prismapolymer Refractive Coating and returns to face the villain. The disappointed Living Laser and the shiny new Iron Man battle their way through the building until Rhodey gets his foe right where he wants him—the laser focusing chamber. Activating a switch, a wide-beam communications laser fires toward the Andromeda Galaxy; Living Laser is absorbed into the beam, denouncing the hero for his cruelty, and shot into the farthest reaches of space.....

Later, Rhodey goes over to see Rae Lacoste, pouring out to her the guilt he feels for what he did to Living Laser....

Realizing they can not trust Morgan Stark to carry through the plot against Stark Enterprises, bad guy Osamu Moroboshi contacts his superiors about an alternate plan....

The following day, Rhodey is called down to the cryogenic labs by an apologetic Erica Sondheim and Abe Zimmer. They show him that Tony Stark is still alive. In a burst of anger, Rhodey shouts “I quit!”....