Invincible Iron Man #313: Review

Feb 1995

Len Kaminski, Dave Chlystek

Story Name:

Resolutions

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #313 Review by T Vernon (April 2, 2019)

Comments: Tony appears as Iron Man only in flashback in this issue. Happy Hogan returned to work for Tony as personal trainer in issue #297. Rae Lacoste is mentioned, perhaps for the last time (her final appearance was also in 297). Simon Williams was apparently killed in FORCE WORKS #1.

Review: A serious look back to the two previous Demon in a Bottle plotlines recalls some of the strongest writing the character ever had and that's a good thing. Not a cheap reworking but a true homage with the underlying sadness that the subject recalls. Plus it adds some new information to Tony Stark's history: the origin and progression of his alcoholism. An interesting touch: the flashback to his parents features an ornate, festive border.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #313 Synopsis by T Vernon

New Year's Eve: A late night Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is surprised by the sudden appearance of Tony Stark who addresses the group. They know how his battle with alcohol progressed; he is here to tell how it began. On a New Year's Eve when he was a child, his father bullied him into drinking a glass of bourbon and Tony drank it to please his father but all he recalls is his mother's sorrow. Slowly the drinking increased to the point where he was drinking for its own sake. And his life went totally out of control (recalling the incident from issue #128 when the drunken Iron Man dropped a tanker car, releasing a cloud of deadly chlorine gas). Bethany Cabe helped him kick the habit (also #128)—but some time later, when Obadiah Stane seized control of Stark Industries, Tony's drinking resumed (#167) and he went down further into the depths and recovered (#168-182). Now, with the help of VOR/TEX he has fallen off the wagon again (issue #308); he recalls how he apologized to James Rhodes about how he treated him while drunk. They made up and Tony gave Rhodey the specs for the War Machine armor which he had been seeking. He then tried to apologize to Mrs. Arbogast but she shut him down, berating him for not asking for help from his staff who would do anything for him. Tony concludes by reminding the group that sobriety takes one day at a time. Outside Happy Hogan reveals that his father was a violent man and he inherited it, going into boxing to channel his aggression. Tony settles in for a night at home, watching a movie starring Simon Williams as a Conan-type barbarian, and mourning his late friend. Bethany Cabe stops by with a bottle of (non-alcoholic) champagne cola and they drink to new adventures....