Iron Man: The End
Written by David Michelinie
Penciled by Bernard Chang
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: 11/05/2008

I’ve read Marvel’s “The End” comics here and there and sometimes I’m quite pleasantly surprised (as was the case with Hulk’s ending story, which kicked so much ass it was astonishing) and other times, I’m a little let down.  This book is more towards the “letting down” side of the spectrum than the astonishing side, but it wasn’t terrible.

It was just pretty ho-hum.

The story is about Tony Stark coming to terms with the fact that his age is catching up with him and he’s going to have to find a replacement for himself.  Both as the philanthropic industrialist and as Iron Man.  But he doesn’t want to let go.

It seems like it should have been more interesting, but the story labors through the paces in a way that doesn’t seem to offer me any insight beyond the images simply reading the pitch conjures.  If you know anything about Tony Stark (and since the movie came out, who doesn’t know about him now) and you read the one sentence pitch of this book, then you could probably guess what sorts of things you’ll be reading about.

The pencilling is quite capable and looks nice, as well as the inks and the colors, but the story was certainly driven to readers in that Hum-drum-vee that Rhodey was forced to ride in, in the movie.

Having said that, it’s great to see Marvel going out on limbs like this with their characters in What If…? sorts of scenarios, even if they aren’t as Twilight Zone feeling as What If…?.  And let’s be honest, there’s no way this could be better than Stan Lee and John Romita, Jr.’s Last Fantastic Four Story.