Superior Iron Man #1 Review: Freemium Extremis
Written by Tom Taylor with art done by Yildiray Cinar, Superior Iron Man #1 is a series spinning off of Marvel’s AXIS series. If you are looking for a little backstory or just want to freshen up on the AXIS series, I would recommend checking out some of the reviews done by Bam Smack Pows’s Nick Tylwalk. This series starts with Tony struggling from the psychic fallout of the events of AXIS. As a result, a more sinister Tony Stark is ready to reveal what he considers his most ingenious plan ever. But will this plan endanger the world he has sworn to protect? Find out in this review of Superior Iron Man #1.
Spoilers Ahead!
Synopsis
The series starts with Iron Man releasing Extremis 3.0, a techno virus with the ability to transform any individual into the very best human possible. In other words, this is an application that can be downloaded via cell phone that enables its owner to obtain perfection.
“In that moment, as a city downloaded perfection, Tony Stark was its messiah.”
One week after the app was released, Iron Man and She-Hulk are facing off with Teen Abomination. The heroes exchange attacks with the self-titled Teen Abomination and all seems lost when Iron Man is decapitated. A horrified She-Hulk looks on as Iron Man falls only to be shocked to see him stand up, grab his head and lay waste to Teen Abomination. Defeated both physically and emotionally, the Teen Abomination becomes emotional and upset when he realizes that he was defeated by a drone and was unable to get the attention of the great Tony Stark. The real Tony Stark is back at his San Francisco mansion hosting a pool party. As the party ensues, a heated Pepper Potts shows up demanding to speak with Tony.
Pepper is very upset with Tony for releasing the Extremis app to the public and claims that he has not considered the ramifications. Pepper reveals that Tony has turned San Francisco into a drunken paradise overnight and tells him that he has also subsequently created a hated underclass filled with people who don’t have access to the Extremis app.
On the streets of San Francisco, a group of newly perfect individuals start to attack a homeless girl. Before they can kill the girl, Daredevil steps in and saves the day.
Back at the mansion, Tony and Pepper are arguing about the app. The argument is broken up when Pepper hears screaming outside. She hurries outside to find the once fabulous looking individuals withered back to their less than perfect statea. Pepper grabs one of their phones and finds that the Extremis app was only a free trial and that Tony is planning on charging one hundred dollars a day to anyone who wants to continue using it.
The issue closes with Pepper and a figure we assume to be Daredevil plotting in a dark room. Convinced that someone has stolen Tony’s mind, Pepper declares that it is time to activate the contingency. As we turn the final page we see it isn’t Daredevil, but someone wearing one of Tony’s old Iron Man suits.
Review
It would have been nice to get a little more action in this issue, but I get that there was a lot of backstory and important plot elements to lay out. Other than that, I thought that Taylor did a nice job portraying Tony Stark. Going into this series I was wondering how he would show Tony as arrogant, self-obsessed, power and money hungry without creating the same Tony Stark that we all know and love. To my surprise Taylor was able to accomplish this by making Stark less funny and more of a jerk, thus causing the reader to relate less to him.
Overall I was pleased with Superior Iron Man #1 and look forward to following the series. It will be interesting to see if Iron Man becomes the primary antagonist of the series or if Taylor plans on bringing in another evil force. Even if the series shifts and Iron Man regains his position on the good team, it looks as if we are poised for at least one Iron Man versus Daredevil super showdown!
The second issue comes out November 26th, which creates a perfect opportunity to go support your local comic book shop so your Thanksgiving can be full of delicious food and epic battles between Daredevil and Iron Man.