Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1992-03-01 01:06:10 |
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Iron Man #278
Issue(s): Iron Man #278
Cover Date: Mar 92
Title: "Decisions in a vacuum"
Credits:
Len Kaminski - Writer
Paul Ryan - Penciler
Bob Wiacek - Inker
Richard Ashford - Assistant Editor
Nel Yomtov - Editor
Review/plot:
All of the other books taking part in Operation Galactic Storm suffer at least a little bit regarding subplots and ongoing stories (except maybe Avengers West Coast; i couldn't really tell you what the long term goals of that book are). They all weather it pretty well, but it's inevitable that the ongoing ideas in a book are put on hold during a crossover like this. This book is an exception to all of that, though, since it's the first issue of Len Kaminski's run, so there's really nothing for him to put aside yet. Kaminski does continue the ongoing health/spine problems that were introduced in the Michelinie/Layton run and continued by Byrne, and that will become a main plot point again when the series is over, but for now the deck is totally clear of subplots, and we're focused fully on Galactic Storm. In fact, if we pretended that this wasn't an Iron Man book and it was just telling a story about the group of Avengers that Iron Man is currently with, it would read just fine that way. Kaminski does put a focus on Iron Man, but not to exclusion the way Wonder Man and Quasar's issues will be.
Iron Man is part of the group of Avengers that are going to the Kree galaxy to try to get them to agree to stop the war with the Shi'ar. They come out of the warp gate and find a giant space station, and land their Quinjet to investigate.
One new thing from Kaminski (even though the art team hasn't changed) is a focus on Iron Man's armor as a computer system. Throughout these issues we'll see menus from Iron Man's HUD. In this case he's identifying the operating system to use when interfacing with the space station's airlock.
We know from the previous chapter that the Avengers are aware that the Kree empire is currently being ruled by Ael-dan and Dar-benn. But the Supreme Intelligence is still active behind the scenes, and there are some Kree that are aware of that and are working for him.
Supremor wants the Avengers brought to the Kree homeworld of Hala, so he has his loyal minions send an agent called Shatterax, who seems to be some kind of cyborg. The loyalists aren't done repairing Shatterax, and they tell Supremor that activating him immediately will shave 20 years off Shatterax's life, but Supremor's ok with that.
Meanwhile, (seemingly) Shi'ar soldiers on the space station attack the Avengers. The other Avengers hold them off while Iron Man continues to try to connect to the station's computer. Suspiciously, the soldiers disintegrate when they are defeated.
Regular Kree (not Supremor loyalists) become aware of the attack at the space station, and Kree soldiers are sent there. Iron Man learns about that first since he's connected to the computer systems, and the way he tells the rest of the team about it doesn't make Captain America happy.
Shatterax is the first to arrive.
Iron Man fights him solo, and there's his spine problem.
Here's more of the internal computer view.
When the additional Kree forces arrive, Iron Man makes the unilateral decision to surrender.
This again does not endear him to Cap. But it seems like the right move. As i understand it, the Avengers are here to negotiate, not to fight. So surrendering is the fastest way to get to the Kree leaders and also show good faith that they aren't here to attack or working with the Shi'ar or something. More on that in the next chapters of the story, though.
It's hard to judge Kaminski's debut since this is just a middle chapter of a story that he didn't start. The writing is dry, and Cap's outrage comes across as too melodramatic (in general, Cap feels too namby pamby in this storyline), but i've already noted that you kind of lose your characterization opportunities in these big events, so i can't fault Kaminski for that. I do like the use of the computer screens. It's a logical way to keep Iron Man's armor looking like advanced technology for the era.
Statement of Ownership Total Paid Circulation: Average of Past 12 months = 172,450. Single issue closest to filing date = 162,600.
Quality Rating: C
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: This is part six of Operation: Galactic Storm. It continues in Iron Man #278.
References:
- The Avengers left for the Kree galaxy after Avengers #345.
Crossover: Operation Galactic Storm
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
I always understood it to be that Captain America was upset about Iron Man usurping his authority. However, as we see in later chapters, Iron Man outranks Captain America since he was a founding member of the Avengers.
Iron Man is not even the elected chairman for either of the Avengers teams at this point. By this point, Iron Man has betrayed and fought his friends in a personal crusade, became a hardcore alcoholic while on the job and only recently revealed he was lying about not being Tony Stark to get accepted back onto the team. He has also been suspended from the Avengers several times (as early as Avengers #7 by Lee/Kirby!).
If Hank Pym was acting like Iron Man is in Galactic Storm, people would see it as a lot more clear-cut and they'd unanimously side with Cap. Iron Man has been just as inconsistent and unstable (if not more) than Pym has.
It always bothers me that Tony can read and understand multiple complicated interfaces that, based on what his helmet looks like on the outside, must be pressed directly against his face.
I thought Iron Man was the leader of the WCA at this point?
I understand that the screens are some sort of holographic projection.
Holographic projection -- like people around him can see them? That sounds like a security risk.
I guess it's good that the Kree computer systems are all in English LOL! And I've got to say I don't wanna be mean to a fellow comics professional but there's just something.... really flat.. about Paul Ryan's work. I mean in theory it should work and I guess technically it does.. his anatomy is perfect, his layouts, and everything but there's just something inherently very bland about his storytelling. Or something! I can't put my finger on it.'
Also a lot of his designed villains have this cyber faux Micronauts look. This Kree villain has it, aged Franklin will have it.. his DeFalco villains will have it... I'm just not big on Paul Ryan for books like THESE. I think he'd be a good artist for G.I. Joe or something less "cosmic" like Avengers or Fantastic Four or this Iron Man book. But apparently that guy could pencil like 3 books a month!!!
I think at some point Iron Man mentions translating the Kree into English.
English aside, I think the filmmakers of Independence Day get a pass if an Earth computer system here can just hook up to an alien computer system this easily - clearly the filmmakers didn't come up with the idea first.
The filmmakers of Independence Day didn't have Jeff Goldblum established as smart as Tony Stark. I can see Stark being this capable.
