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Posts filed under ‘Matt Fraction’
May 7th, 2008
by PCSbot
Invincible Iron Man #1
Matt Fraction, story
Salvador Larroca, art
Marvel Comics
Review by David Uzumeri
It’s difficult to believe Matt Fraction came to Marvel only a year and a half ago. He’s got a considerable number of projects under his belt since then - a Sensational Spider-Man annual, a Thor oneshot, sixteen issues (including specials) of Immortal Iron Fist, ten issues of The Order, a story in X-Men: Divided We Stand and nineteen issues of Punisher War Journal. It’s an impressive resume, with a number of books that may not have been sales juggernauts but fended for themselves and got massive amounts of critical acclaim - Hell, his Spidey annual is up for an Eisner. It’s probably the fastest advent of a writer in Big Two comics I’ve seen in a long time, and now he’s been granted what’s clearly the flagship book for this summer’s focus Marvel character and perpetual whipping boy, Tony “Iron Man” Stark.
For art, he’s got Salvador Larroca, a distinguished Marvel vet with tons of long runs (like every damn X-book) under his belt and a reputation for being both timely and protean, swapping styles every few years with a rapidity matched only by Stuart Immonen. With Iron Man, he’s done away with the ink washes and is inking himself in a fairly realistic style; think newuniversal without the celebrity faces and you get a good idea. He does a strong job throughout the issue, especially with the panel layouts and camera choices, but there still seems to be a photoreference feel to the work that’s especially distracting when dealing with Ezekiel Stane - he seems to change from fourteen to twenty-two depending on the panel and angle.
The book’s shining pages are the few completed by Stephane Peru before his extremely untimely death, and it’s appropriate that the book is dedicated to him. His replacement, Frank D’Armata, is a curious choice - he’s probably best known for his moody tones on Captain America, everything David Finch draws and Brubaker’s first arc on Daredevil, which is a significant turnaround from Peru, especially on a book that seems (despite the subject matter) so bright and vivid in tone. I’m not sure how well it works, but it doesn’t distract too much.
But how’s the story? How’s the plot? Is this the book that adequately complements Tony’s recent headline status in the Marvel Universe? Thankfully, yeah, it is. Not to knock on the Knaufs at all - they are writing a totally wicked global espionage book - but it’s really become more about S.H.I.E.L.D. than Tony at this point, and considering Extremis allows Tony to function 24/7, it’s reasonable for his adventures to fill two books. So this is the Iron Man as Superhero book, the Batman to the Knaufs’ Detective Comics.
First of all, it’s a relief to really get into Tony’s head like this. He’s a character we’ve been seeing from the outside a lot recently, in a lot of books - double-page-spread-long thought bubbles in Mighty Avengers aside, Tony’s been an enigmatic and sometimes needlessly morally ambiguous force in a huge number of books. Here, it’s the fully-realized, feet-of-clay Tony Stark that shines through, tirelessly (literally) working to save lives even though sometimes he reaches too far and it bites him in the ass. He’s the international playboy, the director of the world’s largest spy agency, the corporate mogul, the sometimes arrogant, lonely superhero.
Secondly, Fraction has really succeeded in creating a 21st century Iron Man villain with Ezekiel Stane, a solid legacy character with hints at a more interesting/subtle characterization and morality past the predetermined role he plays in what looks to be a standard superhero story (to begin with). I doubt it’ll stay like that for too long, though; Fraction’s a writer known for mixing and matching genres, and with a long run (2+ years) planned he has plenty of time and space to experiment.
As for the issue itself, it’s very accessible and doesn’t assume any knowledge on the part of the reader, likely in hopes to attract buyers from the recent Iron Man movie. I think it’ll do well in that regard - it’s easy to get into, it’s not overly complicated, it’s fun, and it sets up possibilities for a number of stories down the line. Again, it seems like a straightforward superhero vs. supervillain story at first, but there are hints and tones at things under the surface which, given a writer of Fraction’s caliber, are likely to be impressive when exposed.
In short, it’s a very promising first issue, in the same way I felt reading the first issues of Brubaker’s Captain America or Immortal Iron Fist - it didn’t completely blow me away immediately, but the potential is there for an incredibly consistent series, something which, given the creative team’s pedigree, is more of a probability than a possibility. I’m looking forward to future issues, and I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a series you’ll be happy you got in on the ground floor on.
February 13th, 2008
by PCSbot
      
Mothers, lock up your daughters when we revisit the continuing adventures of that dashing rogue, Orson Randall, the Golden Age Iron Fist! The last time we flashed back to the life and times of Orson Randall, in the much fan-loved and critically acclaimed IMMORTAL IRON FIST ANNUAL, readers unlocked several secrets affecting Danny Rand, the Iron Fist of today. Now get ready for more! We promise you spine-tingling chills, ass-kicking action and pulp-fiction adventure like you’ve never seen, featuring gorgeous flashback art by Mitch Breitweiser, Chris Brunner, Russ Heath and Lewis LaRosa! Orson Randall goes head-to-head again and again versus none other than…the endlessly mystifying and unstoppably powerful Prince of Orphans! How will their battle through the ages echo in the life of Danny Rand?! You bet your kicked butt it has everything to do with the kung fu tournament of death unfolding in the pages of IMMORTAL IRON FIST!!
Rated T+…$3.99
IN STORES: February 20, 2008
November 7th, 2007
by Jon Haehnle
      
“HUNTER/HUNTED,” Part 1 of 3
The reintroduction of a classic, brutal, and bloodthirsty Kraven the Hunter. A bank robbery goes violently wrong, leaving the Rhino on the lam, running from the long arm of the law and, of course, the Punisher. As Frank Castle looks to settle the score with an old foe, the Hunter stalks the same prey, building himself the ultimate menagerie — a living, breathing super-human zoo! Add Spider-Man into this mix as the lone voice of sanity and super-special guest artist Cory Walker (THE IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN, Invincible) and you’ve got chocolate and peanut butter with bullets dipped in it. Delicious! Violent! Explodey!
RATED T+ …$2.99
IN STORES: November 14, 2007
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
October 31st, 2007
by PCSbot
October 31st, 2007
by PCSbot
September 6th, 2007
by PCSbot
August 9th, 2007
by PCSbot
August 1st, 2007
by Jon Haehnle
      
Does Iron Fist Have The Best Kung-Fu?
After the harrowing conclusion to “The Last Iron Fist Story,” Danny Rand (the man known as Iron Fist) has lost a friend and a mentor—but the worst is yet to come! In Immortal Iron Fist #8, a brand-new story arc begins as the titular hero must enter in the combat tournament to end all tournaments! The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven align for the first time in a generation and with it come new threats for the last Iron Fist. As Danny studies the Book Of The Iron Fist, the forces of Hydra manipulate the kidnapped Jeryn to their ends and…the truth about Wendell Rand? Red-hot scribe Matt Fraction and Eisner Award-winning Ed Brubaker join acclaimed artist David Aja for the kung fu epic of the year! How can Iron Fist possibly defeat six other immortal weapons?
Congratulations are in order for the Iron Fist creative team, as critics continue to rave about the series, with Entertainment Weekly awarding the series an “A-” and gushing, “The Brubaker-Fraction brain trust drums up a skillful script that jauntily grants a peripheral Marvel character some hard-earned days of glory.”
“This series has been incredibly satisfying,” said Matthew Peterson of MajorSpoilers.Com. “Freakin awesome.”
Humphrey Lee of Aint-it-Cool-News exclaimed, “Dave Aja draws the #$%@ outta this book.”
Don’t miss your perfect chance to jump onboard one of the most acclaimed series of the year, as Immortal Iron Fist #8 kicks off a brand new storyline, perfect for readers new and old! And in stores now, don’t miss the critically acclaimed Immortal Iron First Vol.1: The Last Iron Fist Story Premiere HC, collecting the first six issues of the series, material from Civil War: Choosing Sides and special bonus material!
IMMORTAL IRON FIST VOL. 1: THE LAST IRON FIST STORY PREMIERE HC (MAY072181)
Written by ED BRUBAKER & MATT FRACTION
Penciled by DAVID AJA & TRAVEL FOREMAN
Cover by DAVID AJA
Rated T+ …$19.99
On-Sale—NOW!
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
June 28th, 2007
by PCSbot
From The Initiative Comes THE ORDER
After the devastating events of Civil War, a new super hero team has been formed by Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) in accordance with his Fifty-State Initiative. Rising superstar writer Matt Fraction and acclaimed artist Barry Kitson introduce THE ORDER; the premier team of Director Stark’s post-war agenda.
Based in Los Angeles, California’s THE ORDER is comprised of a carefully selected group of actors, athletes, and models imbued with incredible powers to become the First Super Hero Team of Tomorrow™. Don’t let the glamorous title fool you, THE ORDER will have to face a demanding boss in Stark and the challenge of being scrutinized celebrities while fending off villains who don’t realize that in Hollywood, the good guys always win!
Even if they manage to survive, there’s a catch: mandatory retirement after one year. Can these young super heroes wield such tremendous powers under even more tremendous pressure? And just what is Tony Stark’s mysterious agenda? Meet the men and women of THE ORDER — they’ve got a year to save the world and you better not get in their way!
     
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
May 24th, 2007
by PCSbot
The Last Iron Fist Story Concludes In Iron Fist #6
    
It’s time for the current (Danny Rand) and former (Orson Randall) Iron Fists to meet their destiny in battle against agents of Hyrda & the Steel Serpent himself…but is it the end of the road for both our heroes? June’s Immortal Iron Fist #6 concludes the critically acclaimed “The Last Iron Fist Story,” written by rising star Matt Fraction and Eisner-nominated Ed Brubaker, featuring the powerful art of David Aja and Russ Heath, and this issue will leave you reeling!
“Davos and the hordes of Hydra have invaded Rand Corp., and now our two Iron Fists find themselves trapped and attacked from all sides!” explained Immortal Iron Fist editor Warren Simons. “The six-issue arc culminates here with pulse-pounding art by David Aja and Russ Heath! Featuring Luke, Misty, and Colleen!”
Critics continue to rave about Immortal Iron Fist, with Newsarama.com’s Kevin Huxford gushing, “It consistently makes any week it comes out that much better.” IGN.Com’s Jesse Schedeen echoed a similar sentiment, declaring the series a “must-read” and said it’s “one spectacular-looking kung fu noir.”
With a title like “The Last Iron Fist Story,” you know that Danny and Orson aren’t walking away unscathed…if they walk away at all! Don’t miss the action packed conclusion to this bold new chapter in the life of the Immortal Iron Fist!
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #6 (MAR072087)
Written by ED BRUBAKER AND MATT FRACTION
Penciled by DAVID AJA and RUSS HEATH
Cover by DAVID AJA
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—5/31/07, On Sale—6/20/07
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
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