Ultimate Iron Man, Vol. 1 (v. 1)
by Orson Scott Card, Andy Kubert
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Book Summary Information
Author: Andy Kubert, Orson Scott CardEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-03-22
ISBN: 078512151X
Number of pages: 136
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Book Reviews of Ultimate Iron Man, Vol. 1 (v. 1)
Book Review: A Daring Take on a Marvel Legend
Summary: 4 Stars
This TPB (also available in hardcover), collecting the entire five-issue run of the first Ultimate Iron Man volume, has come under quite a bit of fire. However, I applaud the unique take that Orson Scott card took on this iconic Marvel character. The Ultimate Universe is all about recreating the world of Marvel for contemporary readers, many of whom are completely new to comics in general. As such, it provides a wonderful opportunity for the writers who are fortunate enough to work on these projects to try something new (the Bendis origin for Venom- lab project gone awry, rather than extraterrestrial- is a perfect example). Card was tasked with adding a whole new take on the Iron Man canon, making the story unique and accessible for new readers all the while. Not a particularly easy assignment, but my personal verdict is that he succeeded.
There are three reasons in particular why I feel this book is valuable not only to the Iron Man character, but the entire Ultimate Universe. It masterfully explains the root causes for 1) Stark's genius, and why he displays almost inhuman levels of productivity and innovation, 2) why he is obsessed with constantly building and improving armor, and 3) his affinity for the consumption of alcohol. I will not reveal any specifics or spoilers here, but for those of you who have read the book (or plan on reading it), pay close attention to those three points, and ask yourself if Card did not do an excellent job of giving credence to Stark's character. For instance, after reading this volume, it seems that Stark's drinking is not a way for him to escape the burdens of reality (which would make no sense for a man so driven by the need to constantly build his empire and legacy), but is in actuality a means of enhancing his productivity. This may sound like an implausible theory to those who have not yet read the story, but once you learn of Stark's origin in the Ultimate Universe, and his unique genetic makeup, it all comes together (it also explains how he can drink so much without suffering any permanent damage).
The Ultimate Universe is all about new ideas for old characters. It runs parallel (exists outside of) the original Marvel Universe, and so a new take on a character like Iron Man should not offend any of the die-hard fans. For those of us who do not have the benefit of having been around the past 40+ years to absorb all the background of Marvel, this is like being a kid again, and witnessing the birth of legends.
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