8. The Simple Life

Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Rafa Sandoval

Steampunk Iron Man, my dudes!!!

Yup, despite this sinister-looking thing on the cover, this is not an Iron Monger issue. Instead, it features Justin Hammer, who brings in a new villain to kill Iron Man: Jolt! Which is weird for me, personally. I love the Thunderbolts, and Jolt is great. But it's odd, because she was pretty much the only Thunderbolt who was never a villain. But, hey, alternate universe or whatever.

Here, Jolt is older and way more evil, and she strands a suitless Tony in a technophobic commune. He tries to find a way out, but the commune's residents do not like him building things. Until Jolt shows up, that is, and Tony has to save everyone with the Steam Armor. The Steam Armor is rad as hell. Just this huge, flaming, smoking thing that looks like it could demolish you.

Tony defeats Jolt, and helps rebuild the commune. Also, I gotta say that Rafa Sandoval nails it out of the park here. Like, the art has been good so far, but this is next level.