Source: moviepilot.com
3. The Future
(Invincible Iron Man #521-527)
The big, showy fireworks spectacular that ends this series with the earth-shattering kaboom it deserves.
As the Mandarin’s final plot goes into effect, Tony Stark is helpless in Mandarin City, alongside former foe Ezekiel Stane. Can Tony inspire an insurrection of powered-up supervillains to stop his greatest foe from ceding control of the world to horrific tentacled death-mechs?
The Future is intense and fist pumping and funny. Everything pays off, and we get a much better look at Mandarin’s rings than ever before, one that Kieron Gillen would later play off of in HIS Iron Man run. Blizzard, Whirlwind, and the Living Laser are all personal favorites of mine, so seeing them get to play in this arc is really satisfying.
The stakes run higher than ever before, and it feels like it. And when it all comes down to it, all of the character relationships feel strengthened by an entire series of work having been done by Fraction. Plus, failing to mention Larroca’s beautiful art and GORGEOUS armor designs would be the biggest mistake of my professional career.
