Fraction: Oh yeah, no doubt. And even more serious with where we're going in the next few issues. Tony pays the ultimate price for his transgression.
I've said this before, so forgive me if I’m repeating myself, but look: If a cop gets drunk while on duty, he doesn't get to be a cop anymore. If a pilot gets drunk and flies a plane, he's not a pilot anymore. The end. Why should Tony Stark get to be Iron Man?
Fraction's take on Iron Man has been the subject of a lot of discussion within the "Shellhead" community for a long time and that is to be expected since as he mentions in this interview his team has been on the book longer than anyone else (and boy does it feel it!!)
However the majority of opinions expressed have not been positive. If he follows through with what is hinted in the quote above, he will be remembered not as the longest running creative influence on Iron Man but probably the most controversial and hated. That is of courseassuming you don't think he's there already!
I do.
I am still troubled by this quote. Tony Stark has to pay the "ultimate price for his transgression?"
What exactly is his transgression? He got drunk as a "sacrifice" to Odin so he could get access to Uru to make super weapons for his buddies? Wow. That's so wrong. He should pay the "ultimate price" for that sin!
This is the reason I think Marvel really doesn't like the Iron Man character. Even when he does something good, they decide it is a "transgression." What's next? Jail time for helping an old lady cross the street? The Thing actually became a bad guy during FI. Is he going to pay the "ultimate price," too? How about the Hulk? I don't hear how these guys are paying any price for their actual transgressions.
Why does Tony Stark have to pay for every possible slight, yet no one else does?
