Issue 24 and I still want more...

[Agent 333]

Ok, I've never been good at the rhyme thing....

Another great issue from the Knaufs, though it seems like it advanced the plot less than the last couple issues. Stark's finally cracked the case, but still doesn't have his perp in sight, though the last page implies he knows who it is.
Good to see Sampson and Ultra not holding a grudge when they saw Tony in danger. Acting like superheros are suposed to! Yay!
Also good to see Dugan's in on Tony's 'vacation'. I'm liking him more and more as a regular in this book. He's experienced and smart enough for Tony to bounce ideas off of, but not smart enough to outshine our hero. Hill's absence this issue was noticed, but not missed. 

Oh, and yay for waitresses  . Good to see Tony hasn't lost his touch.

[Iron Mark]

This issue was cool, good plot progression, but I wouldn't say this was an issue I would of waited for as long as I did, you know? Don't get me wrong, it was great but I guess I was anticipating more.

I can understand why some of you dislike the coloring but I dig it, kinda suits the current tone of the story, imho. Dunno why they suddenly slipped Guice in for this issue only to go back to De La Torre next issue, but whatever. This issue had a fairly nice glimpse at how sinister the Mandarin is, especially upon the little revelation at the end. The thug that attacked Tony at the airport turning out to be an Extremis-Enhanced 17 year old with Down Syndrome? Dang, Samson sums up the one responsible, the Mandarin, rather well: a monster. Some interesting and good villainy, I think that'll build up considerably in the next two issues.

Downside of that little revelation is the opportunity for Tony-bashers to remark how Tony essentially beat down said mentally-disabled teen. 

It's nice to see that Tony has some people on his side now, Dugan despite his initial doubts about Tony when he was appointed Director seems pretty damn loyal to Tony, at least acknowledges Tony can do good, and I have to agree I do like him.  Nice to see Captain Ultra and Samson helping out now. Heh, I liked the little "It HAD to be fire" comment from Ultra, nice to see the Knauf's have at least done their research.

I was wondering though, why doesn't Tony have fire breath like the other two Extremis-enhanced folk he's battled?

[dlhoskins03]

I was wondering though, why doesn't Tony have fire breath like the other two Extremis-enhanced folk he's battled?

I really enjoyed this issue as well, can't wait to see IM and Mandy duking it out while Tony is stuck in such out-dated armor. 

And to answer your question, when before he was injected, Tony altered the Extremis to do what he needed it to do.  This was in issue #5, he has no need to breathe fire so he cut it out.

[Agent 333]

Yeah, Tony cut out firebreathing, lightning hands, super-speed and super-strength out of his Extremis dose to accomidate the cybornetic interface and cut down the cocoon time.

[ROB JAN]

Yah, nice one Knaufs!

The sound of one repulsor gauntleted hand clapping...

I was just thinking that wearing the glove by itself like that makes Tony seem a little like Witchblade...a lady whom I'm sure he'd get on well with for all kinds of reasons....


This issue was filled with beaut little vignettes. Sal and Tony ("Shaved copper of spilled blood"...y'know, that's exactly right! Just what 'shaved copper' smells like, I've often thought that when working in the armoury), Samson and Cap Ultra, Tem and Maya, Dugan and Tony in the diner....all good.

By the way, is it significant how MUCH Sal looks like Tem? You can see the striking similarity by checking out the picture of him and flipping to the Tem pic a few pages later. Okay, not so much with the wounds but the general face configuration.

LOL, aside from the general unpleasantness of beating on a bloke with the mental age of a three year old (mind you, MOST of the casual encounters I've had with violent folks, seems to me like they're stuck at that developmental stage regardless of actual physical age) Tony sure fights dirty when caught with his tin pants down. I'm not sure if Captain America (who tutored Tony in close combat if you recall) taught him that hand to, er, hand move, but it's terrifyingly effective when coupled with the transistorised power of Iron Fist!

I loved how the Missing Persons case turned out to be the key to the Cunning Plan...we always knew it would be of course, but it's an elegant clue for all of its predictability.

Parel's cover was fun and I thought Dean White's colours were appropriately atmospheric....really, it was like watching someone light a movie to bring out the emotional loading of the story. Just look at those ominous sky washes...