Putting Tony Stark and Norman Osborn together is like sitting front row for a fireworks show. It’s explosive, colorful, and you can’t look away. That’s the premise of Iron Man #6, and writer Joshua Williamson takes full advantage of this crossover to deliver an entertaining team-up. It’s not long before Spider-Man shows up to defend Norman–a sentence I never thought I’d be typing–resulting in a fun issue that feels like it was plucked straight from the Bronze Age.
Title: Iron Man #6
Creatives: Joshua Williamson (Writer), Juann Cabal (Artist), Nolan Woodard (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer)
Characters: Tony Stark (Iron Man), Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Norman Osborn, Melinda May
Villain: Ghost
Format: Ongoing series
Our Rating: 8.0/10 Stars
Tony Stark Takes On Norman Osborn
This book opens with Tony discovering that someone has stolen the Iron Patriot armor. If you’ve been reading comics for a while, you’ll recognize it as the same suit that Norman wore during the Dark Reign era as commander of the Dark Avengers. This leads Tony to Norman’s doorstep, as he goads the reformed villain into a confrontation. The dialogue between the two billionaires is fantastic. Both men can be smarmy jerks, and Williamson nails that in their interactions, especially when Norman takes a dig at Tony regarding his late father. Neither wants to admit to being wrong, leading to an inevitable clash.
It’s not long before Spider-Man enters the picture. Tony and Norman might not trust each other, but they both trust Spidey. They soon discover Ghost is the culprit, having stolen the Iron Patriot armor so he could expose Norman’s past atrocities to the world. Artist Juann Cabal captures the chaos as Tony takes on the Iron Patriot armor and Spider-Man and Norman work to take down Ghost. His characters fill up the panels, giving the fights a claustrophobic feel, while letterer Joe Caramagna punctuates each action with a dynamic SLASH or THWIP.
Williamson’s Strong Character Work and Woodard’s Gorgeous Colors
Readers following Williamson’s current Superman series will recognize how he’s able to capture characters’ voices, and he brings that talent to this issue. Tony’s smug yet likeable, Norman’s properly abrasive, and Spider-Man’s quips steal every scene he’s in. It makes me want to see Williamson write the wall-crawler more. Joe Kelly’s successor might already be in the building.
Colorist Nolan Woodard makes this book candy for the eyes, and Cabal gives him plenty to work with. The rich yellow of Tony’s suit mingles with Jolly Rancher reds. Norman’s helmet shines in bright gold while Woodard casts ominous shadows across it, reminding us of the man’s dark past. Laser beams, electricity, and webs fly across the page, erupting in dynamic blues and whites.
What Doesn’t Work?
Those hoping for this issue to advance the momentum from the first arc will be disappointed. Besides a brief stinger on the last page, this reads very much like a Bronze Age team-up. It’s fun but ultimately inconsequential. You wouldn’t be missing much if you skipped it.
Verdict: Should you buy Iron Man #6?
Ultimately, reading Iron Man #6 is like stepping back in time to the seventies. Williamson isn’t reinventing these characters, but the way he captures their personalities is a joy. Tony and Norman’s dynamic is characteristically tense, while Spider-Man’s quips land every time. Woodard’s candy-coated colors make each punch and kick gorgeous. I wish every filler issue could be this much fun.
‘Iron Man’ #6 Review: Tony Stark and Norman Osborn Clash in a Bronze Age Throwback
Reading Iron Man #6 is like stepping back in time to the seventies. Williamson isn’t reinventing these characters, but the way he captures their personalities is a joy. Tony and Norman’s dynamic is characteristically tense, while Spider-Man’s quips land every time. Woodard’s candy-coated colors make each punch and kick gorgeous. I wish every filler issue could be this much fun.
