Will the All-New, All-Different Marvel Now be a new Iron Age?
Instead of a big Avengers team book, it’s Tony Stark leading the way as the publisher relaunches the line following Secret Wars. Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso explained why Iron Man is the flagship book of this Fall’s relaunch. Is this the start of an Iron Man franchise?
Given his track record, if Bendis is writing a book, it’s BIG as in Universe impacting, spawning spinoffs BIG. After Disassembling the Avengers, Bendis shot a jolt of fresh energy into Earth’s Mightiest Heroes leading to a mighty stronger franchise that rivaled the X-Men, the long dominant franchise leader among Marvel books.
New Avengers was followed by Mighty Avengers, Avengers Academy, Dark Avengers, Secret Avengers. Maybe the team that dreamed up West Coast Avengers back in the day were ahead of their time?
Over at the Distinguished Competition, the already big Batman family of books expanded in new directions with Gotham Academy, Grayson, Gotham After Midnight, We Are Robin and Arkham Manor as examples.
Iron Man’s cast is filled with fan-favorites who have starred in their own series: Pepper Potts as Rescue, James “Rhodey” Rhodes as War Machine or Iron Patriot are the big ones.
But what about an Iron Legion (taking inspiration from Stark’s creation in Avengers: Age of Ultron) that could bring back cast members from Avengers A.I.?
Stark Academy? The billionaire philanthropist inventor establishes an elite school for the biggest young brains. This would be a perfect home for the kids of the Future Foundation and genius Amadeus Cho.
Tony’s Iron Think Tank? I love the Illuminati from the Bendis area which took on an even darker tone under Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers run. So far Reed or Susan Richards has not turned up in any of Marvel’s Fall relaunch books. Black Panther will be starring in Ultimates as a mix of science and superheroes. Why wouldn’t Stark assemble his own covert cabal of big brains to solve big threats. It always comes back to bite but he can’t seem to resist keeping secrets even within a secret team.
Adventures of Tony and Steve? Let the healing begin? From Civil War to the Final Incursion, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers have had a dramatic and tumultuous friendship that has often ripped into a bitter rivalry. In the finale of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers run, Captain America forced Iron Man to admit he’s been lying and that he knew about the incursions all along. Tony arrogantly admitted he wouldn’t change a thing. As the final incursion started destroying the Marvel and Ultimate Universe, Steve and Tony kept fighting. Tony will have new armor and a new mission to find the truth about his parents. Steve is still without the Super Soldier Serum and no longer Captain America. Is it time for these former friends who turned bitter enemies have a fresh start in the All-New, All-Different Marvel Now. I can even see a misguided Tony try to give Steve his powers back but would Rogers accept?
Tony Stark may be vulnerable to his own ego and learning the truth about his parents but he’s Invincible as Brian Bendis and artist David Marquez relaunch Tony Stark this Fall…maybe the first of many Iron Men to come. Stark is a brilliant businessman and franchising is big business for Marvel and potentially exciting for fans.
By Editor