One of the handful of minis that came out in the X-line following the events of the third Hellfire Gala, Astonishing Iceman was an interesting diversion from the Fall of X event that helped establish the character’s new status quo within the Marvel Universe. Thankfully, even in the complicated position Bobby Drake finds himself, this miniseries, Out Cold, was surprisingly fun and animated, giving the character room to mature and develop and chart a course distinct from his association with the X-Men.
Collecting the five issues of Astonishing Iceman, Out Cold takes place soon after the events of the third Hellfire Gala, which saw Iceman (along with a slew of other mutants) die at the hands of Orchis, kickstarting the final phase of the Krakoan era. With mutantkind’s ability to resurrect the dead halted, this book must explain how Iceman has returned from the grave. This title also builds on Iceman’s relationship with Romeo and how this new romance plays an important role in his return from the dead. The Elements of Doom target Bobby’s hometown while a deadly killer stalks Aaron Fischer, Captain America, and the Y-Men, leading to a reunification of Iceman and Spider-Man against an Orchis threat. When mutant-haters discover Bobby’s secret and attack, he faces the ultimate showdown.
Marvel Comics
The team up between Iceman and Captain America was unexpected and conveyed efficaciously, making Bobby and the Avenger seem like a worthy duo. A lot of my personal connections to Iceman were through his mid-’90s X-Men escapades, and I must say, this newer version of the character is a lot more interesting and capable than the Bobby I remember. The Cleaner, a new villain that plays the central antagonist in this series, is made to be formidable threat to Ice Man, and gives this run a sense of importance.
Marvel Comics
Steve Orlando does a very fine job writing this book, with his recognizable humor and joy present throughout the entire run. Vincenzo Carratu and Java Tartaglia provide some excellent art, complementing the narrative effectively. I especially enjoyed the visuals in the final issue with Iceman’s battle against The Cleaner, which is highly kinetic and attractive.
Astonishing Iceman was a title I passed on when it hit comic shelves, but it turned out to be one of the better minis to come out of the X-line at the start of the Fall of X. Orlando’s script is focused and gratifying, flattered by superb art, and makes the case for Iceman being more than a B-character on a larger team book.
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