It’s Madame Mystique vs. Iron Man in the series’ new relaunch, and the series has been electric so far from this powerhouse creative team. Madame Masque has kidnapped the smartest people in the world and trapped them just like Tony, asking them to escape or die. The plot thickens there, as Iron Man must escape danger with M.O.D.O.K., Tony goes on a date, and more. Iron Man #3 definitely doesn’t power down.
The attention to pace and character is quite strong in this issue, opening with a quieter yet disturbing visual of a man frozen in a wall. You might expect the issue to pick up where we left off with A.I.M. trying to kill Iron Man and M.O.D.O.K., but you’d be wrong. That keeps you on your toes as you read, not knowing what happens next. The scene also acts as a refresher on what Madame Masque is up to, while reminding us of one of the kidnapped geniuses in particular. Something is up, but we don’t know what he’s up to yet.
The issue then dives right into action with Iron Man blasting away and M.O.D.O.K. ducking for his life. It’s quite funny how Carmen Carnero draws M.O.D.O.K.’s tiny arms, clutching at Iron Man’s calf. While Iron Man does most of the work, and M.O.D.O.K. takes most of the hits, this scene helps establish another mystery figure in the narrative. After a primer on why M.O.D.O.K. is a reject now, admittedly a little dense, the story effectively transitions to Tony Stark’s personal life and a nice character-driven date.
That looks like it hurts.
Credit: Marvel
Again, the pace is pitch-perfect, keeping you invested in the characters and keeping the story moving. A brief flashback to Tony’s youth helps dig into his humanity, and a surprise visit from Tony’s old friend complicates things nicely. Carnero is a master at character acting and body language. Just seeing Tony fumble his taco, with food spilling out a bit, helps give us a sense of who this man is. There are many little things like that throughout.
All this, and Melinda continues to be a nice supporting character I wouldn’t have anticipated. This issue proves she has fighting chops while also being Tony’s savior in his ear.
Closing out the issue is an intense break in scene, leading to a cliffhanger that flips the narrative on its head. Quite honestly, I didn’t expect the story to progress this far so fast, making the next chapter all the more intriguing, with it hard to tell where it goes from here, in a good way.
Iron Man #3 keeps the momentum strong in a relaunch that already feels confident and fully realized. The issue moves effortlessly between explosive action and intimate character moments, giving Tony Stark room to feel human while the larger mystery deepens around him. Carnero’s artwork elevates every scene, capturing both spectacle and nuance in equal measure. With a bold final twist and multiple threads in motion, this series feels locked in and only getting more exciting.
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