75. Iron Man vol 2 #1 ... Marvel ...

When I started collecting comics at the age of 11, I had a small budget (obviously) and somehow or other, Iron Man was never on my list of must buys. In fact, it is on my list of read if I can find an unstapled copy in the local bookshop (yes they stapled the mags back in that particular shop). However, aside from the final run up to 200 in vol 1, I was never really hooked on Iron Man ... not until the relaunch and you have awesome Whilce Portacio artwork and a kickass story ...

Of course, back then, before RDJ's hit movies, the back issues were affordable. Now? Pfaughh!

So back to this issue, for those who didn't know, about 20 years ago, Marvel decided to jumpstart its non-Mutant titles by having a being called Onslaught (from the mutant titles) threaten the entire Marvel U and shoving all the Avengers/ Thor/ Captain America/ Iron Man/ FF into a side universe. Everyone in the main U thought they died. They all existed in that other universe without remembering their past existence. So all regular titles were cancelled and relaunched with this new number ones. What made it more unique is that these titles were then farmed out to ex- Marvel chaps who are now in Image i.e. Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld's studios

Iron Man belongs to Jim Lee's team and what a great choice it is

We start off with Tony being rich and a nasty prick celebrating success after success while his old mates including Banner looked like a downright loser. Unbeknownst to him, somewhere in the greater economic field, Hydra and its Madame are making plans for a hostile takeover of sorts. Thrown into this mix is a field of supporting characters including Pepper Potts and others

While we know Portacio has a fixed look about his work these days that is very stylized, yet here in this series it works. Well except for certain characters like Madame Hydra but his Iron Man, Hulk (yes Hulk) and even the wardens or security guards who got blown away? Awesome

Lots of action sequences and I even love the way he does the energy signature whenever Iron Man flies! And let's not forget the equally awesome colouring

Ratings: 9/10