Writer Sean Ryan

Penciler Rahmat Handoko

Inkers Roberto Poggi, Craig Yeung, Livesay and Norman Lee

Colorist Ruth Redmond

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

No End in Sight Part Two of Three

This is the first ‘solo’ Iron Man that I have read in a while.  I’m sure that last Iron Man run that I collected was the awesome Joe Quesada run, back in 2000.  If you can find a copy of ‘Mask in the Iron Man’ trade, I would highly recommend it!

To be honest, this does feel like the middle chapter as it is a lighter comic.  I did enjoy how funny it is.

Another aspect of the comic that I like is that the writer is not the only talent to unite this three part saga.  Redmond, the colorist, is also involved with all three chapters.  That really adds to the visual continuity of the story, and brings the three different artist teams together.  Should make the eventual trade look good too.

Onto the issue :

The Peak.  Benjamin and Irma are about to leave the base in a SWORD ship, with Iron Man.

Benjamin is surprised that Irma can’t just download another pilot’s abilities.  Instead, she has to continually read their mind and once she is out of range, she will lose the ability to fly the ship.  Which seems to go against how I think telepathy works.  But how much different can flying the X-Jet be from a SWORD ship?

Though she is part of the Cuckoo’s Hive Mind, so her individual powers could be different. What she should do is describe what she is doing to Benjamin, he writes it down, then they will have the directions.

Benjamin says it doesn’t really matter, as Iron Man is most likely going to fly the ship.  He knows where they are going.

Benjamin reveals the plan is to have Irma summon Magik and bring the rest of the team to them.  Which is pretty impressive for both ladies as they will be communicating across a galaxy, which is farther than Magik usually teleports – by a lot!  That’s usually the distance Lila Cheney does (almost exclusively).

Magik, back in the day, if she attempted to teleport across the country – the big concern was that you may end up where you were hoping, but in the wrong year or decade.  Now that she houses Limbo entirely inside her, she has a stronger grasp of her powers.

Irma is not thrilled that she has to do everything.  Benjamin states his role is hard.  He has to use his soothing ability to keep Iron Man from seeing through their disguise.  They are dressed as SWORD agents.

The most difficult part for Benjamin, is looking into Tony Stark’s eyes.  As one can lose themselves in them.

Back at The New Xavier School.  Goldballs and Triage are having a nice chat.  Goldballs tries to reassure him that it is going to go well.  They will have SWORD uniforms.  I suppose Benjamin and Irma knows everyone’s jumpsuit size and had no problem grabbing six uniforms.

Fun exchange with Triage saying they won’t look like SWORD agents.  Goldballs rebuttals with, we don’t look like X-Men.

Once again, look how everyone is a different shade on that page.  Redmond is such a good colorist.

I like how Phoebe now has red hair, but keeps the same hairstyle that Celeste has.  Phoebe is different but still wants to show that she is with her.

Magik has to stay hidden so Iron Man doesn’t recognize her.  He would from the whole AvX Phoenix business.

Back on the SWORD ship.  Iron Man wonders if everyone is set.  Benjamin is too excited to be speaking with him again.  Irma and himself are disappointed in him.

Iron Man will fly the ship.  He is going to lead them to Death’s Head, as he was the one who took Cyclops.

Magik teleports the team to the ship.  I guess if Irma and Benjamin were at the Peak Station, then Magik is only teleporting the distance of the moon.  Which is still far, but not a galaxy width like I thought.

Magik brought with her – Triage, Goldballs and Tempus.  The students don’t know how to address Tony.  Iron Man?  Mr. Stark?

He doesn’t mind either, he mostly just wants to know if the agents are getting younger or is he just getting older.

They are going to the planet, Calculex to a club named, Flamer’s.

Once there, Goldballs loves this mission.

In another fun exchange : Triage has never seen anyone use a pumpkin ‘like that’ before.  Irma wants the boys to focus.  Also, that those are not pumpkins.  Irms sure is being given a lot of room to show her personality.

A blue alien recognizes Iron Man.  Of course, Iron Man doesn’t recognize him in return.  Thus begins the big fight sequence.  Also, the main Iron Man sequence.  Thus, I lost a little interest.

The alien has friends who will back him up.  Iron Man assumes the SWORD agents have his back but they can’t reveal their powers in front of him, so they are not much use.

Meanwhile, poor Cyclops.  Has a helmet blocking his powers on his head and his hands are cuffed.  He’s on his back, having to listen to the guy who has him captive whine about his current circumstances.  The guy’s name is, Monark Starstalker.  There are so many space adventurers that there is no way that anyone on Earth would even know more than two of them.  I mean, Cosair and Star Lord are two big names but I bet neither are known on Earth as much as Silver Surfer or anyone who has been a member of the Avengers.

Monark was hoping to bring Havok to his rich old employer has when Havok was leading the Starjammers, they cost his employer a bunch of money.

Cyclops wonders why Monark didn’t just get Havok himself.  He’s an X-Man, he says.  Cyclops corrects him, he’s an Avenger now.  So he’s dead to Scott.  Monark knows that being an Avenger means that Havok was way out of his league.

Apparently, Monark isn’t a brand new character, like I’ve been thinking he was.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=4630

He’s been around for years now.  He first appeared in October 1976 but then not again until 2009.  He had a robot bird, Ulysses, who helped him see, hear and feel.  He told that bird to Death’s Head to get Havok and more money.  Now he’s not only a loser but blind.

Cyclops tells him that no matter what is wrong, there is someone out there who can help.  Monark can only think of one person.

Back at Flamer’s.  The huge fight is happening.  Irma is about to be tackled and either Benjamin or Goldballs saves her.  I honestly can’t tell if it is suppose to be a skinny Goldballs or Benjamin.  Before saving her, he says that his power isn’t very subtle.  Which means Goldballs as Benjamin’s power is super subtle – that’s the point.

An alien knocks Triage down and is about to shoot him point blank.  Triage mutters, I knew it.  Just then Tempus shows up and time freezes the foe.   Tempus calls her, Mindee, but I always go with her real name, Irma.  Not sure why I do that.

We get what I can only imagine is the three page mandatory sequence of Iron Man explaining his origin, history and philosophy to the main alien.

I’m sure it was Goldballs who saved her as he has a soulpatch and Benjamin doesn’t.  He’s definitely drawn more ‘bulky’ here than fat.  But when he was at the school, he looked fat so the uniforms must be form fitting.

Goldballs runs into Death’s Head.  For three balls, he is told the location of Cyclops.

A short time later.  The team and Iron Man catch up to Goldballs.  They call him Fabio and by his hero name.  This confuses Iron Man.  They also say Cyclops’ name, so Iron Man knows something is up.  Then Irma summons Magik and we get my favorite page of the issue :

I love the pacing of that joke.  That’s some fine sequential storytelling!

The final two pages sets up the final chapter.  Monlark goes to Nova’s house.  So they are back on Earth?  Such a waste of space gas.

Nova has to tell Monlark that he isn’t the Nova he knows.  That Nova, Richard Rider, is sadly, dead.  This is the new Nova, who appears on the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon.

Monlark starts crying and new Nova, I believe his name is Alex?, asks if he can keep it down and his mother is trying to sleep.

To be continued in Nova Special 1!  Which we will be reviewing next!