Gerry Duggan’s Iron Man Vol. 3: Invincible

By August Tales

In his recent farewell note penned in ‘Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3: Iron & Diamonds’, comic-book writer Gerry Duggan tackled a perturbing suspicion circulating in fan circles. At stake was his potential shift towards the Krakoa X-Office narrative and whether Iron Man would recede into an X-Men support character. Duggan asserted, though, that he strived to maintain the Iron Man integrity, veering more towards the familiar style of Armor Wars.

Given my high regard for Duggan, I grudgingly beg to differ. ‘Iron & Diamonds’ screams more X-Men support than Iron Man class.

The X-Men Influence: Unmistakable

In this 20-issue volume, Tony Stark’s fixation parallels the worries of Krakoa. The epic villain of this series, anti-mutant zealot Feilong, first emerged from the pages of Duggan’s own ‘X-Men #1’. The whiff of Armor Wars nostalgia is palpable, of course. Yet, trademark X-Men consequences seep through as stolen technology gives birth to mutant-hunting Sentinels.

Largely, it comes across as a Hellfire Club narrative, a desperate arms sprint to preserve mutant lives. Even Tony Stark wrestling with anxiety about his armor being crumpled by Magneto’s powers, positions it as an essential X-Men narrative.

Tony Stark: Still A Major Player

Duggan and his team, however, keep Tony Stark in focus. Although fraught with X-Men elements, the storyline thrives on Tony’s undeniable insecurity. Tony’s solutions? Loud, absurd, and cumbersome — in ‘Iron & Diamonds’, he invents a mammoth mech suit assembled in outer space by cosmic dwarves. Battling gigantic robots with a gigantic robot — only Tony Stark could conjure up and execute such an extravagant solution.

Iconic Iron Man Aesthetics: The Journey

A captivating facet of Iron Man comics is witnessing the evolution of the Iron Man suit. The design upgrades influence the storyline in equal measure. Issue 73 is chock-full with stunning Iron Man visuals. Here, Tony’s gigantic Sentinel-buster is attacked by the equally colossal Iron Sentinels and Feilong’s personal Sentinel-sized War Machine armor. Essentially, it’s a dream collection for Marvel Legends fans.

A Classic Reunion: Not Just X-Men

Ever wondered if it’s all about the X-Men? Not quite. ‘Iron & Diamonds’ comprehensively features Iron Man classics. Enter Rhodey with his original War Machine armor and Riri Williams decked out in space, crafting robot armor. They even trotted out the delightfully absurd Living Laser as a key supporting character!

This isn’t a mere X-Men narrative donning an Iron Man disguise. It’s a magnificent portrayal of classic Bronze Age stories, packed with grand action sequences defining the Tony Stark spectacle.

The Verdict: An Iron Man Story Pivot

‘Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3: Iron & Diamonds’ delivers more than just a crossover tale of Iron Man and X-Men. It is a seamless blend of classic Iron Man chronicles, brimming with action, and a multitude of intriguing armor designs.

Great artists weave together innovative and classic tech elements, while Duggan situates his X-Men narrative without undermining Tony Stark’s presence. Result? An exciting new arc for Riri Williams and a resounding triumph for a classic Iron Man story.