REVIEW: ‘Invicible Iron Man,’ Issue #6

Invincible Iron Man #6 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Gerry Duggan, art by Andrea Di Vito, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Joe Caramagna. Tony Stark writes another chapter in his autobiography, this time, a flashback to the past. In the days of the West Coast Avengers and the Silver Centurion armor, Iron Man comes up against a foe that would later be a friend.

This issue might be a break from the ongoing storyline, but it is so much fun. It starts with a sparring session between Iron Man and his old Avengers teammates, and that is only the opening gambit. It is an adventure through a classic period in Marvel history, leaning heavily on nostalgia and history to tell this next chapter in the autobiography. But it isn’t just a meaningless memory; it connects to the current situation through multiple strands. If the first fight wasn’t enough excitement, the next one might be even better. It’s a brawl between Tony and numerous foes that he rarely, if ever, comes up against. This issue is filled with positivity and a carefree attitude. 

The dialogue is glorious. The narration is exactly the kind of thing I love. With each opponent Iron Man faces, and it is a lot in Invincible Iron Man #6, there is a little bit of respect toward them. As the narration comes from his book, he is more descriptive, and it is really fun to see what he says about the many heroes and villains alike. There are also tactical thoughts about how to defeat them. It is also enjoyable to look back at the olden days of Iron Man; there was a time when his identity was secret. The dialogue has been adapted slightly to fit the era but is still modern. 

The art is magnificent. There are so many characters included in this issue, and all of them are phenomenally illustrated by Di Vito. At the heart of it is the old armor, the Silver Centurion. A product of its time but still one of the all-time greats when it comes to Iron Man’s costumes. But it isn’t just Stark’s classic getups that are brought back, it’s almost everyone’s. The final battle is extraordinarily brilliant. There is an almost constant influx of people joining the fight, all of whom are known. It isn’t just one-on-one; Stark is attacked from all sides, sometimes at the same time. Di Vito embraces this challenge perfectly and draws one of the best battles of the year.

The colors are terrific. This issue is set in an era where there was a lot of flair and bright colors on both good and evil. That vibrancy is captured beautifully, but all of them are toned down slightly, perhaps to insinuate the flashback shade that can be used in comics. The lettering is fantastic and distributes the large amount of narration and dialogue throughout the issue well.

Invincible Iron Man #6 is an absolute pleasure to read. It’s an issue that celebrates and relishes reliving the past, remembering the teams and relationships at the time. The promotional material superbly uses a red herring to distract from the main event, so there is a world of surprises within. Both fight scenes are delightful, and the art is stunning on every page.

Invincible Iron Man #6 is available where comics are sold.