REVIEW: ‘Astonishing Iceman’ Issue #1

Astonishing Iceman #1 is published by Marvel, written by Steve Orlando, art by Vincenzo Carratú, colors by Java Tartaglia and letters by Travis Lanham. Iceman reappears after it looked like he had been murdered at the Hellfire Gala. But Orchis aren’t ready to let him live.

This first issue delivers on a strong plot, including everything you want at the start of a new series. Astonishing Iceman Issue #1 begins by reestablishing the personality and the power of the titular character. Throughout that first moment, the wider story is explained without ever becoming too overpowering or taking away from the character. The exposition is tempered, taking its time throughout the issue. The very recent past the character has experience has to be concluded as the present day overlaps. This grants the issue a great pace and flow and introduces new features to the Iceman mythos, treading new ground. That new ground suggests an enormous power within the character, making the last part of the issue and the demonstration of his vulnerabilities all the more shocking. 

Orlando excellently taps into Bobby Drake’s personality and his abilities. The character is one of the most powerful mutants, with an interesting power set that is more than just firing ice. He’s swashbuckling and dashing, often incredibly flirtatious and is written with great humor to boot. That charming nature makes him extremely likeable as a protagonist, with the unique powerset included. The dialogue is brilliant, evolving slightly as Astonishing Iceman #1 progresses. Behind the cockiness, his vulnerability is present. Bobby is still clearly reeling from the attack and facing his mortality, which burns through his attitude. The villain is ominous and ruthless, putting people not even associated with Iceman at risk.

The art is superb. Iceman looks terrific, being in his ice form for most of the issue. He’s got a terrific design, and his body language helps manifest his personality. His new location also looks incredible, filled with dynamism and details. The villains look ridiculous but I love that about them. They resemble old-school Marvel villains in their uniforms, with a magnificent boss. The action is amazing, moving rapidly to show the carnage. There’s a great variety to how Iceman moves and how he can deal with enemies, even with such a basic initial concept for his powers.

The colors too are excellent. I originally thought the cool blue and white that fill the page might become boring over time but the tone and shades evolve as the book expands. The lines that create Iceman are also blue which helps establish the details of the character without breaking his aesthetic with black lines. The lettering is the standard font used for X-Men books.

Astonishing Iceman #1 is a fantastic solo title. Spinning out of his supposed death, the book brilliantly provides insight as to why he would be such a high-value target in the first place. Iceman is powerful and dangerous. But he is also an awesome character to read about, brimming with charisma and a carefree attitude. It’s a comic that is so much fun.

Astonishing Iceman #1 is available where comics are sold.