Iron Man: Execute Program

Coming from the creators of the late HBO series “Carnivale” isn’t exactly something I’d consider using as a selling point (mainly because I and the populace at large haven’t seen it), but this came highly recommended from a friend of mine.  After reading it, I have to admit that I enjoyed it more than I expected to. 

Taking place shortly before the events of “Civil War” (and right after Warren Ellis multi-year “Extremis” storyline) Charlie and Daniel Knauf’s story finds Tony Stark exploring the limits of his new Extremis enhancements while prominent military, political and criminal figures with ties to his past start turning up dead while the Iron Man armor is seen at the scenes of these crimes.  Having Tony lose control of his armor and come under the suspicion of his friends isn’t a new storyline by any means, and while the Knaufs try to jazz it up some by tying it to the man’s new enhancements, it never loses that familiar feeling. 

What I did like about the series was the old-school Marvel feel it had to it thanks to the numerous guest stars in this arc (Captain America, Nick Fury, and the Sentry all feature prominently) that actually serve a purpose in the narrative, and the continuity it had with Ellis’ previous arc (which I wasn’t expecting, but was pleasantly surprised to find).  Topping it all off was Patrick Zircher’s art which drives home that old-school superhero feel in a good way.