Review: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #6

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #6
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Stefano Caselli, Marte Gracia
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: April 19, 2017

Well, Riri, you’ve got the world’s attention.

After the dust-up in the last issue and countless other saves, Ironheart is on the map and Riri Williams is in high demand from several sources who have put together who the pilot of the Ironheart armour is…and it’s a great story.

Bendis’ writing is sharp and the optimism displayed by Riri, the lightness of this entire issue, was a shot in the arm in an industry filled with a lot of dark tales right now. This issue is entertaining and literally bright, with Gracia’s colour work evoking a mood as bright as the script, which is filled with quips and a lot of happy moments. I’m happy for Riri and where this story is going, even with the brewing threat that the team plants the seeds for. Ironheart is a breath of fresh air and so is this entire issue.

Riri’s banter with some of the most recognizable women in the Marvel U is great and I am increasingly enjoying her relationship with her mom. You can see in Riri’s mom the struggle and fear of having her girl in the Ironheart armour and in danger, but also an immense amount of pride that her daughter is using her brilliance to literally save the world. Caselli’s work is exceptional in selling this complex emotion, taking Bendis script to the next level with absolutely amazing visuals.

The creative team deftly infuses action into a largely talking-heavy issue, and Stefano Caselli and Marte Gracia handle all aspects of the art with what appears to be ease. This is an issue that is a treat for the eyes, with flawless panel following flawless panel in a chain of glory from the front cover to the back. Caselli’s pencil work is sharp and filled with personality. Every character here has their unique traits, and even Pepper and MJ, who could easily resemble each other, are very easily recognizable by even body language. This artwork is so damn good that I feel bad for whoever has the next shift with Riri because the bar has been set extremely high.

Now, I’ve said this issue is “light” and “bright” and while Bendis’ script plays heavily into that, Marte Gracia’s colour work is what really seals it. The palette he uses in this issue brought me nothing but happiness, and it drives home how Riri is the antithesis of the “typical” superhero. She is a beacon of enthusiasm and has a spirit that you don’t find in other books, which Gracia makes evident with brilliant, bright colour work.

Invincible Iron Man #6 is a great read. I love this series, I loved this issue and I can’t wait to see what is coming next. Riri Williams is a breath of fresh air in a comic landscape that is mired in darkness and I applaud this entire team for delivering some enthusiasm and fun with this story.

The Verdict: 10/10

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