Iron Man: Demon In A Bottle

Who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned comic book? Satanic bunnies that's who!

Old fashioned comics are great, not necessarily because the plots are thick or the art is good, but because they have the classic touch of constant puns, wams/bams/kapows, and the maniacal villain that sums up his master plan JUST in time for the hero to thwart it. Demon In A Bottle really showed me how far comics have come. Boy, wouldn't it be nice if comics were still thirty-five cents a pop? Above all, this book is worth the corniness alone. From random catchphrases to breaking the fourth wall to sexual innuendos, Iron Man: Demon In A Bottle is probably more of a knee-slapper than it should be.

Iron Man: Demon In A Bottle is a collection of issues 120-128 of Iron Man, a story arc of the same name. I bought this graphic novel hoping to get a well developed story of Tony Stark's battle with alcoholism, one of his well known character flaws. Much to my dismay, that plot is pushed to the B, or perhaps even C story of this arc. Tony doesn't even go into an alcoholic rage until the last few issues. The main storyline focuses more on Justin Hammer, CEO of Hammer Industries, trying to desecrate Stark's name and take over his company. As usual, Tony wins, saves the day, and promises to beat his alcoholism all in one big action packed after school special power hour. How's that for descriptive?

I wouldn't exactly put Demon In A Bottle in my favorite graphic novels, but it's not horrendous. If you're an avid comic fan that wants to read as much Iron Man as you can, and happen to catch this book in a bargain as I did, then this book's for you. Otherwise, with the economy in a recession and this book at a steep price of $24.99, I'd put your money else where.

P.S. Is there some unsaid law that requires all Iron Man graphic novels to spend an entire issue as a flashback to when Tony first made the iron man suit and broke out of captivity? Because they seem to pop in each one I've read.