Iron Man [2020] #12 - Marvel Comics

IRON MAN No. 12, November 2021

Wholly centred upon the titular character’s ultimately successful infiltration of Galactus’ multi-decked worldship, Taa II, this twenty-page periodical’s plot certainly must have provided its audience with plenty of sense-shattering shenanigans. In fact, it is difficult to imagine what more Christopher Cantwell could have squeezed into Issue Twelve of “Iron Man”, considering the lengths to which the “massive solar system-sized ship in space” goes to in order to eliminate the two fully-armoured “burglars” wandering through its numerous sectors.

For starters, the American author ensures that this comic contains plenty of sizzling laser beams and a truck-full of micro-missiles – all of which seem intent of shredding both Tony Stark’s alter-ego and Avro-X given half an opportunity. These incredibly dynamic action sequences, marvellously visualised by Angel Unzueta and colour artist Frank D’Armata, really are quite mesmerising to peruse, whilst simultaneously working as an appetiser for an astounding appearance by the World-Eater’s Punisher robots; “Wait, I think your double-A batteries are in backward. Lemme help you switch ‘em.”

Likewise, the television director does a good job penning the arrival of Michael Korvac and Iron Man’s subsequent brutal battering at the hands of the human cyborg’s super-powered minions. This vicious encounter initially seems to be going the Golden Avenger’s way, when he angrily rips one of the false god’s limbs off. However, the combined might of the Unicorn’s “power horn”, and the Controller’s daunting physical strength soon prove to be too great a hurdle for an already badly beaten Shell-head to overcome.

Perhaps therefore this comic’s sole disappointment lies in the impotence of ‘guest-star’ Colin Richard, who despite wearing a state-of-the-art battlesuit, is instantly shown to be well out of his depth when it comes to exploring Galactus’ deadly home or facing the diabolical power of the utterly insane Korvac. True, the Canadian Major’s inability to avoid one of the worldship’s opening salvos definitely helps show just how much more experienced Stark is when it comes to tackling intergalactic threats. But ultimately Avro-X appears to have been solely included within “Let Us Now Cross Over” simply so Cantwell can have someone within the storyline’s secondary cast horribly murdered by the maniacal Michael.

The regular cover art of "IRON MAN" #12 by Alex Ross