InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "rocket morton takes off again"

stolisomancer (stolisomancer) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-09-16 20:57:00

Entry tags:

char: iron man/tony stark, creator: steve kurth, creator: warren ellis, publisher: marvel comics, title: ultimate armor wars

Ultimate Armor Wars #1
It's an article of faith on SD that everyone in the Ultimate Universe is a dick except Peter. It's untrue, of course; the UFF are all, if anything, kinder than their mainstream counterparts, and most of the X-Men are perfectly decent people. Then there's Ultimate Tony Stark.

There were a few things about today's Ultimate Armor Wars that jumped out at me that I thought I'd share.

Tony is going to his Manhattan office after the Ultimatum incident, where despite the water damage to the city, his basement laboratory complex has survived more or less intact. Inside, he finds not one but two ~~jormungars~~ infiltrators.

I get a kick out of the fact that Tony's reaction, upon learning that Justine has a fairly decent reason to be there, is to wish her luck and walk away.

Tony proceeds to get into a fight with the second infiltrator. Without being too spoilery - I do think this book's worth your money - Justine takes a shot at the infiltrator during the fight.

I guess what really interests me about Ellis's version of Ultimate Tony is the complete lack of alpha-male behavior. Tony's a genius, yes, and absolutely self-confident, but he also has almost none of 616 Tony's ego. He's laid-back to the point of being almost careless, because he can afford to be; he's so good at what he does that he can do whatever's required in five-minute bursts of competence.

(Post a new comment)

	mcspakypants 2009-09-17 04:25 am UTC (link)
	I thought this was a great issue as well. Ellis writes Ultimate Tony as such a magnificent bastard. (Reply to this)

	naebler 2009-09-17 04:41 am UTC (link)
	Is this tony still dying of Cancer? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	I think so jazzypom 2009-09-17 08:45 am UTC (link)
	They haven't really pushed it beyond say, the first couple of issues. Like, there's the off comment, but to be fair, there's been a LOT going on in the Ultimates verse right now, so I'll assume yes until otherwise. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ashtoreth 2009-09-17 05:00 am UTC (link)
	Hey, this is good. ::boggles:: Q_Q Nice Tony! I missed you! (Reply to this)

	balbaroy 2009-09-17 06:54 am UTC (link)
	I know this is a bit offtopic, but... I miss Ultimate Jarvis. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-09-17 07:29 am UTC (link)
	What happened to him? --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	bariman1987 2009-09-17 07:39 am UTC (link)
	Ultimate Black Widow killed him in Ultimates v2, when she revealed she was a bad guy. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-09-17 03:23 pm UTC (link)
	Wow, that sucks. When/why did Marvel start hating Jarvis so much? This, a Skrull, and making him a computer in the movie. Am I missing anything? --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Ultimate Jarvis jazzypom 2009-09-17 05:19 pm UTC (link)
	He was one of the better characters in the Ultimates U, boy. As soon as he came on the page, I'd start laughing, because the man was hilarious. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Ultimate Jarvis lbd_nytetrayn 2009-09-17 08:35 pm UTC (link)
	...at what point did I say he wasn't? :P They killed him, on top of the other stuff mentioned. Seems they don't care for him much now. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Sorry if I've been unclear jazzypom 2009-09-17 08:37 pm UTC (link)
	I never said you didn't care for Jarvis or wasn't misrepresenting your words in anyway. I thought that Jarvis was a great character too. Ooops. Sorry again. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Sorry if I've been unclear lbd_nytetrayn 2009-09-17 11:45 pm UTC (link)
	Sorry, the "boy" thing sounded as if you were trying to correct me or something. ;P --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-09-17 07:29 am UTC (link)
	Hmm, I'm liking this. Though I prefer the version of the armor used in the Ultimate Avengers movies. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deepspaceartist 2009-09-17 02:24 pm UTC (link)
	I like that ULT-Iron Man has unique armour. It helps distinguish him from 616Tony. Plus I think The armour looks better than all the armours but the movis and extremis versions. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-09-17 03:26 pm UTC (link)
	It's mostly the color to me. I think it needs more red and yellow. I don't mind the silver, but I think it overwhelms the rest too much. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	deepspaceartist 2009-09-17 04:29 pm UTC (link)
	I like it because of the silver. To each their own, I guess. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	comicoz 2009-09-17 08:46 pm UTC (link)
	Is Arlo Stark in this same continuity? The one with an Iron Man costume with teeth? I'm currently unable to look at any Iron Man comic now without laughing due to the book (I forget which) I read last week where someone talked to Norman and said he was wearing "My First Starktech". (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	deepspaceartist 2009-09-17 11:48 pm UTC (link)
	Arlo is in Machine Man 2020 continuty, i belirve. (Reply to this) (Parent)

Yay, other Ultimate verse fans! tl;dr

jazzypom
2009-09-17 08:42 am UTC (link)

I guess what really interests me about Ellis's version of Ultimate Tony is the complete lack of alpha-male behavior. Tony's a genius, yes, and absolutely self-confident, but he also has almost none of 616 Tony's ego. He's laid-back to the point of being almost careless, because he can afford to be; he's so good at what he does that he can do whatever's required in five-minute bursts of competence.

Yes, this. Especially the laid-back to the point of carelessness bit. Millar has the same approach to Tony Stark too, but the thing with Ellis is, he has a more restrained hand at writing Tony Stark (compared to say, Millar) so his Tony comes across as well... not so much of a privileged dick, I guess (I like both approaches).

I've always said that Ultimates Tony would be 616 Tony if he embraced his magnificent bastardy and just gave it free rein. 616 Tony knows that he can be a dick, can be highlanded, that he has a lot of power and tries to do right with it, whereas Ultimates Tony isn't racked by such torturous misgivings. I don't know if its his sickness that makes him have this carpe diem outlook towards life, but it's certainly freeing.

Hmm, I think Ultimates Tony does have confidence in himself and his abilities, but he isn't hung up on say... a sort of moral centre that 616 Tony engages in. For instance, 616 Tony's side during the Civil War and him putting his name and friendships on the line because he thought this was the right course of action. Whereas Ultimates Tony would have thought the whole palaver a nightmare, and just ... go off to Ibiza and party with the beach babes or something.

Man, I love Ultimates Tony Stark in ways that I'd love a child... if I chose to have any. He has faults and blindspots, and uses alcohol as a crutch, but he's good people when it counts. I <3 you 1610 Tony. No, lie.

I'm torn between buying the floppies or waiting on the trades though. But I make it a point of if I like what I ...accquire, I support it by buying the floppy. But I already know that I prefer buying the trades, so whatever to do?!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Yay, other Ultimate verse fans! tl;dr stolisomancer 2009-09-17 10:55 am UTC (link)
	For a limited series like this one, it's no contest. Ellis has said repeatedly that he sees more money from trade paperbacks than floppies, and a limited series doesn't need to worry about perpetuating an ongoing. Buy the TPB and rejoice; Ellis's work reads better that way anyway. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ex_zemo315 2009-09-17 09:55 am UTC (link)
	Okay, hands up, who else finds "I'm dying of Super-Powers" a hilarious statement? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	comicoz 2009-09-17 08:44 pm UTC (link)
	I did, although I felt slightly guilty afterwards. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	robogeek 2009-09-17 10:19 am UTC (link)
	Vicky Von Dum? Is that who I think it is? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	stolisomancer 2009-09-17 10:42 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, I caught that too. Internet Jesus is playing with us. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	scottyquick 2009-09-17 12:34 pm UTC (link)
	Gender-reversed Doom? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	darkknightjrk 2009-09-18 12:01 am UTC (link)
	I think it's Tony's fun way of saying Victor Von-- Wait. He's dead too. ...Fuckin' Ultimatum... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	va1tyr 2009-09-17 10:51 am UTC (link)
	Ooo, want this. I do adore Ult Tony. "Hey, there's a pretty girl stealing my stuff. WELL she's got a good reason, and I'm kind of busy, so what the hell." Wait for the trade, pick up the floppy... decisions, decisions. (Reply to this)

	ninjapeps 2009-09-17 02:28 pm UTC (link)
	is the girl new? I know the other guy is an Ultimate version of a pre-existing character. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	shanejayell 2009-09-17 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	Justine Hammer is a two bit marvel villain as 'Crimson Cowl' the third. Or Fourth. lol (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ametatsu 2009-09-17 02:29 pm UTC (link)
	I so need to read more Ultimates. Tony's canny sweet. (Reply to this)

	blakeyrat 2009-09-17 04:24 pm UTC (link)
	I know comic books aren't strong on physics, but considering their altitude in that last panel and the fact that she has no breathing apparatus-- didn't he just kill her? What's the medical team for? Quick-reaction autopsy? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deepspaceartist 2009-09-17 04:32 pm UTC (link)
	Well, she is super power enhanced. Maybe that includes the Batman options? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	darkknightjrk 2009-09-18 12:02 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, this was pretty damn awesome. Also--who else would listen to the Tony Stark Podcast? I know I would in a heartbeat. :D (Reply to this)

	cmdr_zoom 2009-09-18 12:55 am UTC (link)
	Yes. This Tony doesn't have to show, or try, or prove that he is awesome, because he knows he is awesome. (Reply to this)