What do you think?
Rate this book
The Invincible Iron Man (2008) (Collected Editions)
The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 10: Long Way Down
He quit being sober. He quit being an Avenger. Will he really quit being Iron Man? Tony Stark's life is spiraling out of control - or so it seems. As his deadly chess match against the Mandarin reaches its fateful crescendo, will Tony's inscrutable strategy result in a hard-fought victory or utter defeat? And if Iron Man is truly no more, what of Pepper, Rhodey and the Stark Resilient team? With revamped rogues from Iron Man's past on the loose - and the murderous Spymaster finally making his move - all their lives are at stake, and one will be a horrible casualty in Stark's war against Hammer Industries. If quitting on everything is the price Stark is willing to pay to win, will the cost be too steep? COLLECTING: Invincible Iron Man 516-520
112 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2012
8 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Matt Fraction
1,221 books1,864 followers"How he got started in comics: In 1983, when Fraction was 7 years old and growing up in Kansas City, Mo., he became fascinated by the U.S. invasion of Grenada and created his own newspaper to explain the event. "I've always been story-driven, telling stories with pictures and words," he said.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 9, 2022
This was another good one as Fraction continues to push Tony further down and we get to see how its becoming probematic with the power Inhibitor and how its preventing him to save people so Tony has no option but to quit but there maybe a twist coming and then whats happening with Zeke and Sasha and they have a fun story there for sure meanwhile Spymaster is revealed and its a good revelation and what happens next, plus a new "Iron man" maybe and the coming of Chemistro and Mauler.. its all building towards a big finale and I am so excited to read it! So yeah overall a good volume and it promises big things to come!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2014
Marvel might as well as well have changed this book from Invincible Iron Man to The Malicious Mandarin considering how thoroughly Tony Stark has been beaten by his old enemy. It’s not just in the superhero fighting either. Tony has gotten his ass kicked in business, on the public relations front and on a personal level too.
This is what separates the real superheroes from the wannabes. When the going gets tough, the tough…..quit?!?
Yep. Tony is so tired of having the government and media up his ass that he resigns as an Avenger, steps down as Iron Man and has Reed Richards remove the bio-tech that linked him to his armor. However, if Tony was hoping that would put an end to his woes he was sadly mistaken as the Mandarin continues pressing him on every front, and the mole inside Stark Resilient is revealed with dangerous consequences.
And who is this new Iron Man in the funky black armor?
This was mainly a set-up volume, and while I’ve pretty much loved Fraction’s stories, I’m getting a little sick of Tony being so abused.
This is what separates the real superheroes from the wannabes. When the going gets tough, the tough…..quit?!?
Yep. Tony is so tired of having the government and media up his ass that he resigns as an Avenger, steps down as Iron Man and has Reed Richards remove the bio-tech that linked him to his armor. However, if Tony was hoping that would put an end to his woes he was sadly mistaken as the Mandarin continues pressing him on every front, and the mole inside Stark Resilient is revealed with dangerous consequences.
And who is this new Iron Man in the funky black armor?
This was mainly a set-up volume, and while I’ve pretty much loved Fraction’s stories, I’m getting a little sick of Tony being so abused.
March 23, 2021
3.75 stars. Tony’s enemies are still coming after him full steam. Plus now he can’t even use his armor. That Spymaster dude is crazy. Another solid entry with a crazy cliff hanger.
November 8, 2023
We've seen altogether too many "Tony Quits" Iron Man comics over the years for this one to get any points for originality but on the whole I've missed these Matt Fraction Iron Man comics and am glad to be returning to finish the run.
January 31, 2018
So much no.
Do you like weird non-consensual humiliation? The world finds out Tony was drinking during Fear Itself, so he's made to install a device that gives his enemies remote control over him being Iron Man so that during a fight they can turn the suit off and leave him in his underwear! Or maybe you'd like the Mandarin to control Tony's mind so he can punch himself in the face, kneel on the floor, and call the Mandarin master?
Other lowlights include Tony giving up Bleeding Edge, a scene where Tony goes to Steve and Carol for help and Steve offers to punch him in the face, which is so out of character that I literally thought it was a dream sequence, and the reveal that the spy in Resilient is, in fact, one of the two gay characters, which I totally called based on that fact alone and I really wish I hadn't.
Do you like weird non-consensual humiliation? The world finds out Tony was drinking during Fear Itself, so he's made to install a device that gives his enemies remote control over him being Iron Man so that during a fight they can turn the suit off and leave him in his underwear! Or maybe you'd like the Mandarin to control Tony's mind so he can punch himself in the face, kneel on the floor, and call the Mandarin master?
Other lowlights include Tony giving up Bleeding Edge, a scene where Tony goes to Steve and Carol for help and Steve offers to punch him in the face, which is so out of character that I literally thought it was a dream sequence, and the reveal that the spy in Resilient is, in fact, one of the two gay characters, which I totally called based on that fact alone and I really wish I hadn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2016
The ongoing story continues building steam to a potentially big finale. While some aspects of Fraction's run are being wound up, he's really amping up the grander story and there's a great finale reveal. By now my issues with the art have become moot and I've just accepted the style. I'm keen to find out how this all ends.
October 12, 2012
A quick but entertaining read, one of the better volumes of the series, if just for the final few pages.
November 9, 2012
Holy crap.
Read
October 18, 2014Noooo spymaster nooooo.
Stop with the stabbing.
Stop with the stabbing.
November 22, 2020
Long Way Down is volume 10 of the Invincible Iron Man series and my continued revisit.
If you thought things were bad for Tony Stark in the previous volume: Demon, things certainly continue on a downward trend here. How much more can a character lose? With The Mandarin, Ezekiel Stane and Hammer Industries all clamouring for a piece. Plus what feels like the rest of Iron Mans rogues gallery.
We also finally get an answer as to who the mole is in Stark Resilient, a plot thread that has been ongoing for a while.
On top of that we also have a new Iron Man in a very snazzy Tron inspired armour. It may be one of my favourite Iron Man armours.
Again we get a good balance of plot, drama and action, delivered with the consistent art style they I have really enjoyed across most of the series. There is plenty of set up and questions that need answers in the finale.
If you thought things were bad for Tony Stark in the previous volume: Demon, things certainly continue on a downward trend here. How much more can a character lose? With The Mandarin, Ezekiel Stane and Hammer Industries all clamouring for a piece. Plus what feels like the rest of Iron Mans rogues gallery.
We also finally get an answer as to who the mole is in Stark Resilient, a plot thread that has been ongoing for a while.
On top of that we also have a new Iron Man in a very snazzy Tron inspired armour. It may be one of my favourite Iron Man armours.
Again we get a good balance of plot, drama and action, delivered with the consistent art style they I have really enjoyed across most of the series. There is plenty of set up and questions that need answers in the finale.
February 3, 2019
This storyline just gets better and better. I also like it a lot, that now it's revealed how slow the build-up really is. Cannot wait to read how it concludes!
May 8, 2019
That ending though!!!!! I audibly gasped.
May 17, 2018
Tony Stark was given two choices by the U.S. government: give up all your suits or install a device that would let the government decide when and how he would use his suit. Tony choose the later but soon realized it was a decision he couldn't live with. With the help of Dr. Reed, Tony separates himself from all the suits physical components. Legally, he signs of the rights to his tech company.
However, just because he's done with the suit doesn't mean his enemies are done with him. Many of Tonys rivals have come back in full force, including the Mandarin. In the end it is revealed that the Mandarin has wormed his way into Tonys mind and is able to control his every move. Tony, beaten and broken, submits to the Mandarins control.
It was an ok story, which I think I would've enjoyed better if I had read the earlier comics in the series. Watched Infinity War recently and the rush of seeing all the Avengers together makes their individual stories seem a little uninteresting.
However, just because he's done with the suit doesn't mean his enemies are done with him. Many of Tonys rivals have come back in full force, including the Mandarin. In the end it is revealed that the Mandarin has wormed his way into Tonys mind and is able to control his every move. Tony, beaten and broken, submits to the Mandarins control.
It was an ok story, which I think I would've enjoyed better if I had read the earlier comics in the series. Watched Infinity War recently and the rush of seeing all the Avengers together makes their individual stories seem a little uninteresting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2018
In this volume, we get closer to the endgame and things are not looking good for Tony Stark.
The Mandarin is controlling things on a deeper level than we thought possible, and it ties nicely into one of the very first arcs of Fractions run.
Some good news is that some of his enemies past problems come back to them in an unexpected way. Its refreshing to see the "bad guys" have some repercussions for their actions as the good guys always seem to be on the bad end of that stick all the time.
As always, the writing is solid, quick paced and well written. The art is good as always, and I appreciate the different art style, which i think is more due to the coloring, when showing flashback sequences.
Things are grim, but with the wild card of a new Iron Man at play, who knows how Tony will get out of this, but I will be looking forward to the conclusion in the next one.
The Mandarin is controlling things on a deeper level than we thought possible, and it ties nicely into one of the very first arcs of Fractions run.
Some good news is that some of his enemies past problems come back to them in an unexpected way. Its refreshing to see the "bad guys" have some repercussions for their actions as the good guys always seem to be on the bad end of that stick all the time.
As always, the writing is solid, quick paced and well written. The art is good as always, and I appreciate the different art style, which i think is more due to the coloring, when showing flashback sequences.
Things are grim, but with the wild card of a new Iron Man at play, who knows how Tony will get out of this, but I will be looking forward to the conclusion in the next one.
May 12, 2020
As the name suggests, things are not well for Tony Stark. The Mandarin, and his cabal of villains are destroying every part of his life, Rhodey is hurt,there is a new Iron Man, Stark Resilient has a mole inside, and Tony's suit is being controlled by Hammer.
This volume is mainly about Mandarin beating Tony in each and every way possible, and we wonder, how can Stark get back from this. Also, Pepper has a big role in this volume, and I love that girl. She is so fun, so determined, so hopeful, she remains a stark contrast (pun intended) to Tony.
This was like Setup vol. 2 for Iron Man vs Mandarin showdown. Again, good enough, but not particularly amazing.
This volume is mainly about Mandarin beating Tony in each and every way possible, and we wonder, how can Stark get back from this. Also, Pepper has a big role in this volume, and I love that girl. She is so fun, so determined, so hopeful, she remains a stark contrast (pun intended) to Tony.
This was like Setup vol. 2 for Iron Man vs Mandarin showdown. Again, good enough, but not particularly amazing.
May 17, 2021
Tony's long way down continues.
His company got infiltrated and nearly destroyed and people got hurt.
Tony lost the Iron Man.
The Mandarin now has Tony on his knees, calling him "Master".
This story is dark and grim, but we also get a few hopeful signs that Tony has a plan.
It is another of these Tony plans that involve him not asking for help and endangering other people out of pride.
Plus, there are the first stirrings of dissent among the minions of the Mandarin.
Very well paced, exciting and nail-biting read.
Cannot wait to find out how it all ends.
His company got infiltrated and nearly destroyed and people got hurt.
Tony lost the Iron Man.
The Mandarin now has Tony on his knees, calling him "Master".
This story is dark and grim, but we also get a few hopeful signs that Tony has a plan.
It is another of these Tony plans that involve him not asking for help and endangering other people out of pride.
Plus, there are the first stirrings of dissent among the minions of the Mandarin.
Very well paced, exciting and nail-biting read.
Cannot wait to find out how it all ends.
November 16, 2020
Another solid volume as we barrel towards the ending of this run.
We're dropped right into another of Tony's clashes with the group of supervillains that's hunting him. Rhodey has just 'died', and the government is still trying to get Tony to step down from the mantle of Iron Man. It has the makings of a classic Iron Man romp.
Larroca's art is especially solid in this volume, especially his work on the new Iron Man suit. This was a great read!
We're dropped right into another of Tony's clashes with the group of supervillains that's hunting him. Rhodey has just 'died', and the government is still trying to get Tony to step down from the mantle of Iron Man. It has the makings of a classic Iron Man romp.
Larroca's art is especially solid in this volume, especially his work on the new Iron Man suit. This was a great read!
June 27, 2018
OK, I know it is not super happy but I loved everything about the Spymaster story line in this - I didn't see it coming at all. This was much better (for me) than the previous volume. A lot of action happened, but there were still more "human" moments and discussions.
October 8, 2021
Pretty intense. By far my favorite part was Spymaster, and his tragic love affair. This was a great "things falling apart" arc. It had its moments of confusion, but overall held together real well and makes me very interested in what happens next.
August 7, 2017
Was OK. Felt like it was a 'set up' issue. Hope the next is better.
July 19, 2018
Love the designs in this one.
September 21, 2021
Spymaster feels as dangerous as a kid with a sand shovel. And Mandarin just wants to build tripods from the War of Worlds for no particular reason. I hate myself for reading this nonsense.
January 28, 2025
The new Iron Man suit is the only good thing in this volume. The rest is just redundant themes and scriptwriting ease.
August 15, 2025
72/100
October 2, 2025
This round goes to the Mandarin and Stane. Tony goes into retreat to plan a comeback. Back to the original set up.
December 23, 2012
OK first up: we see Carol Danvers in the first chapter (issue 516) still dressed in her Ms. Marvel swimsuit. This book was written by Matt Fraction who lives with the writer of Captain Marvel (Kelly Sue DeConnick), and this issue was published in May 2012, after the new (less sexist) Catsin Marvel costume was announced. Was this a deliberate choice or an oversight? If so, whose: Fraction? Larroca? Paniccia? Makes me feel like Kelly Sue and Carol are not getting the respect they deserve.
More than that though is an overwhelming feeling of disappointment here. Not disappointed in the storytelling, the plot or the character development - but I am disappointed in the choices that Stark is making here to "clean up" his messes. I can't shake the feeling that Fraction is working Stark like we work over a house before we put it up for sale - remove the personal touches, fresh paint, reduce it to the blandest foundations so that the next owner has a place that can be modded to their purposes. I'm aware that Fraction is handing over Iron Man to a new creative team after the next book, and it seems like he's working hard to prepare Tony Stark for a whole lot of "original struggle" (i.e. not that original - this threatens to let us tell the same tired origin story one more time with the Marvel Now relaunch - and give yet another writer a chance to let Tony reinvent himself from little or nothing). I wish I didn't fear that Marvel will pull the same mostly-unimaginative terribly superficial relaunch of their core characters that DC has done with New 52. I have more hopes for Marvel than I have seen come to pass for DC, but that's not saying much.
Setting aside that overtone, the struggle and weirdly hard choices being made here are good drama - if only I could enjoy them without seeing it for the Marvel Now "reboot" potential. The fact that there are little wins in the battles but continued struggle in the meta-war with Mandarin gives this storyline the necessary tension to keep us turning pages. And the continued questions over who's working on whose side - the ever-changing allegiances and suspicions - has been the best part of the Mandarin tale. Could we just keep him pulling Stark's strings forever?
Love Potts as Rescue and as herself; I miss Splitlip (where'd he go?). I wish Stark would accept the least little help from someone, rather than beat himself before others beat him.
Still appreciating the art from Larroca, but it seems rushed in places in this book - was Iron Man double-shipping during this run?
More than that though is an overwhelming feeling of disappointment here. Not disappointed in the storytelling, the plot or the character development - but I am disappointed in the choices that Stark is making here to "clean up" his messes. I can't shake the feeling that Fraction is working Stark like we work over a house before we put it up for sale - remove the personal touches, fresh paint, reduce it to the blandest foundations so that the next owner has a place that can be modded to their purposes. I'm aware that Fraction is handing over Iron Man to a new creative team after the next book, and it seems like he's working hard to prepare Tony Stark for a whole lot of "original struggle" (i.e. not that original - this threatens to let us tell the same tired origin story one more time with the Marvel Now relaunch - and give yet another writer a chance to let Tony reinvent himself from little or nothing). I wish I didn't fear that Marvel will pull the same mostly-unimaginative terribly superficial relaunch of their core characters that DC has done with New 52. I have more hopes for Marvel than I have seen come to pass for DC, but that's not saying much.
Setting aside that overtone, the struggle and weirdly hard choices being made here are good drama - if only I could enjoy them without seeing it for the Marvel Now "reboot" potential. The fact that there are little wins in the battles but continued struggle in the meta-war with Mandarin gives this storyline the necessary tension to keep us turning pages. And the continued questions over who's working on whose side - the ever-changing allegiances and suspicions - has been the best part of the Mandarin tale. Could we just keep him pulling Stark's strings forever?
Love Potts as Rescue and as herself; I miss Splitlip (where'd he go?). I wish Stark would accept the least little help from someone, rather than beat himself before others beat him.
Still appreciating the art from Larroca, but it seems rushed in places in this book - was Iron Man double-shipping during this run?
January 12, 2016
After the fantastic climax of the previous volume, my hopes were set pretty high for this one. Unfortunately, Fraction didn't quite manage to live up to his own setup here. This volume feels more like stalling than anything else. Sure, there are some standout thrills, and Fraction always deliver decent dialogue. But it really feels like he was waiting to deliver the full payload of goods in Volume 11, the final entry in his Iron Man run, and as such just kind of had to sit in the slow lane for this one.
Beyond these structural/pacing problems, there's also some fairly big, glaring errors in terms of general story elements. We get a remarkably unsatisfying explanation in regards to the mile that's been plaguing Stark Resilient for the past year or so. The Detroit Steel storyline wraps up as if it never mattered at all. Ezekiel Stane has a brief conflict with The Mandarin that takes about 2 pages to resolve. There's just a lot of "clunk" in this pile, and I can't say it raised my hopes for the finale. This couldn't be more middle of the road. Here's hoping Fraction really amps things up in the last volume, otherwise wow, what a whimper of an ending.
Beyond these structural/pacing problems, there's also some fairly big, glaring errors in terms of general story elements. We get a remarkably unsatisfying explanation in regards to the mile that's been plaguing Stark Resilient for the past year or so. The Detroit Steel storyline wraps up as if it never mattered at all. Ezekiel Stane has a brief conflict with The Mandarin that takes about 2 pages to resolve. There's just a lot of "clunk" in this pile, and I can't say it raised my hopes for the finale. This couldn't be more middle of the road. Here's hoping Fraction really amps things up in the last volume, otherwise wow, what a whimper of an ending.
March 16, 2016
Tony's quit Iron Man, the Avengers and sobriety, all at once, as the Mandarin appears to win. Pretty unrelentingly dark with Tony taking hit after hit after hit. Still love the Reliant crew, poor Tim. Justine's starting to get too cocky. The scene with Steve was pretty amazing, and I would love to see something like it in Civil War in May--Steve was snarky ("Sure. Disaster. There's a word. Unmitigated. Near total collapse of the credit industry." "That's eight." "Got carried away.") and crazy forceful when Tony tried to attack him ("I want you to think. Think very very carefully about what you do next. Because what I'm going to do next, Tony, is break your nose with my forehead. Then I'm going to crush your hands in mine. So now, then. What about you?"). I want to see way more of Fraction's Steve! The ending was a total shocker, and caught my interest again after being sort of meh on the last few trades.
December 1, 2013
I'm not sure if it was just me, but when I started reading Long Way Down, I felt like the first couple pages were a little jarring. Why was Tony talking to the Avengers and why were they so pushy about trying to help? After this though, the story got good and stayed good. Things are not just dark for Tony but you almost feel sorry for Ezekiel here. Detroit Steel is also a surprising character in these issues. The story for Invincible Iron Man feels rich and the way that all the characters are used really helps keep the plot moving too. This story ends on a nice cliffhanger and it seems like things just keep getting worse and worse for Tony. I'm really looking forward to the last volume of this series. It is one of the stronger ones I've read from Marvel.
March 18, 2015
And the wheels are starting to turn as the noose around Tony's neck starts to tighten. The government is involved in the conspiracy that involves the notorious Mandarin.
:3
The fact that the governer that Stark was forced to wear makes his life as Iron Man unfeasible so he decides to quit and a new Iron Man is on the Block is an interesting turn of events.
This Iron Man is faster, stronger and tremendously equipped to handle any situation but the identity remains anonymous. The story also highlights the deep sentiment shared by Tony and Colonel Codey Rhodes.
:')
The story could have ended on a better note if I had it my way but it was enjoyable none the less.
:3
The fact that the governer that Stark was forced to wear makes his life as Iron Man unfeasible so he decides to quit and a new Iron Man is on the Block is an interesting turn of events.
This Iron Man is faster, stronger and tremendously equipped to handle any situation but the identity remains anonymous. The story also highlights the deep sentiment shared by Tony and Colonel Codey Rhodes.
:')
The story could have ended on a better note if I had it my way but it was enjoyable none the less.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews