Tony Stark: Iron Man, Vol. 2: Stark Realities

Tony Stark: Iron Man (Collected Editions)

by Dan Slott (Writer), Valerio Schiti

All-out war on multiple fronts! Arsenal, the monstrous robot that once took on all the Avengers, is back in an all-new way — just as Tony Stark changes everything with his virtual world known as the eScape! But who controls the eScape? Who controls the real world? And who controls Iron Man? The answerto at least one of these questions is the vile villain called the Controller. And the answer to the others might surprise you! Iron Man isn’t just a suit. It’s an idea, born of a genius. And in a place where thought and existence are one and the same, where Tony Stark’s imagination is unchecked, what kind of terrifying, all-powerful Iron Man will be born?! Reality, the cyberscape and Tony Stark’s heart, mind and soul at stake!

COLLECTING: TONY STARK: IRON MAN 6-11

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2019

About the author

Dan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.

Reviews

[Artemy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has really lost its way. The story is so messy, so unfocused and out of touch with every character (Tony most of all), I really can't see where this going or why this book even exists anymore. Plagued by constant delays, too — they even had to bring in Jim Zub to help Slott co-write it, because for some reason he just can't churn these issues out on schedule. It feels like Slott just lost interest in this book and is phoning it in by stuffing issues with noise and nonsense in order to produce anything at all.

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Iron Man 2020 since his debut on Machine Man 1984 mini-series and loved almost every Marvel comic with old Arno, originally Tony's younger cousin from Earth-8410, not Tony's brother introduced in Kieron Gillen's run. Amazing Spider-Man annual #20 with Spidey fighting Arno Stark is still one of my most favourite comic book ever... what a grim ending.



Previous two Iron Man runs from Gillen and Bendis were really not my cup of tea and made me stop reading it , but I wanted give a try to current Iron Man 2020 event so I started reading this new run from Dan Slott and... Surprise!



I'm just loving this series, a funny mash-up between iconic classic David Michelinie/Bob Layton long run, overmentioned Machine Man 1984 mini-series, and Ready Player One wonderfully illustrated by Valerio Schiti.




Tony being trapped inside a virtual reality version of the Invincible Iron Man 1966 tv show, that I loved watching when I was a kid in the 70s, just made my day and the Godbuster armor based on the original 2020 design made me drool! Can't wait for Arno wearing it at last.



Not a masterpiece, but I'm totally enjoying the ride for now.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony unveils the eScape, his new MMORPG online immersive virtual reality system - only for it to be promptly hijacked by the Controller (because of course). Even with Aaron Stack as his secret weapon, Tony will be hard pressed to defeat the true enemy of the eScape, and he definitely won't come out of the encounter unscathed, learning some hard truths about himself that will change his outlook on life forever. Plus, what the hell are Sunset Bain and Arno Stark up to?

Dan Slott continues to put Tony Stark through the ringer, as he brings the Controller subplot to a boil and pits Tony against himself as much as his villains. There's a lot going on in this book at a time, with multiple characters going through it all at once, to the point that almost no one is the same after these six issues as they were going in. It's a masterful balancing act, and I love Slott (and co-writer Jim Zub) for attempting something on this scale while also weaving a big fucking fight scene around it all as well.

I also like the ideology that Slott is bringing in here; Tony has been throwing AI under the bus for years, so having characters like Jocasta and Machine Man question him openly on these things makes for some poignant issues as well. Even when he wins, Iron Man loses. Thus is the life of Tony Stark, I suppose.

Valerio Schiti continues to impress as always, no matter the virtual reality madness that Slott and co throw at him. His action scenes are second to none, and the level of detail in his panels always makes the book feel full and lived in.

Stark Realities is a turning point for this book, even in its infancy, and I cannot wait to see how all this affects Tony and friends.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK but nowhere near as good as Slott's past work. The book is very unfocused with too many characters. Tony Stark is the least interesting character in the book. The only interesting idea here is having the Iron Man 2020 armor show up. Slott has brought back Arno Stark and Machine Man as well, so that could be interesting for next year as we enter 2020. It'd be neat to see him tie in the current run with the original Iron Man 2020 series from 30+ years ago.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty interesting as you basically get to see the big story with the eSCAPE and how its changing people in a way and becoming more dangerous, this is Stark Unlimited big launch and if this doesn't work well it will be trouble for them and so it becomes a much more personal story and then whats going on with the Motherboard and how it will challenge Tony in that VR world? Meanwhile in the real world "Controller" is back and his secret plans are revealed.. so a threat for Tony on multiple fronts meanwhile grasping questions of existentialism and then also with his mothers and the origin mess and all..

I will say this that while the book is not perfect, it does have its moments where its really good and really explores Tony in some fun ways and shows the struggles he is going through and all but more it shows him overcoming that and like a good closure after his return and does have a couple of fun villains for him to overcome and that "Godbuster armor" was just brilliant!!

So yeah an arc with some loopholes here and there and some corny dialogue but still does well to give Tony an emotional arc and a good closure to many subplots that have been running over the course of the Character's publication!

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story elements bookend a lot of VR sound and fury. I'll likely be back for vol. 3, but I'm in no hurry.

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope.

Stay away and read something else. Anything. Little House on the Prairie books. Google how to make a turkey thanksgiving dinner. The ingredients on the back of a chocolate bar. Read that.

Ps. Amazing covers on this one too. The only thing you'll like.

[Sans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issue 9 is hands down genius. The retro style art, the theme song, Machine Man yelling about being a vodka-soaked nighmare and asking Tony if people actually do just wait around for him to change clothes. The roller skates. I loved all of it.

Seeing this arc come to a close was also rough. Tony just cannot catch a break. I'm not thrilled with Jan, but I never have been a Wasp fan. All in all, I've really enjoyed this.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would happen if Tony Stark were to create a VR video game? This Volume asks the question and we are introduced to eScape, Stark Unlimited's answer to SAO (Sword Art Online, it's an anime...). But, much like we would suspect, things begin to immediately go wrong. The Controller (an old Marvel villain who's powers are... well controlling things, hence the name) hacks into the system and allows users who have been banned to be let back into the system. As Tony attempts to discover what is going on and regain control, he also becomes "controlled" and begins to live his old womanizing alcoholic nature. BUT... his control is being assisted by Motherboard, an A.I. with the personality of his adopted mother.
The story continues from there, but it is very fast paced and definitely keeps the reader going through their paces. When all is said and done, we have: Godbuster Armor, FRIDAY being gone forever, Tony feeling the pain of still fighting against his alcoholism, and an existential crisis as Tony deals with the idea that he is no longer who he has always been, and had been dead at the end of Civil War II. (hopefully more on that in the next Volume)
If you are missing Tony from the MCU, rest assured that he is still adventuring, creating and overcoming in the pages of this comic. Recommend.

[RG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely lost interest in this story

[Michael Emond · Rating 1 out of 5]

Big fail. I am a huge Slott fan. He did my favorite run on Spider-man and is doing a solid run on the FF and his run on She-Hulk and Silver Surfer are the best by far for those characters. He respects the characters and their history and manages to write stories that challenge our heroes but also have a message of hope.

But wow - I didn't like volume one of Iron Man and I hated this volume. The supporting characters are boring or unlikable. The baddies are 2 dimensional and not interesting. And Iron Man is so dull and uninteresting I was shocked. His romance with the Wasp is forced and doesn't make sense. His interaction with his mom is cringey. "Mom - get out of here! You're in danger!!" "No, you can't push me out of your life, I'm staying...oh look I am now in danger"

The plot for this volume felt like it was written by a 10 year old. Iron man has launched his VR world and everyone is in line to get it. And...it gets taken over by a villain within 2 minutes. "I had safety protocols!" That's great - too bad the writer (Slott) decided you are an idiot who can't safeguard his new VR world.

Wow. I actively hated this volume. So rare. That's the end of reading Slott's Iron Man for me. Did I read this was getting an Omnibus? Yikes!!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the previous story. There's only a bit involving Arno.
Tony isn’t connecting emotionally with Amanda (his biological mom, the former singer and spy). I felt a little sorry for her, like when Tony says he doesn’t have time to deal with her (using those words); but I’m not wild about the soap-opera-y plot twist of Tony being adopted. But at least she keeps trying instead of going off and sulking. Amanda and Andy coupling up is nice, though.
The "eScape" is a totally believable version of how something like that could go wrong: the villains empower the jerks and override the safety protocols, then bring it into reality with real weapons and real crimes.
Aaron being helpful because he misses Jocasta and wants to get back in her good graces--the flip-flopping felt convenient and contrived. Though at least he isn’t truly evil.
I like how Tony's struggles with his daddy issues play out. Tony says he tried to “live up to [Howard’s] legacy��but it never felt right. …So I made Stark Unlimited my own. …I made my ideas into reality, and then I re-created myself the exact same way! I’m an idea. My own idea. I’m the INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.”
Tony’s and Rhodey’s friendship summed up in one heartwarming sentence: “You fall, I catch you.”
I liked the consistent art, and the cover art with Iron Man inside a glass of whiskey is clever.

[Ariya]

I'd waited until the volume version has been up on goodread so I could rant properly, lol. God what a fucked up Tony is, people? Like, is he okay? because, to me, he's completely lost and so messed up in all the way. I....uh, don't think I like the new polished art style as much as I thought when I'd read the first volume, but it's only ONE good thing that keeps me reading. I'm biased by Stark Resilience, the stupendous virtual realities, and Tony's stupid biological mom *multitudes of eyes rolled ensured* Please end this arc and GIVE ME BACK MY TONY.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a lot of Iron Man, and Dan Slott's run is pretty good, a bright shiny cyber turn on the Golden Avenger.
This installment sets up the Iron Man 2020 stuff, and I'm a sucker for well-done storytelling.
Interesting to find Tony and Janet Van Dyne together for more than a little, particularly with Bethany Cabe back in the cast.
Upon rereading: still good.
Recommended.

[Renata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's some stuff I don't really care about: Tony Stark's retconned biological parents vs adoptive parents, virtual reality gone awry, robot ethics.

Here's some stuff I do care about: Tony's relationships with Janet and Rhodey, both of whom get like, three panels in this book.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stark Realities (#6-11). Stark builds a VR. If of course goes very wrong in a story that one would have to call "horribly decompressed". This is about two issues worth of story, spread out across six issues, the worst of which is a never-ending fistfight with the Controller. There's some good action and movement for the supporting cast, but besides that, this arc feels very shallow [2+/5].

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collects Tony Stark: Iron Man issues #6-11

I was at a funeral for a family friend last week, and this morning I was thinking about a story that was told about the old woman as she slipped from life to death. I was reflecting on how we are all going to die someday, but we don't take that fact very seriously. If I really respected the fact that I have limited time on this Earth, would I be happy with the fact that I used part of it reading this particular book? I can admit that this volume of "Tony Stark: Iron Man" is better than the first one, but should I keep reading a story that is just so-so, filled with characters that I don't really care about? I only got one issue into this collection when all of these thoughts started flooding my mind. I loved Dan Slott's "Amazing Spider-Man" run, so I feel compelled to read other things he has written, but this just isn't that good. This experience this morning really has me re-thinking how much time I should give to reading comic books in general. Is this a valuable use of my limited time on Earth? I'm not saying that this series broke me, but it does have me questioning what it really important in life. I'm going to give this book a middle-of-the-road 3-star rating because I didn't finish the collection, so it isn't fair to give it too low or too high of a score, however I wasn't that impressed with Issue #6, which kicked off this collection. I think it goes without saying that I won't be reading on in this series.

[Alex Sarll]

Remember when Dan Slott used to write comics by himself? He was mostly quite good at it. Whereas nowadays, even though he's only working on two titles, he seems to need help with both of them, and they still end up running late. Here it isn't even his usual sidekick, Christos Gage, but Jim Zub and Jeremy Whitley, two names I associate at best with good-natured but inconsequential comics, and in Whitley's case with an occasional weakness for reaching for smiles at the expense of cohesion. So it proves here, with a rush of stuff happening, dotted with fun references (I especially enjoyed the Lonely Island nod), but an overall sense that it needed more time to breathe if any of it was meant to land properly. Stark is launching his new virtual world, but the Controller* has hacked several of the headsets, sending their wearers out into the world to cause real chaos while they still think they're gaming – with drone-based deliveries of weapons by way of real-world loot crates. And also the robot Arsenal is booting people out of the VR for misbehaving, except that strand (and whether it's even a bad thing) more or less falls out of the story, though I think it might tie into the bit with simulations of Stark's parents, and see what I mean about it feeling crowded? All of which is without even mentioning the ongoing subplot about robot ethics, though while some of that is still working (humans willing to work around a fallen robot body in the way they wouldn't a fellow human), other bits really aren't (for a digital being, why is a back-up not the same person?). Still, at least Machine Man gets to pretend he's Russian Troll-Bot and threaten the capitalists with vodka-powered doom. Schiti's art helps keep the characters engaging even when the writing is sketchy, though at times it falls down on the tech – not least when he draws what looks like a normal handgun, despite it having apparently been 'set to stun'. Would that they could be.

*There aren't many supervillains called Basil, are there? Every time his real name is mentioned, I was reminded why that is. At least a British writer might have made more of a subsequent explosion for a BOOM! BOOM! payoff.

[Beelzefuzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand it has some cool moments and is a continuous arc which I asked for after the stuttering, episodic last volume. On the other hand, it is a little over the top with its message and feels at times like someone rewrote an old '90s issue of Iron Man after watching Ready Player One.

If you read the throwback style sections as if everyone is a character from Archer, it makes it better.

Now, I am not sure if Slott has a sister or a nephew, but I am pretty sure he had this conversation:
"What game is this, nephew?"
"Fortnite. Kill that guy, Gustav!"
"It seems pretty violent, what would your mom say if she knew this is what you play all day and that is how you talk?"
"Uncle Dan, it is just a game, how can I be violent with a controller? It is all in fun. Destroy that *expletive deleted*, Gustav!"
"I am telling your mother how this game has changed you."
"Uncle Dan, this game is mother now. Do not look for Stacy. You should leave now."
"This will all be behind a thinly veiled metaphor in the next 5 issues of Iron Man. Mark my words, Jedediah!"

[Vilma Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, I love Tony Stark. My intro to him was through the MCU and I loved RDJ’s Tony Stark. He could be an insensitive, self-centered jerk. He had a lot of faults to work on. To me, that’s what made him interesting and human. And his drive to be better, to do better, that’s what made him a hero. I am still and will be forever furious with how Tony’s story ended in the MCU.

My anger at how his story ended in the MCU made me want to meet the Tony from the comics, though. So far, he’s breaking my heart and making me love him all the more for it. As usual, Tony is having a hard time because some jerk saw something he created and wanted to steal/destroy it.

In this comic, Tony makes mistakes. He’s not perfect. But he wants to do good things in the world. He fights to make good things happen in the world. Sometimes his biggest hurdle comes from himself.

I kind of knew it would happen, since there’s just so much Iron Man lore leading up to this comic that I’m unfamiliar with, but sometimes I feel very lost. There are characters I don’t recognize. And then there are characters I do recognize acting in ways that to me feel out of character.

It makes me want to read more, though, not less. I’m looking forward to the next volume.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olha, eu gosto muito do trabalho do Dan Slott na Marvel, mas o que ele tem feito neste Fresh Start tem me decepcionado bastante. Um dos casos é este segundoa rco do Homem de Ferro, Duras Realidades, em que Slott precisa dividir os roteiros com Jim Zub para poder dar conta do recado. Nele, para variar, quando Tony Stark começa a mexer com inteligência e realidades artificiais a coisa dá crepe! E dessa vez, além de termos o Controlador como vilão, temos sem mais nem menos também uma entidade artificial com o nome de Placa Mãe, que passa a "encarnar virtualmente" a mãe de Tony, Maria Stark. Nisso, a verdadeira mãe de Tony, Armstrong, descobre que pouco restou de biológico e de natura em seu filho e que o Tony com que se relacionou nos últimos meses não era anda mais que uma entidade artificial que possuía os sentidos e memória de Stark. Por outro lado, quem brilha mesmo na série são o Homem-Máquina, Aaron Stack e a robô Jocasta. Já os desenhos de Valerio Schitti, mais um italiano na Marvel são bastante irregulares, por vezes muito bons e por vezes muito ruim. Então que no Cômputo geral este é um quadrinho bem irregular também.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this more than Volume 1, which I also recently read. The stakes are higher here. The main plot and side stories are more interesting. And, there is much more conflict and action versus Volume 1.
Tony Stark/Stark Unlimited's eScape was supposed to be a virtual reality amusement park. However, the interface gets hacked by The Controller, who creates a backdoor to allow all the previously-banned bad users to get back into the virtual world and create havoc and destruction. But is the Controller being manipulated as well? What's stepbrother Arno Stark up to, and why is he allied with competitor Bain Industries?
The side stories include Tony's birth mother trying to connect with him and being put off because Tony is too busy and distracted to act like a human. And, who's more empathetic and responsible? Is it the androids like Jocasta or the eScape engineers and security who seem to put business concerns first?
The wrap-up to the story is intriguing and opens the door for future storylines. Tony is having an identity crisis, for one that could turn out to be a real doozy.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently I liked this a little more than the average of other readers. The PTSD isn’t quite as forefront until the very end for Tony, but I really liked supporting characters like Jocasta. Mainly Jocasta. A lot of the others felt like they got shorter shrift and were distilled down to “being fairly blind in their support of Tony” (namely Rhodey and Janet). The art and larger world were fine, but I do want a bit more out of this series that seems to be carefully retreating ground from older Iron Man narratives while letting the technology be the focal update. I think the films are so heavily influencing this current run of Marvel comics, but it doesn’t always seem to be inherently improving them either.

[Grant Lamb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full of hype little moments. The art style varies between a pop art infused call back to vintage kirby, that lampoons itself perfectly and a beautiful bold aesthetic that perfectly nails the futurism the book is aiming for. The actual plot of the book revolves around a contrived premise taken straight out of sword art online, and the obviousness with which the books philosophical issues are presented are enough to give philip k dick a hard on. The robot stand in for minorities is over done and cringe. Some absolutely great moments of character development from tony. Stark's name takes precedent in the title, and his dealings it is to be human vs what it is to be a robot is the primary focus of the story. The godkiller armour is absolutely squee inducing.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was a little heavier than anticipated. From the relatively lighter and fluffier first volume, this second book goes a little deeper into things. We have the Controller revealing himself and triggering his big plan. And along the way, we have Tony Stark dealing with more of his internal baggage and some of the bigger questions of his new existence. Ship of Theseus indeed.

I didn't expect this book to go this introspective so soon, but kudos to Slott for crafting this narrative arc. The ending status quo is pretty unsettling on some levels and we have our "core" cast of characters all going in different directions after the events of this volume, so it's anyone's guess figuring out where things will go from here.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Man, most of this was a chore to get through. I guess the whole idea for the plot just wasn’t for me. An A.I. World you enter with a face mask and you can be whatever you want and of course it gets hacked. Most of this was just boring. And some things felt so forced and dumb just to move this plot forward. Like Tony’s mom Amanda wanting you jump in the digital world during the middle of the biggest tech launch of Tony’s career just to interrupt him to talk about their relationship. Really?!?! Or the Friday A.I. Not wanting to be in the iron man suit anymore. But Tony you promised! I’m sorry but that was just dumb to me. The only cool thing was the God Killer armor.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tony Stark or download of Tony Stark builds his own virtual reality game ofr the world and of course it goes wacky. The Controller finds a way to control it. Seems implied in his name. Meanwhile, his virtual mom, who raised Tony Stark, fights with his biological mom, who never knew him, and this part is rather lame as they both treat a grown man like a baby. I liked everything around him like Andy Bhang and Jocasta more than concern for Tony Stark. This story is in one of those places where you know the hero will be fine so it's conclusion leave you empty.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know that there has ever been a good virtual reality comic book story. Here, Slott and friends play in a virtual playground and its incredibly underwhelming. The Controller and who he had on the inside could have been really cool and it fizzled out quickly. The bigger events in eScape were cliched and boring. Slott is capable of much better. There are too many elements here involving characters I really don't like. Schiti's art is solid but his fill-ins weren't up to par. Overall, this story was unpleasant and I'm glad its over.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this secondary cast that Slott has created and developed. I'm not sure I like the big bad while expecting Arno to ultimately rise up and become the biggest bad. The most notable thing about this book is how thoroughly it rips off Slott's own Clone Conspiracy where the solution is to broadcast a signal that renders the big just-launched product completely worthless. It felt like an immediate echo.