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The Invincible Iron Man (2008) (Collected Editions)
The Invincible Iron Man, Volume 4: Stark Disassembled
The World's Most Wanted is now the World's Most Shattered...how does Tony Stark come back from the events of the last year? How CAN he? Is he even alive? Sort of. The Eisner Award-winning title for Best New Series gets crazy with Stark: Disassembled!
Collecting: Invincible Iron Man 20-24, Annual 1
Collecting: Invincible Iron Man 20-24, Annual 1
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 29, 2010
About the author
Matt Fraction
1,235 books1,899 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 30, 2014
Poor, poor Tony Stark. He’s gone from the Marvel universe pariah to whipping boy to fugitive and don’t get me started on the Illuminati. Meddling egghead bastards! Now, he’s in a coma and it’s Humpty Dumpty time for Iron Man. He’s wiped superhero identity data that was implanted in his mind and it’s time to kick start that brain. “Hey, Pepper, can I have that repulsor ray thing that was surgically inserted into your chest. Thanks, you can have your dental plan back.”
Much of the adventure for Stark takes place in his head as he struggles to wake up. He’s being aided by a close knit group of heroes who don’t think he’s a total creep. I guess Tony wished times were simpler: he had perpetual gin breath and his armor smelled like vomit.
The Matt Fraction stuff I’ve read recently (Fantastic Faux, My Life as a Weapon) revealed his penchant for the off-beat, here he deftly creates a compelling story for Iron Man, redeeming one of the more reviled Marvel characters.*
Question: Since when has Dr. Donald Blake become Thor’s alter-ego again?
*He couldn’t be a total ass if Marvel was releasing the Iron Man movies, now could he?
Much of the adventure for Stark takes place in his head as he struggles to wake up. He’s being aided by a close knit group of heroes who don’t think he’s a total creep. I guess Tony wished times were simpler: he had perpetual gin breath and his armor smelled like vomit.
The Matt Fraction stuff I’ve read recently (Fantastic Faux, My Life as a Weapon) revealed his penchant for the off-beat, here he deftly creates a compelling story for Iron Man, redeeming one of the more reviled Marvel characters.*
Question: Since when has Dr. Donald Blake become Thor’s alter-ego again?
*He couldn’t be a total ass if Marvel was releasing the Iron Man movies, now could he?
November 8, 2022
Reread: 08/11/2022
This was fun and on second re-read also its so awesome ..just one of those stories where the hero returns and the thrill of it.. the battle in the mind.. meanwhile in the real life some villain is attacking him and the people trying to bring him back. In this case Ghost and him battling Tony's supporting cast and I love the way it all happens and what it leads, the inclusion of Dr Strange was cool and the return of Tony even better. Fraction has really so far deconstructed Tony and also by the end reconstructed him with a twist and I love the whole trajectory here!
________________________________________________________________
This was another good one!
Now that Tony has shut himself down we see the attempts to bring his back by his friends and well they are in a hospital and under attack by Osborn's goons. Meanwhile in his mind, Tony is battling it out with Howard and Maria inside his mind against some weird threat and its basically one of those stories where the hero is battling out insecurities or fears through such dramatic telling meanwhile in real world, Ghost attacks Maria and Pepper and all and Dr Strange helps Iron man and we see the culmination in an epic finale and maybe Tony is sorts of reborn? But with a great twist!
Epic volume again and definitely bringing back that A-game here from Fraction as he has the battle within the mind and irl also and how Tony navigates it and making such problems personal and epic like only he can and I love the inclusion of other Avengers here and the writer showing Pepper and her insecurities and thereby effectively making her the second lead of the comics in a great manner and giving great resolution to the whole storyline and the twist was great plus the art is just too damn good! <3!
This was fun and on second re-read also its so awesome ..just one of those stories where the hero returns and the thrill of it.. the battle in the mind.. meanwhile in the real life some villain is attacking him and the people trying to bring him back. In this case Ghost and him battling Tony's supporting cast and I love the way it all happens and what it leads, the inclusion of Dr Strange was cool and the return of Tony even better. Fraction has really so far deconstructed Tony and also by the end reconstructed him with a twist and I love the whole trajectory here!
________________________________________________________________
This was another good one!
Now that Tony has shut himself down we see the attempts to bring his back by his friends and well they are in a hospital and under attack by Osborn's goons. Meanwhile in his mind, Tony is battling it out with Howard and Maria inside his mind against some weird threat and its basically one of those stories where the hero is battling out insecurities or fears through such dramatic telling meanwhile in real world, Ghost attacks Maria and Pepper and all and Dr Strange helps Iron man and we see the culmination in an epic finale and maybe Tony is sorts of reborn? But with a great twist!
Epic volume again and definitely bringing back that A-game here from Fraction as he has the battle within the mind and irl also and how Tony navigates it and making such problems personal and epic like only he can and I love the inclusion of other Avengers here and the writer showing Pepper and her insecurities and thereby effectively making her the second lead of the comics in a great manner and giving great resolution to the whole storyline and the twist was great plus the art is just too damn good! <3!
September 28, 2012
To keep critical info out of the hands of Norman Osborn, Tony Stark has erased his brain and left himself a vegetable. But since he’s a techie, Tony backs up everything, including the contents of his melon, and he’s left a plan in place for some of his friends to reboot him. As everyone works on this, Tony’s personality is stuck in what’s left of his shattered mind, and he’ll need a little help from Dr. Strange to find a way out. There’s also a pesky super villain lurking around to try and kill off Tony while he’s vulnerable.
Matt Fraction continues to impress, and he’s shown a real knack for delving into the non-superhero parts of Tony’s personality. I particularly liked a video Tony leaves for his friends with his reboot plan but it’s also a good-bye if things don’t work out. In it, he’s at times cocky, humble, arrogant and selfless. There’s another nice bit with Pepper getting angry that Tony has found a way to cheat death even as so many others haven’t.
This also includes an annual with a really offbeat and interesting story that features the Mandarin in which he has kidnapped a brilliant movie director and forces him to make a movie about his life. It’s kind of like if Kim Jong Il would have had super powers.
Matt Fraction continues to impress, and he’s shown a real knack for delving into the non-superhero parts of Tony’s personality. I particularly liked a video Tony leaves for his friends with his reboot plan but it’s also a good-bye if things don’t work out. In it, he’s at times cocky, humble, arrogant and selfless. There’s another nice bit with Pepper getting angry that Tony has found a way to cheat death even as so many others haven’t.
This also includes an annual with a really offbeat and interesting story that features the Mandarin in which he has kidnapped a brilliant movie director and forces him to make a movie about his life. It’s kind of like if Kim Jong Il would have had super powers.
April 4, 2015
Following up on the events of the previous story arc, the superlative The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 2: World's Most Wanted, Book 1 and The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 3: World's Most Wanted, Book 2, in which Tony Stark "deleted" his brain to prevent Norman Osborn getting his hands on the Superhuman Registration database, this book chronicles Tony Stark's return from the brink of death to world of the living.
Wow. You've got to give Matt Fraction major props for this story arc. In "the Real World", we've got Captain America (both of them - Steve Rogers & Bucky), Thor, War Machine, as well as Pepper Potts and Maria Hill trying to get Tony Stark to live again, while in "Stark's subconscious", Tony is facing his inner demons with the help of Doctor Strange. All this while Madame Masque sends "the Ghost" to kill Tony Stark in his permanent vegetative state.
This book is an absolutely essential read for any fan of "Iron Man". The plot twist at the very end of the book promises interesting developments for our main protagonist [Tony Stark] in upcoming storylines. 5 stars.
Wow. You've got to give Matt Fraction major props for this story arc. In "the Real World", we've got Captain America (both of them - Steve Rogers & Bucky), Thor, War Machine, as well as Pepper Potts and Maria Hill trying to get Tony Stark to live again, while in "Stark's subconscious", Tony is facing his inner demons with the help of Doctor Strange. All this while Madame Masque sends "the Ghost" to kill Tony Stark in his permanent vegetative state.
This book is an absolutely essential read for any fan of "Iron Man". The plot twist at the very end of the book promises interesting developments for our main protagonist [Tony Stark] in upcoming storylines. 5 stars.
August 28, 2010
Great story, big imagination on that Fraction fellow, and just to prove a point he's doing none of his humour or weird-headed craziness schtick. Great story. Just wish the art was... cleaner. It's good art, very detailed and lush scenes, but the faces are pretty arse-like.
June 12, 2016
I read this book cover to cover, which is something I don't usually do even with Graphic Novels. In this book Stark is in a 'persistent vegetative state' and it's up to his friends to save him as his travels through an unreal world in search of answers. This story arc has been used countless times, especially in comics and sci-fi/fantasy, and they concept of a hero that is disorientated and desperately alone is done to the point of nullifying the reader but Matt Fraction saves this overworked idea by ratcheting up the suspense and utilizing Iron Mans history to tell of Starks strange journey back to reality. This again is a brilliantly written piece and the writers imagination really stands out. This comic is tour de force in fantasy writing and a complete joy to read. Every page will take the reader somewhere and it always is somewhere worth being. This book opens up the world of Iron Man in the Marvel universe and plants him on firm ground, which leads me to one of the most unusual aspects of this book. This is an Iron Man book - it says so right on the cover - but Iron Man never appears in the book at all. There's Pepper Potts Iron Woman and an old breast plate but that is all. This book is about Starks journey back from the dead and how it affects those around him including Potts and Maria Hill, who thankfully are still given major roles in this story, and both his parents. Also there's a villain after Starks head who causes problems which leads us to a memorable ending involving the ghosts of Starks past, a river of blood, demonic parents trying to force him to make the wrong chose, Doc Strange getting a strange and Pepper getting her 'takin' care of business, mommas' had enough vibe on' that mingles together the two dimensions of Starks world in a suspenseful, action driven power drive that will rival King and Poe at their best. Excellent stuff.
July 7, 2013
OK now this is a solid Iron Man book. It picks up just after Tony has shut himself down after his battle with Norman Osborne. Iron Man/Stark/SHIELD/everything Tony had in his mind is gone, so Osborne can't get at the Superhuman Registry and eliminate all the heroes. Unfortunately, Tony has left himself in a vegetative state and it will take the combined efforts of both Captain Americas (Steve Rogers AND Bucky), Thor/Don Blake, Black Widow, Pepper Potts, Maria Hill, and Dr. Strange to bring him back.
I like when they reserve crossover storylines for major events, so this feels more important than just another story. Well worth a read, though it might make more sense to read in order, and recall this takes place in the midst of Norman Osborne's reign of terror. Oh and the artwork is stellar.
I like when they reserve crossover storylines for major events, so this feels more important than just another story. Well worth a read, though it might make more sense to read in order, and recall this takes place in the midst of Norman Osborne's reign of terror. Oh and the artwork is stellar.
March 24, 2016
Fraction takes the story exactly where you think it's going as Tony Stark gets rebooted (though the time jag introduced is a nice touch, not entirely retconning Civil War). We get an internal battle with Tony while his famous friends try and resurrect him using science, surgery, external hard-drives, lightning and the Sorcerer Supreme. As you do.
The artwork is still not to my liking and it's the biggest down side for me. While this arc doesn't really go anywhere unexpected (again, making me wonder whether the generally excellent Five Nightmares storyline was a fluke) it has left me intrigued as to what's next. I would be keener to move away from the event orientated stories and to more individual Iron Man stories.
The artwork is still not to my liking and it's the biggest down side for me. While this arc doesn't really go anywhere unexpected (again, making me wonder whether the generally excellent Five Nightmares storyline was a fluke) it has left me intrigued as to what's next. I would be keener to move away from the event orientated stories and to more individual Iron Man stories.
August 29, 2018
3 1/2 stars
A good story arc. And the Mandarin story is great!
A good story arc. And the Mandarin story is great!
October 1, 2020
Star Disassembled continues my revisit of Invincible Iron Man.
This continues and wraps up a lot of the plot threads in the series so far.
After getting chased across the globe in World’s Most Wanted by Norman Osborn and his forces, Tony Stark was successful in his mission - erasing his mind. Unfortunately this effectively leaves Tony trapped inside what is left of his mind. This leads to an introspective journey as he discovers who he is.
This is more a character focused drama than your usual comic book fare of action packed craziness. We spend time with the likes of Pepper Potts and Maria Hill as they deal with the fallout of what has happened. Rhodey makes a bit more of an appearance. Plus Tony’s mystical guide - Doctor Strange! This was probably my first experience of Doctor Strange in the comics and what got interested in his character (although I still need to check out his graphic novels). Plus we get cameos from other Avenger heavy hitters as the Siege event rages on in the background.
Overall a very enjoyable continuation of the series and a breath of fresh air from the more action packed parts. However to get full enjoyment and understanding I recommend having read the previous 3 books.
This continues and wraps up a lot of the plot threads in the series so far.
After getting chased across the globe in World’s Most Wanted by Norman Osborn and his forces, Tony Stark was successful in his mission - erasing his mind. Unfortunately this effectively leaves Tony trapped inside what is left of his mind. This leads to an introspective journey as he discovers who he is.
This is more a character focused drama than your usual comic book fare of action packed craziness. We spend time with the likes of Pepper Potts and Maria Hill as they deal with the fallout of what has happened. Rhodey makes a bit more of an appearance. Plus Tony’s mystical guide - Doctor Strange! This was probably my first experience of Doctor Strange in the comics and what got interested in his character (although I still need to check out his graphic novels). Plus we get cameos from other Avenger heavy hitters as the Siege event rages on in the background.
Overall a very enjoyable continuation of the series and a breath of fresh air from the more action packed parts. However to get full enjoyment and understanding I recommend having read the previous 3 books.
May 13, 2019
Iron Man hits a snag finally as a solid fun run turns bland and boring.
My favorite things in comics is when we go inside the mind of someone and get to see a dream sequence. It's just so fun to see fake images of things while they argue with someone who isn't there that they love/hate, until they find themselves and wake up. That is volume 4 of Invincible Iron Man. Nothing new. Nothing interesting. Just Tony brain dead and the people close to him bring him back but while they do that, we get to visit the inside of Tony's brain for him to want to be Iron Man once more.
Now listen, I didn't LOVE this run but there were some really fun parts. While flawed Fraction made Tony pretty fun with some great fights. This has almost none of that. Boring fights, boring plot progression, and worst of all Tony, the main character, is boring here. Cliche is the best word to use for this plot. The only thing I DID like was Potts here second guessing things and also anything with her and Hill. All that was great.
Overall, a very weak volume. While not completely shit it was a step down from 1-3. A 2 out of 5.
My favorite things in comics is when we go inside the mind of someone and get to see a dream sequence. It's just so fun to see fake images of things while they argue with someone who isn't there that they love/hate, until they find themselves and wake up. That is volume 4 of Invincible Iron Man. Nothing new. Nothing interesting. Just Tony brain dead and the people close to him bring him back but while they do that, we get to visit the inside of Tony's brain for him to want to be Iron Man once more.
Now listen, I didn't LOVE this run but there were some really fun parts. While flawed Fraction made Tony pretty fun with some great fights. This has almost none of that. Boring fights, boring plot progression, and worst of all Tony, the main character, is boring here. Cliche is the best word to use for this plot. The only thing I DID like was Potts here second guessing things and also anything with her and Hill. All that was great.
Overall, a very weak volume. While not completely shit it was a step down from 1-3. A 2 out of 5.
January 29, 2018
Better than the previous two arcs, this is the story of how Tony's friends gather together and reboot his brain. It had maybe a little too much wandering through dreams for me but got better when Strange showed up. I mostly appreciated all of Tony's friends (Steve, Thor, etc) coming together to help out although admittedly I really could have done without the scene where Pepper and Maria are both upset to find out they slept with Tony -- because in Maria's case, at the time it looked pretty much like Maria was cool with it being a non-exclusive one-time thing on account of the fact that they thought they were going to die, and in Pepper's case I think Tony was too messed up to consent. I don't really feel like Tony got away with anything at all by sleeping with them, which seemed to be what that was conveying?
Anyway, other than that, yay, Tony's back.
Anyway, other than that, yay, Tony's back.
December 12, 2018
What a ride! Usually I try to read through the graphic novels as slowly as possible, but it was really hard to put this down! Great continuation of the storyline so far. As a new reader it was a bit confusing at times, but thanks to the internets, all open questions were answered quickly. I really liked all the twists and turns of the story up to the furious finale!
I was especially fascinated by the storyline that took place in Tony's head. At first it was super confusing, but I think it was a very clever way to tell the story and his search for the meaning of life so to speak. Especially the end was truly horrifiying - stuff for nightmares indeed!
I was especially fascinated by the storyline that took place in Tony's head. At first it was super confusing, but I think it was a very clever way to tell the story and his search for the meaning of life so to speak. Especially the end was truly horrifiying - stuff for nightmares indeed!
May 6, 2021
With the help of his friends, Tony fights a battle in what is left of his mind...
to come back from the dead.
This was very well executed.
Great art, too.
Not as emotionally moving as the previous volumes, but I still enjoyed myself.
For someone who had big prejudices about superhero comics years ago, that they were all about mindless punch-ups and explosions, I have to say this series surprises me with great character driven plot, deep thoughts, lost of emotions and psychology. And much less explosions that I expected.
to come back from the dead.
This was very well executed.
Great art, too.
Not as emotionally moving as the previous volumes, but I still enjoyed myself.
For someone who had big prejudices about superhero comics years ago, that they were all about mindless punch-ups and explosions, I have to say this series surprises me with great character driven plot, deep thoughts, lost of emotions and psychology. And much less explosions that I expected.
April 2, 2019
While parts of this ambitious rebuilding of Tony Stark’s brain dead body fall flat (the entire subconscious dream symbolism sequence is not nearly as deep or clever as one would hope), the plotting and the gathering of his closest friends and allies to save his mind and life is quite well done. The ending is top of the line with an appropriate twist.
January 1, 2026
Kind of disappointing honestly. I remembered this being better. It’s strangely clunky. Characters pop in and out. There’s very little way of clearly understanding the passage of time. This could be a few hours or a few weeks. The dream state stuff looks cool but it feels underbaked. The art by Larocca and D’Armata does get better with each volume though.
January 13, 2019
Tony Stark put himself in a coma to thwart Norman Osborne. However, Tony is having some difficulty emerging from said coma. And poor Pepper Potts - when will she get a clue that Tony just is not into her?
June 23, 2023
Not bad - almost a four star read for me. I’ve never been a big fan of the kind of story where the dead hero has to battle through ________ to come back. This is done well, but it feels like the conclusion is inevitable.
August 20, 2017
Heroes all over.
Two women.
A head trip and Dr. Starnge.
A really good 'if you are watching this".
Tony Stark has some issues.
Two women.
A head trip and Dr. Starnge.
A really good 'if you are watching this".
Tony Stark has some issues.
December 12, 2017
This was a strange vol but I liked it most if it was played inside Stark's head :)
July 19, 2018
This is absolutely awesomely written.
December 22, 2018
Good artwork. Reboot the old brain.
September 19, 2019
This was good, but I don't really understand why Stark wiped his memory just to have it restored right after the process was done?
Read
February 25, 2020This made me so happy!!!
Tony's back.
Dr. Strange is doing his thing..
Woohoo!!
Tony's back.
Dr. Strange is doing his thing..
Woohoo!!
August 16, 2022
Steve and Dr. Strange and Pepper remembering Happy finally!
May 15, 2025
Those issue covers are probably the best art this series has had so far
June 13, 2025
Nota 7,3.
Interessante, mesmo que as vezes sem muito objetivo. Serviu pra trazer ele de volta e explorar um pouquinho esse mundo dos sonhos. Os desenhos são ótimos.
Interessante, mesmo que as vezes sem muito objetivo. Serviu pra trazer ele de volta e explorar um pouquinho esse mundo dos sonhos. Os desenhos são ótimos.
August 15, 2025
84/100
December 4, 2025
Voglio pure io i tubi nei polmoni e le nanomacchine nelle cavità delle ossa.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews