Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the arrogant, irreverent, and ever likable Tony Stark, ingenious industrialist and high-tech super hero in Iron Man 3 (PG-13), which arrives in theaters on May 3, 2013, in 
traditional, 3-D, and IMAX 3D formats. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney, the sequel to the first two films also serves as a continuation of 2012’s The Avengers, and is the most recent installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe oeuvre. Though it’s been 50 years since Iron Man first burst into action on the pages of a Marvel comic book, the armored knight can still draw a crowd.
Shane Black takes over duties as director from Jon Favreau, who helmed the first two Iron Man offerings, who serves here as executive producer, and continues his recurring role as steadfast bodyguard and chauffeur, Happy Hogan. Also returning are Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Stark Industries CEO and Tony’s one true love, and Don Cheadle as Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Stark’s trusted friend, liaison to the U.S. Air Force, and pilot of the War Machine armor suit (newly upgraded and emblazoned in red, white, and blue).
Still reeling from events depicted in The Avengers and struggling to define his identity as Iron Man, Stark comes face to face with a new foe. Not only does this malevolent leader of an extremist terrorist organization threaten the nation, but the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) also strikes at those Tony holds dearest. Meanwhile, the mysteries surrounding the Extremis virus, a serum that imparts incredible strength and healing abilities to human subjects, grow deeper. With his world in tatters, Tony must rely on his innate talents and inventiveness to regroup and rebuild, search for those responsible, and seek out retribution. The cast also includes Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian, head of a private organization tasked with developing Extremis, and Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen, one of the virus’s creators.
Send teens to the official movie website to check out video trailers and featurettes, browse a gallery of photos, and access character bios and downloads. Those looking for a more in-depth preview of the action can download a “Production Notes” PDF (in the “About” section) for behind-the-scenes insights from the filmmakers and actors. Fans can also jet over to the Marvel website for the latest Iron Man 3 news, including a look at Stark’s stash of sleek new armor suits, a series of revealing interviews with movie producer Kevin Feige, and Q&As with cast members.
Books
Beef up your selection of tales about the Golden Avenger with offerings sure to appeal to teen movie—and comics—fans.
Movie Tie-in Graphic Novel
Displaying colorful film photos on both front and back covers (with more movie images inside), Iron Man 3: Prelude (Marvel, 2013; Gr 7 Up) will get readers geared up for the latest installment. The book opens with a graphic novel adaptation of Iron Man 2, which recounts the movie’s plot particulars. As the fast-moving events unfold, Tony is pressured by the U.S. government to turn over his technology, makes contact with Nick Fury and the folks at S.H.I.E.L.D, and repeatedly encounters a brawny and brilliant enemy from his family’s past. It all comes down to a dramatic showdown, made worse when Rhodey’s weapons-laden battle suit prototype (War Machine) is co-opted by the bad guys.
Next up is “Prelude,” an original story that serves as precursor to the new film. Tony presents Rhodey with an improved War Machine suit and tasks him with holding down the hero fort while he completes work on Stark Tower. Kept busy fighting terrorists (who are eventually revealed to be minions of the Mandarin), Rhodey is on the other side of the globe just as Iron Man and his super-powered allies deal with “a situation” in New York City (i.e., the climactic scene in The Avengers movie). Focusing mostly on Rhodey’s escapades, the story establishes War Machine as a courageous, quick-thinking, front-and-center hero, and foreshadows several of the movie’s plot elements. In both stories, clear scripting, bright-hued artwork, and a whirlwind of explosive exploits keep pages turning quickly. The book ends with an excerpt from Iron Man Extremis (see below).
An Extremis Makeover
While the Mandarin is based on a comic book super villain who has taunted Iron Man for decades, other elements of the new movie’s plot find their inspiration in a more recent graphic novel. First published in a six-issue story arc in 2005 and now reissued in a single volume, Warren Ellis and Adi Granov’s Iron Man Extremis (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) offers an innovative revamping of the armored hero. Struggling with guilt and regret, Stark tries to move beyond the consequences of a past spent designing and selling arms to and define a different sort of future. Meanwhile, a small-time terrorist gets his hands on Extremis, a “super-soldier” solution that hacks into the brain to rewrite—and rev up—the subject’s DNA. Now possessing incredible strength, impenetrable skin, and a knack for breathing fire, Mallen goes on a killing rampage.
When Maya Hansen, the serum’s creator, calls on her old friend Tony for help, Iron Man finds himself woefully outgunned. Gravely injured, Tony is brought back to Maya’s lab and risks taking the only remaining dose of Extremis. He emerges totally healed, fully upgraded (with the ability to store his armor’s undersheath in the hollows of his bones, control it with his thoughts, and access electronic systems worldwide), and ready to rumble. Flashbacks recount Iron Man’s origins and other pieces of the past. Done in graphite grays and deep jewel tones, the detailed artwork has a photorealistic feel that adds nuance to the characters, depicts the fiery (often bloody) action, and suits the story’s ambiance[SD1] . Themes such as taking responsibility for one’s actions, the relevancy and role of the man behind the armor, and the function of technology in the future are deftly incorporated into the breathless battle action.
Marie Javins has written a prose adaptation of Ellis’s graphic novel. Graced with an eye-grabbing cover, Iron Man Extremis (Marvel, 2013; Gr 7 Up) follows the plot basics of the original, while also mixing in bits and pieces of Downey’s signature portrayal of the character and elements from the movie universe. Basic incidents and dialogue are more fleshed out, and the author adds numerous scenes and interactions, including glimpses at Tony’s relationship with Pepper (who does not appear in the graphic novel and remains offstage here) and several escapades that highlight the view from within the suit. Touches of often irreverent humor are sprinkled throughout the narrative, which explores many of the same themes as Ellis’s work. The book’s climax is a bit more spun out, with an emphasis placed on the importance of striving to bring about positive change and the value of second chances. This novel offers a change of pace for comics devotees and an inviting read for movie fans.
Written by Kieron Gillen with art by Greg Land, Iron Man: Believe (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) kicks into gear when Tony receives an urgent message. Kidnapped and forced to reconstruct Extremis for sale on the black market, Maya Hansen manages to contact him before she is killed. Well aware of the potential danger, Iron Man is determined to track down—and shut down—each of the Extremis enhanciles (the doses contains a hidden and traceable power signature).
Storyline flashbacks and present-day action combine, as the hero’s quest leads him to a malignantly misguided modern-day King Arthur cult. The adventure continues in the home of a Colombian drug kingpin who has a surprisingly compassionate plan for utilizing the virus, then goes under Paris and into the Catacombs for a creepy encounter with hideous homemade demons. Iron Man reaches new heights in a vessel orbiting around Earth where an old friend plans to use Extremis to adapt the human body for deep-space travel. While bad guys abound, so do themes about dreaming big, envisioning the future, and taking on new challenges. The script is sharp and filled with intelligent dialogue as well as one-line zingers, and the slick artwork depicts a self-confident, suave, and square-jawed Stark along with an arsenal of spectacular armor suits, each with its own amazing capabilities
More Ironclad Epics
Set in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Nathan Edmondson and Matteo Buffagni’s Ultimate Comics: Iron Man (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) blasts into vibrant action right from page one, as the hero stops a weapons heist by halting a speeding train. The pace never slows as Tony tangles with the Mandarin (in this alternate realitya shrouded-in-mystery industrial group) and control of dangerous Stark defense satellites hangs in the balance. Flashbacks reveal details of Tony’s relationship with his father, gradually teasing out deep-buried secrets. Reckless and brazen, Tony drops witty remarks as he battles both foes and inner demons. The artwork’s dazzling colors and clean lines keep in step with the non-stop action. Film fans will enjoy a visit to this universe, where iconic characters are re-imagined.
In Iron Man: Season One (Marvel, 2013; Gr 10 Up), Howard Chaykin and Gerald Parel provide an updated version of the hero’s origin tale. Rather than the Cold War backdrop that defined the character’s 1963 comic book debut, or the deserts of the Middle East depicted in the movie franchise, this re-envisioning sets the cataclysmic events in the late 20th century in a war-torn nation somewhere on the Asian subcontinent. Injured during an on-site visit to Chardistan, the defense industry mogul is kidnapped by terrorists (lead by Maouad Khouri, an old college friend) and forced to work with Professor Yin Sen to build a weapon. Of course, they come up with the Iron Man suit and an audacious plan for escape instead, one that leaves the encampment in ruins and, tragically, results in Yin Sen’s death.
As Tony slowly makes his way home, Stark Industries is besieged by corruption from within, placing the ever-honest Pepper in danger, and Khouri comes back from death’s door, missing several limbs but boosted up with his own armored suit and an insatiable hunger for vengeance. Chaykin strips away more romanticized versions of the protagonist to reveal a troubled, hard-drinking Stark, who gradually begins to feel guilt and remorse over the deadly consequences of his actions, develops a true sense of accountability, and experiences a moment of stunning clarity that sets his course for the future. Like the story, the artwork tends toward darker tones, with sepia hues and soft edges that mix gritty realism with brightly lit epiphanies. Compelling, contemporary, and multifaceted, Season One presents fresh insights into the character while reiterating the timeless qualities that have made Iron Man a decades-enduring hero.
For Younger Teens
Part of Marvel’s “All Ages” lineup, Iron Man (ABDO 2013; Gr 4-8) collects together five tales of the Golden Guardian’s capers told with a lighter touch. Spanning from Fred Van Lente’s “Heart of Steel” (an origin story telling how Iron Man is forged when Tony is captured by the terrorist group A.I.M.) to an adventure that pits the hero and other Avengers against the Mandarin and his incredible rings of power (and an immortal giant-size ant), the brisk-reading offerings are fueled by a satisfying blend of suspense and humor. Zippy dialogue abounds, as do comic beats. The skirmishes are vibrantly depicted in the clean-looking artwork, with plenty of fist-flinging, laser-lobbing, building-decimating action (but no blood). If you’re looking to fill out your graphic novel collection, “Heart of Steel” and a selection of other Iron Man tales in the “Marvel Age” series are available in durable, single-volume library editions from ABDO/Spotlight. Great choices for kids who like their comics heavy on humor, action, and imagination.
Publication Information
GAGE, Christos, et al. Iron Man 3: Prelude. illus. by Ramon Rosanas et al. Marvel. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6551-4.
ELLIS, Warren. Iron Man Extremis. illus. by Adi Granov. Marvel. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-8378-5.
JAVINS, Marie. Iron Man Extremis. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6518-7.
GILLEN, Kieron. Iron Man, Vol. 1: Believe. illus. by Greg Land. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6833-1.
EDMONDSON, Nathan. Ultimate Comics: Iron Man. illus. by Matteo Buffagni. Marvel. 2013. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6617-7.
CHAYKIN, Howard. Iron Man: Season One. illus. by Gerald Parel. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6670-2.
VAN LENTE, Fred, Jeff Parker, Paul Tobin, et al. Iron Man. illus. by Scott Koblish, James Cordeiro, et al. Marvel. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6794-5.