WOTN Review: Ironheart #8 (Marvel)

Things Are Getting Strange in Ironheart#8

Ironheart is just getting cameo after cameo lately, isn’t it? The last issue brought the Unstoppable Wasp into the mix (which we loved), and this issue is bringing a new character into Riri’s quest for truth. 

Honestly, Ironheart has been a great series so far. But it is enhanced by these appearances. Riri sometimes needs some helping hands to force her to slow down and be herself. And sometimes, she just needs to be around other heroes who get it.

Ironheart #8 continues the plot that has been building up for several issues. It ties everything together into a neat little bow. That was both surprising and very much appreciated. Now the question is, what will Riri do with the knowledge she’s gained?

Writing

Nothing is better than seeing several seemingly minor and irrelevant plots tied together. And that is precisely what happens in Ironheart #8. Eve L. Ewing did an excellent job of building up one central plot and throwing us off course at other points. But now it looks like it will all be coming to a head, at least in theory.

Several elements in this issue are worth gushing over. There was one surprisingly intense and touching moment between two heroines – Ironheart and Wasp. I think it’s a conversation both of them needed to have. But that just made it even better to witness.

And, of course, there’s the other cameo of this issue. I think they did a decent job portraying his character as something more than just a plot device. He read as we’d expect. Maybe with more arrogance, but then again, we’re seeing him from the outside, which makes sense.

This issue may not have been the most action-packed issue out there. But it did lay down all of the groundwork for something bigger. We’ll see something explosive within the next episode or two. And I can’t wait.

Art

Drawing three named characters and doing justice to them isn’t the easiest thing in the world. But the creative team behind Ironheart #8 made it look effortless. They nailed Ironheart, but they also did a great job with Wasp and the new cameo (including showing some of the weirder elements of his world). Luciano Vecchio was the artist for this issue, while Matt Milla provided the colors (which I adored).

The parallels between the latest two villains were not obvious until this issue, where they were put side by side. Now I’ll admit I’m fascinated by their stark differences. Tech versus magic. Traditional versus modern. Even their names are contrasting. It’s clear now that this had been planned for quite some time. And all it took was a few panels to show that.

The flashbacks in this issue were the highlights worth remembering. It’s tough showing the memories that force a character to move forward without getting repetitive. But the art team did exactly that here.

Conclusion

Ironheart #8 was an essential issue in terms of setting up for something bigger. But the heart-to-heart and cameos make the issue worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of either character involved.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this plot leads in the long run. I could see it becoming a bigger investigation for Riri. The sort of thing that takes a few issues more of building up. Or it could turn into a fight right away. Only time will tell.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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