MATT FRACTION ON INVINCIBLE IRON MAN

[MattBrady]

In May, just in time for his film debut, Iron Man will get his second ongoing series at Marvel: Invincible Iron Man. Written by Matt Fraction with art by Salvador Larocca, the new series will put Iron Man back in the action-adventure spotlight as its opening arc pits Tony Stark against Ezekiel Stane, the son of longtime Stark rival Obadiah.

Ezekiel has, “set his sights, his genius and his considerable fortune on the task of destroying Tony Stark and Iron Man. What’s worse, he’s got Iron Man tech, and he’s every bit Iron Man’s equal and opposite…except younger, faster, smarter…and immeasurably evil!” according to Marvel.

We spoke with Fraction about the new series and the character in the center of the maelstrom.

Newsarama: So how'd you get this gig? What was your reaction to the idea that Marvel was going to do a second Iron Man ongoing?

Matt Fraction: I was at the Winter Retreat, I asked if I could do it, and when the book came up, I talked. Very, very quickly, a superarc fell into my head and all these great scenes and visuals and... and I started to... just talk about it a lot, to engage in the discussions about the character and really sort of push for what I thought was right for Stark, Iron Man, and both of their roles in the Marvel Universe. It's no secret that Tony's in need of some serious good karma, and needs a little redemption, so... so, yeah, I guess I just honed in on who he was and started riffing.

Although I think what won Dan Buckley over was he saw me drawing little Iron Man helmets on my notepad.

I've never gotten a bigger job through weirder ways.

NRAMA: So how long did you think about it, and what made you say yes? Was Iron Man a character that you had to think of that much to get a good hold of, or was he someone that you'd been turning over in the back of your mind, filed under the "If I ever get a chance to write Iron Man, I'm gonna..."

MF: Y'know, the ideas kind of found me. It was on a list of stuff to talk about and-- boom-- there it was. I'd never thought about writing the book before that instant, and suddenly I had a map, sextant, compass, and was on my way. I'd been a fan and was really fascinated by the turn the character has taken in the last couple years... he's kind of a writer's wet dream. Soooo damaged, and soooo flawed. So much work to do. He's perfect. He's infinitely screwed up. He's loathed. It's great.

NRAMA: Expand on that – to you, who is Iron Man, and who is Tony Stark? Are they the same person? That is, is Iron Man just another suit that Tony Stark puts on, akin to an Armani on Oscar night, or is the Iron Man/Tony more along the lines of a Batman/Bruce Wayne dichotomy?

MF: Iron Man is man's vision of his own future. He is evolution as manifest destiny. And Tony exists somewhere between Chuck Yeager and James Bond. The Iron Man is something Stark pilots; Iron Man is the vessel Stark's using to quite literally rocket himself-- and, at his very best, humanity itself -- into tomorrow.

NRAMA: It's gotten so in vogue to talk about how the "genius brain" is different from the regular person's noodle, so how is Tony's mellon different from a regular joe's? I think it was John Jackson Miller who explained it along the lines of Tony being born ten years early...that his ideas and way of viewing things is perpetually ten years ahead of everyone else...is that close to how you see him?

MF: He's not a futurist, or rather-- he's not just a futurist-- he's also an alcoholic. When he's out of whack, he thinks he can control the world because it all spins around him. The events of the last couple years of stories have, I think, proven otherwise, contrary to his behavior. And that's how I see him, as we open up: a man constantly on the verge of spinning wildly out of control, addicted to every aspect of his own lifestyle. His greatest gift is diametrically opposed to his fatal flaw.

And that's set him up for an incredible reckoning.

NRAMA: Tony has everything...well, 96% of everything anyone could ever want, and can invent that last remaining 4% before most of the world is up for breakfast. Why does he do the Iron Man thing? What itch does putting on the armor scratch for Tony?

MF: He doesn't have everything. He doesn't have immortality, superpowers, or safety. Try as he might, the future remains outside of his grasp and control. The armor is the literal realization of his self-evolution, of the triumph of human will over the human body.

And, let's not lie-- his first addiction was to adrenaline. He's an inventor and a test pilot in his very soul. Putting the armor on allows Tony to-- well, to slip the surly bonds of Earth and touch the face of god.

At, like, Mach 6.

NRAMA: Is that "scratching," that reason different now, post Civil War than it was before?

MF: There's just more shit that itches, man.

NRAMA: Big-picture wise, why does Tony do what he does? He's not really motivated by tragedy, which is responsible for a lot of heroes' motives, so what gives? Is it the guilt from his weapons-making days, which seems to be what the movie is playing up, or is it that it's somewhat ego based - that he knows the course for a better world and better future, and wants to help the world get there?

MF: Well, he's a superhero. That's got an awful lot to do with it. He wants to help people. Whether its to assuage his own guilt, enjoy the thrill, or simply do the right thing, that's why he does it. He's a hero.

I hope our book reminds people of that.

NRAMA: Is Tony arrogant?

MF: No; he's impatient. Often times the difference is indistinguishable.

Nobody is more aware of his faults, flaws, and failings than Tony Stark, and an arrogant person wouldn't be.

NRAMA: On that last one - take away the lack of respect for civil and human rights, and what's the difference between Iron Man and Dr. Doom? Especially now?

MF: James Madison drafted the Second Amendment, which dared to regulate arms in the first place, and did so on a national level. Did he lack respect for civil rights, and for states rights? Lincoln suspended Habeus Corpus during the Civil War. Roosevelt put Japanese-Americans into camps during the second World War. Bill Clinton didn't take action in Bosnia/Herzegovina because there was no clear American Interest. A dubious moral decision, thought right in the moment and proved wrong with the passing of time and with the price those decisions demanded doesn't make you evil, it just makes you wrong. It magnifies the "Man" part of the "Iron Man" equation.

Tony made a morally just decision for dubious reasons and executed by dubious means, and the price paid was far too great. Even he sees that, and more importantly, feels that. It's a weight that is crushing him and now he's out for redemption.

Also? Dr. Doom (or any other evil manque you want to use here) exists to inflict actual harm on people.

NRAMA: We can save a talk about Tony's enemies for another day, but it could be argued that he's fairly unique in the sense of his "enemies" in that, in many cases (not just with the booze) he’s his own worst enemy. Would you agree?

MF: Oh yeah, I've thought that since day one. Tony Stark is his own arch-rival.

NRAMA: As was reflected in Civil War our world, and thus the Marvel Universe, is much more complex now, the readers of any given comic book much more sophisticated. Originally, Tony was the Howard Hughes dream (minus the pee in jars and tissue boxes on his feet) wrapped in armor - boy genius/adventurer/hero. Now, "billionaire weapons designer, chief policeman for the US government" has a different ring to it. Given what he's done and how the world today views any authority figure with skepticism and cynicism, how do you make Tony Stark sympathetic, someone your readers will want to read about and come back to month after month? Do you even see it as a challenge?

MF: It's a guy in a totally amazing science fiction suit or a tuxedo, living a fabulous and incredible life filled with action, intrigue, sex, and mind-blowing inventions. I think that pretty much sells itself, y'know? We're looking for Invincible Iron Man to reconnect with that, to remind people that Tony Stark/Iron Man is a superhero.

NRAMA: That said, how do you keep Invincible away from Director of SHIELD to the point that you and the Knaufs aren't telling the same stories, but close enough that this is clearly the same man in roughly the same time period?

MF: They're doing an excellent espionage book, a kind of 24 for the Marvel Universe. We're doing the big blow-out superhero summer action tentpole comic. It's a matter of focus and perspective, and not at all difficult to avoid stepping on toes. The Knaufs are writing such a singularly phenomenal book that staying out of their way is pretty easy.

NRAMA: So what kind of stories are you looking to tell in Invincible? What flavor will the series have?

MF: Big time Iron Man superhero stories. Stories about a pioneer on the brink of the future, about a superhero that wants to save the world by realizing not just his own potential, but by helping the entire world realize its potential.

NRAMA: Put a finger on the coolest element of Iron Man for you....and how are you looking to play that up in Invincible?

MF: The suit. Whether that's the Iron Man itself or his Tux. Tony's outer shell is the coolest element. And we're playing it up by putting him in and out of both as often as possible.

NRAMA: The thing about the character that never has to come back while you're writing him?

MF: The Philip Michael Thomas perm he had from 1981-1995.

NRAMA: Spin out your first arc a little - what gets your ball rolling in #1?

MF: Tony has to face not just Iron Man 2.0, but Tony Stark 2.0. He's got to face the future of what Iron Man is, and the future of business itself in a post-national supercorporate world. It's Tony Stark's biggest nightmare come to life-- a younger, smarter, sharper future that he has no control over. You think Tony Stark is evil? Wait until you meet Ezekiel Stane.

[GratefulFred]

Two Iron Man titles?
Good marketing, Marvel!

How is this title going to be different from the existing Iron Man title?

[Mike Thompson]

Is a second Iron Man title really necessary? Captain America couldn't support one, and over time, it seems like Spider-Man can't either. The problem with mixing marketing with storytelling is that the product gets so diluted with multiple titles that readers lose interest fast. Marvel should focus its energies into creating the best single series it can for the long term instead of mediocre ones (at best) across multiple titles in the short run, especially if for no other reason than to tie into a major film release.

[UltimateMatt]

Is there really a need for two Iron Man titles? I like the character and all, but not that much. I want to keep up with what's going on with Tony, but I hate that I'll have to buy two titles to do that. Ugh.

[C20Percent]

I like Matt Fraction -- I hate that he killed The Order -- and I'll give this Iron Man series a shot, but I simply think this is the first step -- intentional or not -- of squeezing the Knaufs out of Iron Man stories.

I think the "espionage" spin in the current Iron Man series is more akin to what Matt Fraction writes well, and at some point the two books will start to mirror each other and either Fraction or the Knaufs are going to come out of the losing end, and Marvel has too much invested in Fraction for him to be the loser.

That's the only concern I have with this new Iron Man series.

[Ace]

Originally Posted by GratefulFred

Two Iron Man titles?
Good marketing, Marvel!

How is this title going to be different from the existing Iron Man title?

NRAMA: That said, how do you keep Invincible away from Director of SHIELD to the point that you and the Knaufs aren't telling the same stories, but close enough that this is clearly the same man in roughly the same time period?

MF: They're doing an excellent espionage book, a kind of 24 for the Marvel Universe. We're doing the big blow-out superhero summer action tentpole comic. It's a matter of focus and perspective, and not at all difficult to avoid stepping on toes. The Knaufs are writing such a singularly phenomenal book that staying out of their way is pretty easy.

NRAMA: So what kind of stories are you looking to tell in Invincible? What flavor will the series have?

MF: Big time Iron Man superhero stories. Stories about a pioneer on the brink of the future, about a superhero that wants to save the world by realizing not just his own potential, but by helping the entire world realize its potential.

Good reading comprehension, Fred.

[Spy_Smasher]

Based on Fraction's take on Stark in the Order, I'm fairly certain that his Iron Man will be:

1) A bigger asshole than ever.
2) Weaker than ever.
3) Stupider than ever.

Basically, I'm predicting Tony is going to get ____ on, month after month, in his own book. I hope I'm wrong.

[Marvel Man]

I'm anticipating something akin to Punisher Max & War Journal with Invincible being the MAX version of Iron Man. I understand Iron Man has at least a cameo appearance in almost every Marvel title right now, but I'm looking forward to a second book, especially with Fraction on it.

[supermonkey]

I'm going to give this book a shot. Hell, Fraction and Larocca alone make it worth checking out.

But I like the Iron Man character (now more than ever) and think there's enough room to do 2 books -- provided they don't start depicting the same character elements. If they run the way Fraction's talking, it might be good stuff.

I didn't believe in the Knaufs for a good while, but their Mandarin arc on IMDOS has been top notch, Danny -- top notch!

[RoiVampire]

fraction does a wonderful job at explaining precisely why he loves marvel characters every time i read an interview with him

i say in ten years he'd make a badass editor in chief

[ljacone]

I'm a huge Iron Fan, so of course I am going to be checking this out. I am interested in seeing how this coexists with Iron Man, which is the best Marvel title you are not reading. We'll see how long this title (or, on the other hand, the existing title) lasts, but I am just looking forward to more armor action every month.

Also:

MF: Tony has to face not just Iron Man 2.0, but Tony Stark 2.0. He's got to face the future of what Iron Man is, and the future of business itself in a post-national supercorporate world. It's Tony Stark's biggest nightmare come to life-- a younger, smarter, sharper future that he has no control over. You think Tony Stark is evil? Wait until you meet Ezekiel Stane.

So I take it Fraction didn't read Hypervelocity, or he would know that we already met Tony Stark 2.0.

[GratefulFred]

Originally Posted by Ace

Good reading comprehension, Fred.

But how will the two books show different takes on Tony Stark as a character, smarty pants?
I read that Invincible will be "big stories" and the original will be "espionage", but aren't ALL big stories involving Iron Man deal with espionage? How will Invincible steer clear of espionage? Will it ignore that he's director of SHIELD? Will it ignore corporate espionage that Tony Stark is all-too familiar with?
What I mean is this: What's going to be said about Tony Stark/Iron Man that isn't said or can't be said in the original book? This all seems like marketing for the movie and not an attempt to offer a new take on the character.

[ausuran]

Originally Posted by GratefulFred

Two Iron Man titles?
Good marketing, Marvel!

How is this title going to be different from the existing Iron Man title?

That's like asking why there are more than one X-Men title. Personally, I find them all to be a bit redundant.

[md62]

I haven't been happy with the general direction of the Marvel Universe since Civil War & Iron Man was one of the characters that I felt was ruined by CW. Oh well - I guess from responses here his main title is being handled well. But Fraction may be able to pull me back in. He seems to understand Tony's "personality" & with his talk of redemption & his writing style - I am going to give this book a try.

[Snikkas]

Factoring in all of the other comics, both monthlies and mni's, that he appears in monthly, doesn't this make his 5th or 6th book?

There's Iron Man, Mighty Avengers, Secret Invasion, The Initiative, Captain America, New Avengers.

Also, although I love scantily-clad women in my comics as much as the next guy, do you think a well-known superhero/director if SHIELD is going to take just any one home to bed? In what looks like the middle of the day no less).

[Ace]

Knockout battles with Fin Fang Foom?

He can deal with the Ghost or Spymaster or Hydra in one book and the Unicorn and the Melter and Whiplash in the other.

[Tiger47]

Besides Spider-Man and Wolverine, is Iron Man the only other marvel character to have two ongoings? I can't think of any others.

Btw, this is probably Sal's best artwork since the first 12 issues of X-Treme X-Men.

[Mrfixit1]

I'm real nervous about this. Fraction's enthusiasm is encouaging but he sounds like he's going to cater to all the Marvelites who think IM is a jerk. I see a lot of impatience in the internet fans and the subtlety that Fraction is going for may be lost. Stark has definitely had good stories written about his inability to accept reality and his addictive personality, but I fear this book is going to put this front and center instead of making it the underlying theme.

We shall see...

[jediracer]

Fraction seems to be attending all the right Marvel parties

He got Thor by pitching at an x-mas party.

He gets this by pitching at w winter retreat (whatever that is).

What's next? We'll hear he got an X-Men title by pitching at an Easter party????

[uscwamer]

Originally Posted by ausuran

That's like asking why there are more than one X-Men title. Personally, I find them all to be a bit redundant.

Actually, no. Those have different casts. There is a variety of characters in the mutant section of marvel that sell books and you can't solidly focus on all of them in just one title. Therefore, you branch the line out.

So it's actually a valid question, but it's actually answered in the article which makes it a poor question. 24 style -action vs. action movie action (we need more action)

A better question would be, Why is Iron Man becoming the next Wolverine based on number of title appearances per month? Are there numerical trends here showing he bumps sales numbers? If someone could show me that, i'd be interested in reading about that.

[md62]

Well Marvel did the same thing with the first FF movie. I think there were about 4 different FF related titles then. And now just FF & UFF.

[Edogawa1983]

Originally Posted by jediracer

Fraction seems to be attending all the right Marvel parties

He got Thor by pitching at an x-mas party.

He gets this by pitching at w winter retreat (whatever that is).

What's next? We'll hear he got an X-Men title by pitching at an Easter party????

the retreat is not a party, it's a creative retreat where the top dogs discuss ideas and stories.

[Edogawa1983]

Originally Posted by md62

Well Marvel did the same thing with the first FF movie. I think there were about 4 different FF related titles then. And now just FF & UFF.

there is still Marvel Adventure FF...

[Solario]

Originally Posted by uscwamer

A better question would be, Why is Iron Man becoming the next Wolverine based on number of title appearances per month? Are there numerical trends here showing he bumps sales numbers? If someone could show me that, i'd be interested in reading about that.

Short answer? Movie.

And color me very excited. I love Fraction's stuff, but especially his more "far-out" stuff like Casanova with Gabriel Bá and Fabio Moon.

And I don't think Stark was a big asshole in The Order. But he was a minor character and a very busy one otherwise, which would lend him to be dismissive and otherwise stressed out.

[I am MODOK]

As I've said since I first saw the creative team - SOLD. I'm even breaking my wait for the trade rule for this book. I love Iron Man just that much!