This issue of the Invincible Iron Man gives the readers a real sense of urgency although it moves with a leisurely pace. Overall, the issue deals with the gradual mental and intellectual disintegration of Tony Stark. It also gives an account of the efforts of Black Widow and Maria Hill to contact Captain America and enlightens the reader with Pepper Potts’s emerging career as a superhero.

Matt fraction has done a fabulous job with the pacing of this issue. The earlier issues may suggest that it is a story of Tony Stark who is being pursued relentlessly by super villain and story about him getting sloppier and Norman Osborn failing to apprehend him at most occasions. But this would be an unfair description of the book.

Fraction has left many options open and has a number of secondary story threads to keep it interesting. Fraction may also have scripted a smart move by putting Pepper behind the mask. He also has given much attention to Madame Masque in the wake of her combat with “Rescue”. This move can be used in varying degrees against Osborn in the upcoming issues.

Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata have also done a commendable job when it comes to the artwork. The snowfield scene and the Shot of the HAMMER helicarrier are the ones that really showcase their talent. They have also given a great deal of consistency to the appearance of Norman Osborn which has not been seen in the earlier issues. Fraction has managed to arouse and sustain the interest of the readers in this issue by the gripping central concept. He has created a situation where it seems Tony is loosing it very quickly and only the next issues would tell how things are going to work out for him.