Summary
Warning: Contains spoilers for TheInvincible Iron Man #19!!
Iron Manhas sentenced one of his major villains a fate worse than death, and even Tony Stark knows his choice was harsh. Stark is no stranger to violence; as a former weapons manufacturer turned superhero, war and conflict are built into every facet of his life, but he took that to a new level when confronting former Orchis’ leader, Feilong.
The Invincible Iron Man#19 – written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Andrea Di Vito– depictsthe end of World War Orchis, and its aftermath. Though the heroes were victorious, many lingering consequences remain, including punishment to hand out to surviving members of Orchis. Among those first in line wasIron Manantagonist Feilong.
During aconversation with Emma Frost,Iron Man admits that he buried him alive and that “Feilong is someone you’ll never see again,“but isn’t sure if it was the right choice. It is, indeed, a horrific one.
Iron Man’s Most Powerful Armor Is a Secret Metaphor for His Rivalry with [SPOILER]
In Tony Stark’s latest battle, his enemy Feilong attacks him with stolen technology, proving he’s nothing more than a weak imitation of Iron Man.
Iron Man Chose A Gruesome Punishment For His Enemy Feilong
Invincible Iron Man#19 – Written By Gerry Duggan, Andrea Di Vito, Bryan Valenza, & Joe Caramagna
Tony Stark has never had the same “noble” bend as some other heroes, but choosing to bury Feilong alive while he was awake, and horrified, is still far outside his norm.
Feilong joined Orchisafter the X-Men “stole” Mars from him, which he planned to terraform, and became rivals with Iron Man shortly after meeting him. Tony was already in a rough patch, having lost a great deal of money and stepped back from his own company to leave it in the hands trusted friend, Zhong Wei. From there, Feilong masterminded a takeover of Stark Unlimited and was eventually named head of the company. Through callous manipulation and murder, he stole Tony’s life’s work from underneath him and ensured his tech got against mutants.
This includedusing Stark techto create the infamous Stark Sentinels. Certainly, Feilong committed enough crimes to merit severe punishment,but it was personal for Iron Man.Tony Stark has never had the same “noble” bend as some other heroes, but choosing to bury Feilong alive while he was awake, and horrified, is still far outside his norm. It’s thesort of punishmentone would expect from a villain, or at least someone who’d spent a good deal of time as one.Emma Frost, certainly, doesn’t seem botheredby the choice.
Feilong’s Fate Sours Iron Man’s Victory In The War Vs. Orchis
Tony Can Still Reverse His Decision
WhileInvincible Iron Man#19 provides some closure for the Feilong arc, it leaves the door open for the story’s final beat to have further impact in the future.
Tony is already experiencing some distress over his actions,though, making it unlikely that he can live peacefully with the choice forever. Further, not everyone will be as understanding as the White Queen. It remains to be determined how his Avengers teammates would react, were they to learn of Feilong’s fate – and if they don’t, that is a major secret for Tony to be carrying around. That said, whileInvincible Iron Man#19 provides some closure for the Feilong arc, it leaves the door open for the story’s final beat to have further impact in the future.
Ultimately, humans and mutants came out on the winning side ofthe war against Orchis, but Iron Man’s victory could feel hollow if he lets this decision stand. It may become his nightmare, just as much as it is Feilong’s. He has already shown that he’s the victor, that the villain’s fate will be whatever he decides it is, and “saving” him now wouldn’t change that. Throwing him in prison would ease Tony’s conscience, and he already proved his point.Iron Manburied one of his greatest enemies alive, but he may need to rescue him to remain a hero.
Iron Man
Anthony “Tony” Edward Stark, AKA Iron Man, is a Marvel Comics superhero who has enjoyed several years of the spotlight and has become a mainstay in several Marvel media franchises. After suffering a critical injury, Tony creates a specialized armored suit powered by an arc reactor, which keeps him alive. Egotistical but good-hearted, Tony utilizes his super intellect and inventions to fight to protect humanity from various threats, eventually becoming a founding member of the Avengers. In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was kicked off with the film Iron Man, which starred Robert Downey Jr. as the superhero.
