Iron Man & Spider-Man: Reunited

With Spidey set to swing into INVINCIBLE IRON MAN next month, writer Matt Fraction gives us an inside look

Posted Oct 15, 2008 12:00 am

Updated Oct 20, 2008 10:36 am

By Marc Strom Shellhead? Meet Webhead. In the wake of his brutal battle with Ezekiel Stane, Tony Stark teams up with Spider-Man in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #7, on sale November 5. However, series writer Matt Fraction says the meeting doesn't start out as one between two super heroes. "It's more about what brings Tony Stark and Peter Parker together," he clarifies. "Tony's company has been the victim of a superterror assault in Long Island, and Peter's in the newsgathering business. So in the ashes of the Stark Industries facility, Peter—and Ben Urich—come calling." Given Iron Man and Spidey's significant falling out during Civil War, fans shouldn't expect the fondest reunion according to Fraction, who would only describe the two heroes' relationship as "chilly." Before their ideological split, Tony had become a mentor to Peter, and the writer says their bond made perfect sense: "They're both driven, brilliant, and selfless. Isn't it weird how they ended up on such opposite sides of things?"

Preview art by
Salvador Larocca

Despite the contentious relationship between heroes, Fraction says the team-up still offers a bit of respite in between two longer, more intense story arcs. "[First story arc] 'The Five Nightmares' was pretty heavy and dark, and where we're going from here is even heavier and darker, so I wanted to take a second to catch our breath, put a classic team-up together, let a little air in and have some fun for fun's sake," Fraction reasons. The one-off issue will still follow up on some elements from the first six issues, while also setting things up for the future. "It's an epilogue to 'The Five Nightmares,'" Fraction notes. "It sort of cues Tony up to where he was at the start of Secret Invasion, and then our next arc takes place right after that. Literally." Summing things up, Fraction offered a few more hints of what fans can expect in the next couple months:

Preview art by
Salvador Larocca

"This issue: Some loose ends are tied up, and we get to see, for the first time post-Brand New Day, what Peter and Tony think about one another. Second story arc? Things get worse." INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #7, written by Fraction and with art by Salvador Larocca, rockets into stores on November 5, but you can relive CIVIL WAR right now on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Check out the official Marvel Shop for everything Iron Man!

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