Iron Man + Green Lantern = Iron Lantern

Iron Lantern #1
“Showdown at Stark Aircraft”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciler: Paul Smith
Inked by: Al Williamson and Andrew Pepoy/Greg Adams/Bob McLeod/Tom Palmer/Allen Milgrom/Smith
Colors: Christie Scheele & Digital Chameleon
Letters: Richard Starlings & Comicraft/AD
Assistant Editor: Glenn Greenberg
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Cover: Smith
Published by: Marvel
Released: April 2, 1997

Iron Lantern draws on unexplored elements of earlier Amalgam installments, though the relationships between them - if they exist at all - are unclear.

We saw Tony Stark, better known as Robert Downey Jr.,* supplying tech for the titular superspy in “Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” A Guardian of the Universe, Green Lantern’s bosses, appeared in “Speed Demon” to briefly menace Hal Jordan of the Starbrand Corps. Neither is referenced or explained in this issue, but that doesn't have a negative effect on the story.

This issue opens with a green-and-yellow** armored figure streaking through space toward Oa the Living Planet – Ego mixed with what appears to be a kinder, gentler Guardian. He welcomes his “human servant,” a designation the Iron Lantern does not appreciate.

He’s transporting H.E.C.T.O.R. – the Highly Evolved Creature Totally Oriented on Revenge – to prison on Oa after thwarting a plot by this combination of Hector Hammond and M.O.D.O.K. and the Weaponers of A.I.M. Although Iron Lantern works for and utilize the powers granted by Oa, he doesn't fully understand the nature of the whole operation.

Back on Earth, specifically at Stark Aircraft outside Coast City, a mix of Iron Man and Green Lantern’s supporting casts is concerned because the boss, Hal Stark, hasn't shown up for an important test flight. Stewart Rhodes (John Stewart/Jim “War Machine” Rhodes) and Happy Kalmaku (Happy Hogan and Hal Jordan's buddy Tom Kalmaku***) know Hal leads a double life as Iron Lantern but brash test pilot Pepper Ferris (Pepper Potts/Carol Ferris) is unaware.

Returning to Earth, Iron Lantern flashes back to his origin, in which he was summoned by a dying alien to receive his power. But he crashes short of the ship and has to use the technology in it – including a lantern-like power battery – to build a suit of armor to save his life.

His exposition is interrupted by the discovery that the experimental jet Pepper is flying has malfunctioned and is about to crash. Iron Lantern saves her, and both are convinced the craft was the target of sabotage.

The senator who came to observe the test isn't impressed with the jet's performance, nor the fact that Stark allowed a woman to fly it. He says this in front of Pepper, who happens to be his daughter. She storms out, and the senator sends his aide, Kyle O'Brien, to find her. But O'Brien's got his own agenda, so he's not around to witness Carol's transformation into Madame Sapphire, a mash-up of Madame Masque and Star Sapphire revived by someone for nefarious purposes.

Himself a mix of Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Marvel's Guardsman, O'Brien once replaced Iron Lantern as the Green Guardsman. He's looking to make that a permanent role by defeating the hero and taking his place. Madame Sapphire, meanwhile, awakens a mechanized monster called Great White, which I presume is a mix of Ultimo and that DC shark villain that's not King Shark.

Hal Stark dons his armor and takes the fight to Great White, only to get blindsided by Madame Sapphire. He lets her think she's gotten the best of him until he can use a green energy construct to rocket Great White into space, where he embiggens himself for a full-on kaiju throwdown.

Madame Sapphire abducts her sexist senator sire, while Stewart and Happy track down O'Brien. But, angered by Happy repeatedly calling him a substitute, O'Brien gains the upper hand and manages to knock both of Hal's buddies out. Then he absconds with the power battery, causing Iron Lantern to lose power and shrink back to his normal size.

Lantern allows himself to be swallowed by Great White and uses the last of his power to detonate the 'bot from within. Then he drifts back into the atmosphere and begins to plummet toward Earth. Meanwhile, on the dark side of the Moon, the mastermind of all this trouble is revealed... Mandarinestro!****

OK, even the exclamation point doesn't make that name sing. But that doesn't take away from one heck of an Amalgam issue. I remember reading this years ago and thinking it was kind of disappointing. Now, I can't remember what made me come to that conclusion.

In my assessments of previous issues, I've tended to note either too much being crammed in, a la Speed Demon, or a lack of details I'm looking for, like Generation Hex. Busiek seems to hit the sweet spot here, with crazy combinations galore and a well-paced, easy-to-follow story. We don't get in-depth backstories on every character, but there's more than enough to suggest a larger world around them, with references like the Human Lantern of World War II. And Smith delivers it all in clean, uncluttered, classic-looking art.

Maybe the issue falls short of feeling like a “real” comic in an ongoing universe, but only by a thin margin. The most jarring thing about this issue, to me, was that I was supposed to buy it as a #1. It starts right on the heels of a clash between Iron Lantern and H.E.C.T.O.R. But another world-building letters page makes it clear that this “new” series is picking up from the character's adventures in “Showcase of Suspense.” I thought that still seemed like an abrupt way to launch an ongoing series, but I believe Man-Thing transitioned into his own series after meeting Howard the Duck for the first time in “Fear”#19, while that anthology series continued on. And “Marvel Two-in-One” #1 picked up from the Thing's adventure in another book as well.

The point is, I shouldn't question Kurt Busiek's comic book knowledge and bona fides. This issue reads like a rollicking Silver Age romp and a winking tribute to Marvel and DC fans. Other Amalgam issues may be crazier or have catchier names, but this might be the best execution of the concept so far.

Best Amalgam: I would love to highlight a more obscure character (lookin' at you, H.E.C.T.O.R.), but Iron Lantern is the straw that stirs the drink. The design is a terrific take on an older Iron Man look, but replacing the red with green makes the source of the other half clear. Pretty much every other character is drawn from each character's supporting cast or rogues' gallery, which manages to make this exactly what I would expect of an Amalgam issue while still not feeling by the numbers.

Most Confusing Amalgam: Great White, but, as is so often the case, that may primarily be because of me. That DC villain who isn't King Shark? He just goes by Shark. Thanks to the Marvel Universe Appendix for clearing that up.

* - I don't need to clarify that it's Iron Man, do I?

** - Either he has no weakness to the color yellow like Green Lantern used to
or his armor could be performing a whole lot better.

*** - I’m not touching his original nickname.

**** - Paging Ben Kingsley!