TV Review- Alternate Take- IRON MAN (anime series) 1.1- "Iron Man Arrives in Japan"
Despite the story being crafted by comics legend Warren Ellis, the man responsible for Extremis, a story that redefined Iron Man for the 21st century, the first episode of this new show has very little in common with either the acclaimed comics or the much loved Robert Downey Jr. movies.
Despite the story being crafted by comics legend Warren Ellis, the man responsible for Extremis, a story that redefined Iron Man for the 21st century, the first episode of this new show has very little in common with either the acclaimed comics or the much loved Robert Downey Jr. movies. This is Iron Man made for people who love anime, as opposed to anime made for people who love Iron Man- and thats a huge difference. Several key features of the Iron Man franchise - such as Rhodey/War Machine-are not even mentioned. Pepper Potts gets the briefest of screen time, but with the action relegating Stark to Japan, theres little hope that many of the fan favourites will appear in this newest of adaptations. The first episode revolves around the test trials for an all new Iron Man Armour (its completely different- well, its blue) and- surprise, surprise, yawn, yawn- the suit goes offline and turns against its creators. Thats right, its yet another Iron Man story about technology in the wrong hands. However, in more capable hands such cliché material could still be riveting but, rather than opening with an explosive bang, this episode crawls along at a snails pace. The scenes are clunky, with stilted delivery and awkward timing. Tony Stark is voiced by Adrian Pasdar from Heroes but, despite the promise that brings, the few good lines he does get are hampered by poor direction. Why is it that so many voice actors in anime are told to deliver their lines with an ironic, smarmy drawl? The result is an uninteresting array of flat dialogue, made bearable by the screeching guitar riffs (completely ridiculous) that, while clearly not the intention, at least serves to drown out the verbal diarrhoea spilling from the characters mouths. I know that long-duration shots with minimal movement is a long staple of the anime genre but here its taken to the extreme. Some of these shots are so flat and still that you almost mistake them for still images. Sure, there is some impressive CG work on the Mk II suit that brings it roaring into motion with impressive style, but everything else lacks vitality and life. Many characters look like generic anime types from other, much better anime shows. This is Iron Man for Gods sake- Tony Stark is one of the most charismatic and unique personalities in all of comics- at least give him something to make him stand out. While its perhaps unfair to be so cruel to something which is clearly in the very early ages of developing a longer, serialised story, it doesnt change the fact that this first episode just fails to engage. Not only that, but many of the narrative threads that this first episode spends an age developing are quickly resolved- and too easily- with a new threat coming out of complete nowhere with literally no development or build up to beforehand (I dont want to spoil the episode for anyone, but if you watch it youll know the moment I mean). Now, I hate to get all Robert McKee on this thing, but that is just bad storytelling, plain and simple. If the audience feels like theyve had their time wasted then theyll be less inclined to tune in for the next chapter. I know one thing- Ill certainly be missing it. If anyone wants me Ill be in the back reading Matt Fractions incredible Invincible Iron Man seriesafter this mess I need to be reminded that old shellhead is- in the right hands- one of the best characters out there, as the creators of this anime certainly seem incapable of doing him justice. 