ourchair
Well-Known Member
NOTE: This an updated and hugely expanded version of a post I made in Bass' Traitor Manifesto thread.
I'd REALLY REALLY like Tony Stark to be the traitor. This is not an all out flat out rejection of the other potential traitors, but it's an attempt to build up the case for Ol' Shellhead. I mean, Ultimate Shellhead.
I'd like Tony to be traitor mostly because the thought that the billionaire industrialist placed his prestige, his armor and his tumor-induced streak of altruism into the Ultimates only to become bitterly disappointed strikes me as the more dramatic revelation.
This, is my Iron Man Manifesto.
First of all, let's go back to the very very beginning: Here Tony has just signed up for the Ultimates, agreeing to don his Iron Man armor and risk his life against emerging superhuman threats. Assuming he's being honest, it is also the most explicit he has ever been about his ideals.
Also, in the pages preceding this exchange, Tony is the one who recommends Thor for membership in the team, noting that the self-proclaimed Son of Odin is "wonderfully charismatic". We'll later learn that Tony has a weakness for New Age hufflepuff like "spring cleaning the mind". It's easy to see why Tony would find the man likable.
It is also important to note that Fury gives several good arguments against Tony joining the Ultimates: Tony's got "more money than God" and he has certainly earned enough respectability for himself as a business mogul and as a recognized brand in consumer products. He has enough good PR going for himself that there's little more of it to be earned in forming an alliance with SHIELD and the U.S. Government.
More importantly, it brings home the point that the alliance between Tony Stark and Nick Fury is one born out of perceived common interests. That common interest being the fight for freedom, justice and the salvation of the world from crazy mutants and goblin menaces. As an aside, take note that Tony and Nick spend a lot of time together while forming the team.
Here, Tony continues to display his friendly relationship with the media. Tony's got this whole eccentric philanthropist schtick going on, after all. But I think what's more important is that Tony is presenting himself as a very forthcoming individual. Media outlets like CNN and Sixty Minutes also want to know why Tony is risking his life and dedicating himself to the government.
Its a very legitimate question after all: when was the last time you saw a wealthy mogul join the military piloting the same super-tech they supply? If there're any, Tom Clancy isn't telling. But the most important point to be made is that Tony's altruism is a recent development. It's not something he always had. Which is why he has to frequently explain whenever he gets the chance. Which brings us to the following image:
Here, Tony drops the bomb on Captain America and Thor. He's got a brain tumor, and it's going to kill him anywhere between six months and five years. It's his explanation for his philanthropic bent. He wants to do some good in this world before he dies.
Now I doubt that the editorial team at Ultimate Marvel will allow Tony to die just like that, but for a moment, let's ignore the constraints of editorial politics and consider what that tumor means. I think what isn't being played up enough about that tumor is that it gives him a finite timetable for Tony to do whatever good he wants to do in this world.
Which means if Tony wants to do those things, he'd better plan them out properly. He's got to apply his superhuman intellect and management savvy in order to get as much of those done as possible. Which brings us to the following image:
High upon Mount Everest, Tony is taking a six week sabbatical from his corporate responsibilites and his ostentatious lifestyle. Not that he's complaining, he remarks that it's times like these that give him perspective and help him develop his focus on "The Plan." Notice how this "Plan" has NEVER been mentioned again.
One way to interpret this is that he's got some sinister scheme brewing, like maybe an army of Iron Monger machines ready to destroy the planet at but a push of a button. Or perhaps a new world order powered by machines or some crap like that. We can infer that his intentions are sinister. But that makes less sense than assuming The Plan is some kind of humanitarian scheme to make the world right again. Whatever The Plan is, it was certainly supposed to be compatible with his partnership and friendship with Fury.
Tomorrow, I'll tie up these points with material from Ultimates Vol. 2
I'd REALLY REALLY like Tony Stark to be the traitor. This is not an all out flat out rejection of the other potential traitors, but it's an attempt to build up the case for Ol' Shellhead. I mean, Ultimate Shellhead.
I'd like Tony to be traitor mostly because the thought that the billionaire industrialist placed his prestige, his armor and his tumor-induced streak of altruism into the Ultimates only to become bitterly disappointed strikes me as the more dramatic revelation.
This, is my Iron Man Manifesto.
First of all, let's go back to the very very beginning: Here Tony has just signed up for the Ultimates, agreeing to don his Iron Man armor and risk his life against emerging superhuman threats. Assuming he's being honest, it is also the most explicit he has ever been about his ideals.
Also, in the pages preceding this exchange, Tony is the one who recommends Thor for membership in the team, noting that the self-proclaimed Son of Odin is "wonderfully charismatic". We'll later learn that Tony has a weakness for New Age hufflepuff like "spring cleaning the mind". It's easy to see why Tony would find the man likable.
It is also important to note that Fury gives several good arguments against Tony joining the Ultimates: Tony's got "more money than God" and he has certainly earned enough respectability for himself as a business mogul and as a recognized brand in consumer products. He has enough good PR going for himself that there's little more of it to be earned in forming an alliance with SHIELD and the U.S. Government.
More importantly, it brings home the point that the alliance between Tony Stark and Nick Fury is one born out of perceived common interests. That common interest being the fight for freedom, justice and the salvation of the world from crazy mutants and goblin menaces. As an aside, take note that Tony and Nick spend a lot of time together while forming the team.
Here, Tony continues to display his friendly relationship with the media. Tony's got this whole eccentric philanthropist schtick going on, after all. But I think what's more important is that Tony is presenting himself as a very forthcoming individual. Media outlets like CNN and Sixty Minutes also want to know why Tony is risking his life and dedicating himself to the government.
Its a very legitimate question after all: when was the last time you saw a wealthy mogul join the military piloting the same super-tech they supply? If there're any, Tom Clancy isn't telling. But the most important point to be made is that Tony's altruism is a recent development. It's not something he always had. Which is why he has to frequently explain whenever he gets the chance. Which brings us to the following image:
Here, Tony drops the bomb on Captain America and Thor. He's got a brain tumor, and it's going to kill him anywhere between six months and five years. It's his explanation for his philanthropic bent. He wants to do some good in this world before he dies.
Now I doubt that the editorial team at Ultimate Marvel will allow Tony to die just like that, but for a moment, let's ignore the constraints of editorial politics and consider what that tumor means. I think what isn't being played up enough about that tumor is that it gives him a finite timetable for Tony to do whatever good he wants to do in this world.
Which means if Tony wants to do those things, he'd better plan them out properly. He's got to apply his superhuman intellect and management savvy in order to get as much of those done as possible. Which brings us to the following image:
High upon Mount Everest, Tony is taking a six week sabbatical from his corporate responsibilites and his ostentatious lifestyle. Not that he's complaining, he remarks that it's times like these that give him perspective and help him develop his focus on "The Plan." Notice how this "Plan" has NEVER been mentioned again.
One way to interpret this is that he's got some sinister scheme brewing, like maybe an army of Iron Monger machines ready to destroy the planet at but a push of a button. Or perhaps a new world order powered by machines or some crap like that. We can infer that his intentions are sinister. But that makes less sense than assuming The Plan is some kind of humanitarian scheme to make the world right again. Whatever The Plan is, it was certainly supposed to be compatible with his partnership and friendship with Fury.
Tomorrow, I'll tie up these points with material from Ultimates Vol. 2
