About the Book
-
Author:
- Eoin Colfer
- Genres:
- Action-Adventure
- Contemporary
- Middle Grade
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Straight
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Stand Back
BFF Charm: Yay
Talky Talk: Tony Snark
Bonus Factors: Other Marvel Mentions
Relationship Status: Tided Over
Cover Story: Stand Back
If you’ve ever seen a Marvel movie with Iron Man in it, you know that when he fires up one of his palm repulsor beams, you might not want to be standing in the line of fire.
The Deal:
Tony Stark is on his way to Ireland to make an appearance at a rock star’s party—and, the following day, an environmental summit—when the Iron Man suit registers something strange on a supposedly uninhabited island just off the coast. Tony’s not expecting to find much, and his suit’s AI, Friday, assures him that there’s little to worry about, but he just can’t resist scratching the “something’s off” itch.
Unfortunately, both his expectations and Friday’s assurances are incorrect, and Tony soon finds himself captured by an old nemesis … without his standard Iron Man gear.
BFF Charm: Yay
As abrasive as he can be, Tony has a good heart. Iron Man: The Gauntlet, while being an adventure novel for the most part, is also an examination of Tony’s innermost thoughts, feelings, and the situations that drive all that he is and does. The book makes Tony a bit more human, which makes me like him even more than I already did.
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Tony is taken prisoner in chapter two of the book, and he spends practically the entire rest of the book escaping from the situation and defeating his enemies. He doesn’t really have time to go looking for love, but he does find time to reminisce on a former girlfriend (who I, having not really read many comics and only really knowing Iron Man from the movies, knew nothing about).
Talky Talk: Tony Snark
Before beginning Iron Man: The Gauntlet, I was a little worried about how the world I know from watching Marvel movies would translate to a YA novel. (Side note: I think this book is definitely more MG than YA.) Thankfully, Eoin Colfer obviously did a lot of research into the character and the types of situations Tony finds himself in—and the various genius ways he gets himself out of said situations, all the while cracking jokes and making sarcastic remarks. From the very start, Colfer’s Tony felt like the Tony I know and love. Even in the worst of situations, his brain is working on a plan and his mouth is getting him into deeper trouble.
The actual action of the book was a little easily resolved, but it makes sense when I realized this was an MG novel. I’m also super curious to see how the events of the novel effect the larger Marvel universe; not to spoil anything, but some events would majorly impact the movie timeline, if the book has direct ties.
Bonus Factor: Other Marvel Mentions
I would have been very sad, and very surprised, had there not been any mention of anyone else from the Marvel ‘verse in Iron Man: The Gauntlet. I, thankfully, was neither. I appreciate the way Colfer weaves said references into the story with grace, rather than bashing readers over the head with them, too.
Relationship Status: Tided Over
Although you weren’t as action-packed as your movie siblings, Book, you certainly were a fun time, and you were delightfully true to character. Our time together has helped ease that terrible ache that occurs between Marvel movies.
Iron Man: The Gauntlet will be available Oct 25.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Marvel Press. This review was originally posted on Kirkus Reviews in exchange for monetary compensation, which did not affect or influence my opinions.
