Review: Ironheart #8

You know that weird thing where as soon as someone calls attention to something, you simultaneously see it everywhere you go or in everything that seems to somehow find its way to you from the Universe? For whatever reason, I remember a friend of mine talking about Ten Rings before I ever got sent this Iron Heart title. It’s funny how serendipitous this conversation seems now, after Eve L. Ewing’s Iron Heart #8 managed to find its way into my lap.

This issue is full of terse interactions and recalling of previous events in the prior events that seem to have been only slightly resolved, though not enough to comfort Riri and her friends. There’s the weight of unfinished business that lingers in the air and digs its spindley fingers deep into her soul. The kind of unease that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you try to apprehensively plan your next moves. A very cat in mouse type situation, if there was any.

The title’s art by Luciano Vecchio, with layouts by Geoffo, colors by Matt Milla and letters by my favorite letterer working, VC’s Clayton Cowles is quite lovely. Everything is sleek and brightly hued. Faces are wonderful and expressive. There’s something about the eyes especially that manage to capture the inner turmoil brewing within our young hero effortlessly. Not to mention, I love the cut of our special guest in this issue. He looks streamlined, especially in his newer costume which somehow also echoes the title of the issue itself.

Riri exhibits a lot of the same traits as her mentor, this much is acknowledged by the person she seeks out to help her figure out what exactly might be going on, if only to ease the unrest she feels deep within herself. I think a lot of this actually falls in line with a Meyers Briggs sort of ISTP/TJ thinking personality type, which I really appreciate if I’m correct about this. People under this type often need to be busy, or have some distinct mission to feel as if they have meaning to their madness. Clearly, another thing that Riri shares with Tony Stark. Funnily enough, similarities between Tony are what prompts a brief but ominous warning to be careful.

Despite the warning, and possibly to the chagrin of our guest in the title, Riri manages to deduce where she needs to go on the next part of her journey despite the location being secretive (and the effort of her companion to conceal this information from her.) I’m wondering exactly how much the warning she was given will be part of foreshadowing in the future, but for now, I can suggest this lovely 3.5 out of 5 star title to anyone who has been a fan of Iron Heart.

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(W) Eve Ewing (A) Luciano Vecchio (CA) Stefano Caselli