I loved seeing some of the everyday consequences of The Avengers, particularly where it came to Tony’s psychological issues. This was a guy who, more-or-less, always had everything under control. He always felt like he was a step ahead of everyone else and had at least a better-than-average idea of what was going on in the world. Now, in addition to the understandable PTSD and related insomnia from fighting a war with aliens in which he briefly died in deep space, he also has to work his ego around the indisputable fact that the universe is way, WAY weirder than he ever could have imagined.

He said himself at one point something to the effect of, “Gods, aliens, I didn’t sign up for this. I’m just a guy in a metal can.” Only now he’s a guy in a metal can that everyone knows helped save the world on international TV. He’s feeling like all he really has is that can to protect himself and Pepper from the great unknown of a universe full of gods, aliens, and who-knows-what. So what does he do, he buries himself into making the best metal suits he can. He’s doing it as a distraction, but also he’s doing it for the same reason doomsday preppers stockpile weapons and ‘things’: irrational fear and paranoia about the unknown.

He needed a reason to grow and move on, to face his fears and accept that the unknown doesn’t have to be something to huddle in the corner terrified of facing, to get some perspective. That a lot of that perspective and motivation came with the help of a bullied 12-year-old wasn’t a problem for me.

In the end, yes, all those suits are gone, but it isn’t an ending. He’s wiping away the past he had spent in fear, and the physical ties to that time, but not going to route of Nolan’s Batman and just giving up to sip lattes in Paris. Jarvis executes operation ‘Clean Slate’ not ‘Swan Song’ or ‘Blaze of Glory’. He’s not going out with a bang, just starting over with a fresh perspective. Hell, he tells Banner flat out “I’m still Iron Man.”

I think, and hope, this is a sign that he’s coming back with one suit and taking a more proactive role in the world at large. Maybe this is the start of a shift into ‘Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ mode with a fully engaged Stark?

And I can’t go without a little bit on the Mandarin. Yes, the comic fan in me was a little bummed at how it was played out, I can’t lie. The thing is, I really loved the way this was done in the context of the film universe. Let’s face it, the comic book Mandarin has no place in modern, mainstream pop culture. He’s way too much of the Fu-Manchu ‘china-man’ stereotype. It was never going to happen and everyone said as much from day one.

Giving this part to Kingsley, and taking it where they did, for my money, was brilliant (and I wonder if Ben asked RDJ for any tips about playing a burnout junkie actor, or if Rob looked at Ben’s performance and said “That could have been me for real”). It was nice misdirection, and played with nicely for tone.

The thing is, I sort of agree with what the production staff and writers were saying going into the movie. Yes, The Mandarin is an iconic Iron Man villain, but more for his longevity as one than for any really great stories. I was a casual Iron Man reader, so maybe I missed something, but I can’t think of any real iconic storyline that required The Mandarin. As a matter of fact, the place I’d remember seeing him best woven into a real story arc was in the pages of Wolverine, not Iron Man.

Honestly, for me Iron Man was always more about cool toys and personality clashes than about a great rogues gallery. In that sense, the villains in IM3 nailed it, even if what we got was essentially a cut-rate Fin Fang Foom knock-off and a washed-up junkie.

That’s not to say there weren’t things I enjoyed. Up until Tony lands in Tennessee and we meet (ugh) Harley, I was completely glued to my seat. I still sat through the Harley stuff, thinking it would get better, but when we got (double-ugh) Trevor, I still tried to hang onto hope. I kept telling myself that we’d get the real Mandarin in an epic post-credits sequence and that this would all turn out to be a massive fake-out.

Then came the armor falling apart after getting hit by a bus and Tony missing the armor while jumping and the armor falling apart right after Tony got into it and by that point, I had pretty much given up on this being a serious movie.

I just really got the feeling throughout this whole movie that Shane Black had absolutely zero love for the comics. This movie just felt like he was doing a favor for Downey. And that’s not to say Black’s a bad director or writer, he absolutely is not. But if he and Downey wanted to work together again, I would have much rather they did a sequel to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang or something completely different. Because if this turns out to be Downey’s final outing as Tony Stark, to me it will be the Godfather III of the franchise.

I was able to avoid all spoilers and tried not to get a hold of too many trailers…I was going to see it, I didn’t need any teasing. I did have friends that were hoping it wasn’t going to ‘suck’. As a long time Buffy and Firefly / Serenity fan I knew it was going to melt our brains. Whedon in my opinion is one of the best sci-fi story tellers today. Smart, witty, action packed, heart felt…he brings the total package. I agree with you, he put together the most epic superhero movie ever.

I know Thor fans were a little disappointed as didn’t get to show his ‘full range’. The big 3 are still Iron Man, Hulk, and Captain America. RDJ launched Marvel Movie studios by ‘becoming’ Tony Stark. We all grew up watching Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk and Captain America even had his own TV specials when I was growing up. I think Thor is the toughest for most ‘non-comic’ fans to relate to. I agree Hulk, kind of stole his thunder at the end by bashing Loki, but, it WAS Loki that wanted the ‘monster’, well he got him. What a great scene. But, Hemsworth is a great cast and with Thor 2 coming out they hopefully vet out his powers and character much further. I think with Thanos coming into the mix, Thor will be a bigger player in Avengers 2.

I thought they did a fantastic job of casting and as you mentioned earlier, weaving small cameos of important characters from other story arcs to bring the movie together as a fully universal story. I thought the growth that JW and team brought to the cast of characters will help continue Marvel on the right path.

I’m a comic fan in general, Marvel and DC both. I find it funny how everyone raves about how Marvel is ‘getting it right’ and DC is so lost (aside from Nolan’s Batman), when not so long ago there was the toe stubbing with Spawn, Spider Man 2/3 (were eh), Hulk (Bana), Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Fantastic Four. I’m hopeful we can get some reboots and have some cross interaction with some of the Avengers…I get goosebumps thinking about it.

I’m hopeful that comic book hero movie directors take inspiration from JW and team by taking care of the characters that comic nerds like me have grown up with and update them so that they can be appreciated by both diehards and newbies across the board.

I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness here. Thanks for giving me a place to ramble.

Peace.