Iron Man

Gr 1--4--On the heels of a trio of "Mighty Marvel Team-Up" books featuring the ever-popular Spider-Man, this volume pivots the series to focus on a new superhero team-up of beloved Marvel characters. In this volume, the technologically powered Iron Man partners with the magically inclined Dr. Strange to solve a problem that is magical in nature. Much of the humorous, snappy banter comes from tech whiz Tony Stark being dismissive towards heroes who primarily rely on magic for their powers, namely the sorcerer Stephen Strange and god of thunder Thor. Frequently used technobabble like "repulsor lenses" and magical babble such as "Mug-Ragganot" might have young readers skipping over dialogue bubbles, but the bright colors and thick lines make the art pleasant to look at. Violence is minimal and the otherworldly monsters lack the menace of a serious threat to the heroes. Cameos from other Avengers and Marvel heroes, as well as name-drops of Iron Man supporting characters Pepper Potts and James "Rhodey" Rhodes, suggest readers would benefit from some previous knowledge of the Marvel universe. VERDICT Too embedded in Marvel lore for newcomers, yet too slight for older fans. Purchase where there is a strong demand for these characters.--Jon Stevens