And here's one last panel from the 2021 Avengers annual featuring Tony's terrible and deeply self-deprecating sense of humor. Oh, Tony, no!

And here's some more from the 2021 Avengers annual. In this scene, the Soul Stone and its host decide that the best way to defeat Tony and Steve is to force them to fight each other's soul projections. Why? See the reason stated in that final panel. Aaaah, I'm actually screaming! <3 

The 2021 Avengers annual has some excellent content. I love Tony and Steve sharing breakfast and chillin' like the bros they actually are. <3

And here are the rest of my captures from the 9th Avengers Annual. Like I said, the Tony angst in this is A+ -- especially, as we see above, when it's revealed that it's an AI version of Tony's mother that's controlling Arsenal. Tony's reaction as he watches his Mama die a second time absolutely kills me. 

Teamwork: yes, Cap and Iron Man are capable of it. (Avengers Annual #9)

More from the 9th Avengers annual!

Continued from yesterday: This annual has some top-notch Tony angst.

Yes, Tony gets a bit testy in the 9th Avengers annual.

 

Here's some more from the actually-pretty-fantastic 2021 annual. Now, I happen to believe that Tony's defense contractor days are not in fact some terrible, lingering stain on his character and don't constitute evidence that he used to be a heel. (I don't even believe that was Tony's principal sin in the MCU. But that's a discussion for another day.) All the canonical evidence suggests that during that period, he genuinely believed his military inventions would save lives in the long run. But do I also believe that Tony himself would think the very worst about himself and his past -- even to the point that he would willingly leap into danger because he "deserves" to be in pain? Hell yes.

So the Hellfire Gala is a fail for me so far (which wasn't unexpected). But the Iron Man annual? It features BAMF Tony Stark flying off in a rage and avenging Miles Morales. And even though I have no strong feelings either way in re: Miles ... 1/2 pic.twitter.com/uw9wi7XjEs

— The Right Geek (@TheRightGeek) June 3, 2021

Click above for my immediate reaction to the 2021 annual, which has eff-all to do with what's going on in Cantwell's run -- but is still shockingly good for a Current Year Iron Man comic. 

In all seriousness, I opened this issue harboring zero expectations -- and found the most in-character story I've seen in a while. Granted, in my opinion, it's a little more MCU than 616 in overall tone, but -- like I said, I totally buy that Tony (in both his MCU and 616 incarnations) would lose his temper and visit vengeance on a villain who recently kidnapped and tortured a kid. And the fact that he ultimately prevails (sort of; this comic is part of a larger story that won't be complete until the end of the summer) by being a bad-ass, smart mother effer? Yes. Hook this stuff directly to my veins, please!

(PS: Tony is also a guest at the above-mentioned Hellfire Gala this month. I don't recommend reading that unless you can get the relevant issues for free somehow, but for the sake of completeness, my running commentary on said unasked-for event - which does feature some captures of Tony being rightfully suspicious of Krakoa-era mutant society - can be found here.)

 Yow! And on that note, we've hit the end of the '98 Annual. Wasn't that awesome?

Two friends can disagree and yet still be friends. Imagine that! <3 (Annual '98)

And here, we get to the outstanding climax of the '98 Annual. While I think, once again, that Steve was right to object to Tony's wholesale alteration of the world's memories, I think Tony is right here. There are limits to freedom. In certain, narrowly defined cases - like the one presented here - allowing people their absolute liberty is not in fact the ethical thing to do. 

Like I said a couple posts ago, this is what makes this issue so great: the heroes disagree -- but at different points in the story, they're both allowed to be right. That's real writing.

Look at my bros working together like a well-oiled machine. Just look at them! (Annual '98)

Tony is already hurt, but he's still pushing his friend out of the danger zone and taking the hit himself. *keyboard smash* God, I love this idiot. (Annual '98)

They're fighting, but they still care for each other. <3 (Annual '98)