Rating: Not Rated
Starring:
Adrian Petriwas Tony Stark / Iron Man
Anna Cummeras Pepper Potts
Daniel Baconas Jim ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes
Kristie Marsdenas Whitney Stane
Mackenzie Grayas Obadiah Stane
Vincent Tongas Gene Khan / Mandarin
Alistair Abellas Happy Hogan
Catherine Lough Haggquistas Roberta Rhodes
Fred Hendersonas Howard Stark
Lisa Ann Beleyas Iron Man Onboard Computer
Special Features:
Suit Profiles
Rooney Music Video
All-New Super Hero Squad Show Music Video
Other Info:
Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Running Time: 132 Minutes
The Details:
The following is the official description of the series:
“Teen genius Tony Stark has just finished his greatest invention: the Iron Man armor. But before he gets to show his dad, Tony’s world is shattered. His father, his home, his entire life are all gone, and Tony is left picking up the pieces. But with a little help from his friends Rhodey and Pepper, he begins to unravel the mystery surrounding the attack on his father. And as Iron Man, Tony Stark takes his first steps toward becoming a hero. Volume 1 includes the first 6 episodes of the massively popular series.”
Included episodes are:
Iron, Forged in Fire, Part 1
Iron, Forged in Fire, Part 2
Secret and Lies
Cold War
Whiplash
Iron Man vs. The Crimson Dynamo
“Iron Man: Armored Adventures – Volume 1” is not rated.
Mini-Review:
My kids have been watching this series religiously on TV ever since they discovered it. I’ve even discovered my wife watching it with them. And of course I’m into it, being a big fan of the Iron Man comics. It’s the series that got me collecting comics.
This show offers a new take on Iron Man that we haven’t really seen before. We’re treated to a teenage Iron Man who juggles a life in high school, a secret identity, and a group of friends. It’s kind of like “Ultimate Spider-Man” where the adult hero was taken back to high school. The only difference is that Tony Stark has to deal with his father’s company, too. I suppose it was a good move because it distanced the series from the movies and comics while still making Iron Man relatable to kids. The show also gives Pepper Potts a greatly expanded role and someone for female viewers to connect to. In fact this is probably the most involved Potts has ever been in the Iron Man story (not counting the recent Iron Maiden comics from Marvel).
Despite all the differences from the Iron Man comics and movies, there’s still a lot from them included in the series to make it all familiar. We see The Mandarin, Killer Shrike, Whiplash, The Crimson Dynamo, and more. They all have new and improved designs, but the favorite villains are here. (The DVD cover makes it look like The Incredible Hulk has a cameo, but he’s not in any of these episodes.) The origin of The Mandarin is significantly modified for the show, but it works. I could see it being used in a film unlike the comic Mandarin.
The animation is pretty impressive. It is CG and is very reminiscent of the CG “Spider-Man” cartoon that aired on MTV a few years ago. The CG combined with the cool new designs for the characters work very well and give it a fresh feel.
Overall I recommend “Iron Man: Armored Adventures” to any fan of the Iron Man comics and anyone that was into the movie. It’s a fun series worth checking out.
Unfortunately, the bonus features are minimal. There’s a set of Iron Man commercials highlighting his various armor features. There’s also a music video of the theme song. There’s also a music video for Super Hero Squad, the kid’s show featuring comical versions of the comic heroes. If you want more in-depth bonus features you’re going to have to wait for the entire series collected in a DVD set.
