Editor's Note: Invincible Iron Man #19 arrives in stores tomorrow, October 21.

"World's Most Wanted, Conclusion: Into The White (Einstein On The Beach)"

This issue of Invincible Iron Man sees the conclusion of Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca's 12-issue epic, "World's Most Wanted." I'm sure that those of us who have been faithfully following the long story over the past year will have been hoping that Fraction was finally going to be able to deliver a satisfying conclusion to his tale of global cat-and-mouse between Norman Osborn and Tony Stark--and thankfully, he doesn't disappoint.

One of the most satisfying aspects of the issue is Matt Fraction's refusal to give either side of the story's central conflict a clear victory. Both Osborn and Stark suffer losses here, with both characters in far a worse place at the end of the story than they were when it began. There's also a delicious irony to the manner in which both characters have their ambitions frustrated: Norman Osborn becomes trapped in his own web of PR and political spin, and confounded by the legalese of his advisors; and Tony Stark suffers the indignity of his one unique superpower--his mind--failing him when he needs it most. There isn't a final flash of inspiration on Tony's part, or a twist that allows Stark to once again become the super-intelligent techno-hero that we know and love: instead, there's a sense of grim inevitability as Fraction makes good on his promise to reduce Stark to his most basic component parts in order to prevent the contents of his mind from falling into evil hands.

In fact, it's during the sections that deal with Stark's mental disintegration that the book is most effective: it's heartbreaking to see the man who was once at the bleeding edge of technology reduced to jumping around the desert in a giant tin can, with all of the grace, mental acuity and linguistic capability of the Hulk. There's a genuine sense that anything that might once have been left of Tony Stark is now gone--and without wanting to give too much away, the end of the issue places the character in such a dire situation that I can't wait to see how Fraction pulls him out of it, and whether the Stark that we know will still be intact when he does.

The book's secondary plot strand involving the Black Widow, Maria Hill and Pepper Potts (a group that can't help but come off like an Iron Man-inspired version of Charlie's Angels) is also engaging, with all three characters playing their part in enacting revenge on Norman Osborn in Tony's name. Other subplots add a little extra flavour, too, whether it's the smaller dramas that play out within Norman's organisation. (Ms. Hand's failure to apprehend Pepper; the attempt by one H.A.M.M.E.R. agent to sabotage Osborn's plans from the inside; and the rousing address given by Maria Hill towards the end of the issue) or the fun twist of the last few pages that promises to bring one of the founding members of Avengers back into the book in future issues.

As ever, the book's artwork is strong, with Salvador Larroca's linework striking a perfect balance between bold character designs and realistic detail. His slick shots of Norman Osborn in action as the Iron Patriot are particularly impressive (I love the little touches of detail that he adds to his work, such as the shot that shows the back panels of Norman's suit opening as he applies the brakes in mid-air), and there's a down-and-dirty quality to the climactic fight between Osborn and Stark that brings Fraction's script to life perfectly. Finally, Frank D'Armata's delicate colours are the icing on the cake, providing atmospheric touches that sell the tone of the story expertly: for example, the dark shadow that falls over Norman as he's forced to compromise his victory, or the sun setting on the H.A.M.M.E.R. helicarrier as the book's final twist undermines Osborn's empire just that little bit further.

The issue's only slight weakness is that it doesn't provide a final moment for some of its secondary characters. Madame Masque doesn't make much of an impact on this denouement, and Captain America was never brought into the fold quite as coherently as I had expected from earlier issues. Despite these minor niggles, however, this is an excellent finale to a storyline that sometimes felt a little dragged-out beyond its natural length, but which has provided enough in the way of intrigue, spectacle and excitement that I think that its twelve issues are more or less justified.

Finally, I'd like to give Fraction and Larroca some extra credit for the book's consistent shipping schedule. That might seem like an odd thing to praise the book for, but readers are always quick to complain about late comics, so why not give special mention to a title that has maintained such a solid release pattern for the last year? This story started in Invincible Iron Man #8, which was released on December 17th 2009--and this final issue will be released tomorrow, the 20th October. That means that Invincible Iron Man has provided a high-quality, 12-issue storyline with a consistent art team in the space of just 10 months--and that's definitely something to be proud of.

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