Iron Man volume 3 #7 discussion post (Live Kree or Die, part 1)

[elspethdixon]

Despite the comm's title, we've reached our first crossover event. So instead of the usual "one issue of each title" discussion post format, I'm going to go ahead and post all four parts three parts available via Marvel Digital of "Live Kree or Die" (AKA "The Carol Danvers alcoholism storyline") in order, which will involve doubling up on some titles. Think of it as making up for skipping the postings last week.

Iron Man #7 - Live Kree or Die: Bad Moon Rising



Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciler: Sean Chen

From their secret base on Earth's moon, the Kree Lunatic Legion plans to carry out their vengeance on Earth, unaware that they are merely pawns in the Kree Supreme Intelligence's master plan.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Tony attempts to reach out to Carol, who is struggling with her damaged powers and growing alcoholism. It doesn't go well.

Comments

[seanchai]

Yes! I've often thought that the gendering of Tony and Carol's respective drinking arcs was reversed in a really interesting way.

Actually, it strikes me that the way that Tony and Carol are gendered is often reversed in general, which isn't that unusual with female characters, but is pretty damn rare with male ones.

[marinarusalka]

I think Carol's characterization is kind of unusual, though. Just overall, it seems to me that femaie characters are often allowed to have male-coded virtues, but not male-coded flaws. A female hero can be brave, strong, noble, etc., but then her flaws will all boil down to "too emotional." So it's striking to me that Carol's flaws basically boil down to "too macho." I assume it has to do with her military background -- she spent pretty much all her adult life in a male-dominated, often highly sexist environment that values aggression and physical toughness, so she spends a lot of time trying to prove herself to be the most aggressive, toughest one ever. In the Avengers issue, her reaction to the court martial is to go "Watch me, I'll show you all!" and it's only when she can't do that she truly falls apart.

Tony doesn't have that drive to prove himself as the awesomest hero ever, mainly because he has already concluded that he isn't. And his stories tend to focus on his emotional vulnerability and messy personal relationships. Which, yeah, very much a gender reversal.