Astonishing Iceman #3: Without You, I Fall Apart

Astonishing Iceman #3 picks up with Bobby continuing to try and live some semblance of a normal life all while being barely alive, hunted by Orchis, and unable to escape his need to act as a hero. Unlike the other Fall of X titles, Astonishing Iceman’s stakes seem more personal to the titular hero, with the threats of mutant annihilation taking a back seat. This allows the series to really provide an introspective look into Iceman, delivering a very unique series amongst the plethora of X related titles. Although this has been the status quo for the first two issues, Astonishing Iceman #3 feels more like an opportunity to use Iceman’s unique position as a way to introduce cameos and other characters that don’t necessarily add much to the plot. 

At the core of Astonishing Iceman #3 is a story about love, loss, and grief. At the center of this is Romeo, the Inhuman hero, and boyfriend of Iceman. Romeo’s story feels a lot more tragic than the facade he puts on, having to constantly work to keep Iceman alive despite the inevitable death that is foreshadowed throughout the series. This is by far the most compelling aspect of the issue, highlighting the power of relationships and putting queer representation on full display. Iceman has a definite hero complex, refusing to admit that he needs to slow things down, opting to seriously risk his life every second. 

The issue kind of goes off course when it comes to the cameo appearance of Captain America of the Railways. Unfortunately, this feels more tacked on than a genuine attempt to build up Iceman’s core narrative. It’s clear that Steve Orlando has something to say about this new character and the world around them, but it is done at the cost of page real estate that should be dedicated to the titular hero and his supporting cast. It seems like Astonishing Iceman #4 will follow a similar route with the cameo for Spider-Man, so hopefully Spider-Man says to the sides as support instead of attempting to steal the show.

The art from Vencenzo Carratu and Javier Tartaglia continues to astonish, giving this book a very solid tone and power. This duo can draw ice like you’ve never seen it before, giving this Iceman series the kind of flare it needs when it comes to the large action set pieces. This makes the appearance of Iceman jarringly approachable, as he is not always surrounded by people who look like him. This is an Iceman who cannot turn off the power, making it crucial to make him look absolutely fantastic on every page. Thankfully, this team takes the assignment and goes wild with it.