Invincible Iron Man (DVD, 2007)

My brother summed it up best when he said, “it’s a “streamline” origin story.”

And he was right.

Coupled with the fact that the release of this animated film (1-23-07) can only help the upcoming feature-length film Iron Man (set to be released on May 30, 2008), This animated Invincible Iron Man DVD release is sure to get new fans interested and educated as to the origins of Tony Stark and his Iron Man alter ego.

However, longtime “shell head” fans may not be open to this interpretation of their tin hero and would most likely be abhorrently disappointed with the incorporation of James “Rhodey” Rhodes (voiced superbly by Rodney Saulsberry) into Tony Stark’s figurative transformation into Iron Man (voiced by Marc Worden who is no stranger to the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man with 2006’s Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers II under his belt.), The Mandarin’s power rings (or lack of), and the disgusting convenience and progression of the Mark01 armor as well as Tony’s other proverbial “toys for the big boys.”

Overall, it was entertaining—despite the potential gaff in interpreting the Chinese "demon elementals" as Western elements (air, earth, fire, and water instead of earth, fire, metal, water, and wood), I have nothing but praise for the voice actors as I believe Gwendoline Yeo (voiced Li Mei), Fred Tatasciore (The Mandarin), John McCook (Howard Stark), Elisa Gabrielli (Virginia 'Pepper' Pots) and the aforementioned Saulsberry and Worde played their roles to the hilt.