Writer – Marv Wolfman
Artist – Steve Ditko
Inker – Steve Ditko
Colours – Ben Sean
Letters – Tom Orzechowski

After events that took place in The Incredible Hulk, Aaron Stack, the Machine Man, is on the verge of death.  It may not be the same as most people would experience it, but it is death all the same.  After some quick reprogramming and engineering, X-51 is back but without some of his vaunted weapons.  It also seems like Colonel Kragg has forgiven him but the Senator has not and still wishes for Machine Man to be decommissioned.  After an accident traps the lot of them under a rockslide, there is only one person who can get them out.

The continuation of Machine Man’s solo series comes at a cost as we lose Jack Kirby but not a loss as we gain Marv Wolfman and Steve Ditko.  Ditko’s pencils, while maybe not as detailed as Kirby’s are just as expressive and a little more sleek looking, making out hero look more human than robot.  And while Kirby was a master penciler, his scripts were lacking a little punch which Wolfman has brought to the table.  Solid story and art highlight a new beginning for our robotic hero.

4 out of 5