THE GAUNTLET

With no time to assemble the Avengers, Iron Man must save the world solo in this fast-paced adventure novel.

While on his way to a party, white billionaire Tony Stark—aka Iron Man—notices the sudden reappearance of a missing U.S. gunboat off the coast of a supposedly uninhabited Irish island and resolves to investigate despite having no backup and a party-pack Iron Man suit that is “locked and loaded with fireworks and disco music” and little else. A simple scouting mission uncovers a sinister plot to destroy a vitally important world eco-summit happening nearby, but before Stark can act, he is quickly captured and disarmed by an enemy who somehow possesses intimate knowledge of his Iron Man technology. Someone close to him is a betrayer. But who? Colfer deftly weaves together all of the crucial elements of an entertaining superhero story: dastardly villains, a feisty sidekick, a duel to the death, and a hero worth cheering for. This novel is tailor-made for Marvel enthusiasts and is peppered with in-jokes about everything from Dr. Strange’s finger-waving tendency to Captain America’s excessive patriotic fervor. Best of all, the author successfully captures the vulnerability and infuriatingly seductive arrogance of Stark, who polices the world to atone for his father’s sins.

Ideal for readers who are breathlessly awaiting the next film in the Marvel superhero franchise.