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Even Tony Stark understands his decision was harsh; Iron Man has sentenced one of his main enemies a fate worse than death. Stark is no stranger to violence; war and battle permeate every aspect of his existence as a former weapons manufacturer turned superhero; yet, he took that to a new level while facing Feilong, the commander of the Orchis.
Gerry Duggan's Invincible Iron Man #19, with artwork by Andrea Di Vito, shows the end of World War Orchis and its aftermath. Even if the heroes triumphed, certain aftereffects still apply, including hand-offering surviving Orchis members penalty. Among those first in queue was Feilong, an Iron Man adversary. Iron Man tells Emma Frost he buried him alive and that "Feilong is someone you'll never see again," but he's not sure whether it was the best option. It is very terrible, truly.
After the X-Men "stole" Mars from him, which Feilong intended to terraform, he joined Orchis and soon developed rivalry with Iron Man. Having lost a lot of money and distanced himself from his own business to pass it to trusted buddy Zhong Wei, Tony was already in a bad shape. Feilong then masterminded a takeover of Stark Unlimited and finally received a head of company title. By means of ruthless manipulation and murder, he snatched Tony's life's work from under him and guaranteed his tech got against mutants. This included designing the famed Stark Sentinels employing Stark technologies. Feilong indeed committed enough offenses to warrant harsh penalty, but for Iron Man it was personal. Though Tony Stark has never had the same "noble" leaning as some other heroes, choosing to bury Feilong alive while he was conscious and horrified is still much outside his usual behavior. One would naturally anticipate from a villain, or at least someone who has spent a lot of time as one, this kind of retribution. Emma Frost most obviously seems unconcerned by the decision.
Tony is already feeling some guilt about his behavior, but given his choices will certainly have him difficulty living comfortably. Further, not everyone will be as perceptive as the White Queen. Whether his Avengers colleagues would react upon learning of Feilong's death or whether they would not, that is a significant secret Tony has to be carrying about. That said, even if Invincible Iron Man #19 offers some closure for the Feilong arc, it keeps the door open for the last beat of the story to have more future influence. Humans and mutants emerged on the victorious side of the conflict against Orchis, but Iron Man's triumph could seem hollow if he lets this choice stay. Just as much as Feilong's dream becomes his one too. He has already demonstrated that he is the victor, that the fate of the villain will be whatever he chooses is, and "saving" him now wouldn't alter that. Tony having established his argument, hence throwing him in prison would help him to clear his conscience. Iron Man buried one of his toughest foes alive, but he might have to save him to keep himself a hero.
The Marvel Universe has ongoing effects from the events of World War Orchis. Human combat with mutants has escalated, leaving a path of devastation and misery in tow. Key player in this conflict, Iron Man must pay for his deeds including the terrible choice he took over Feilong's future. This event begs issues concerning the nature of revenge, the boundaries of justice, and the moral complexity of heroics. Iron Man's acts have left him debating his conscience and wondering if his triumph was really worth the expense.
Iron Man's character arc underwent a sea change when he decided to bury Feilong alive. It highlights his inner conflict as a hero obliged to face the darkest sides of his personality. His shame about his behavior emphasizes the moral complexity of his job as a superhero and urges one to consider if his strategies are always justified. This point in the narrative lets readers probe Tony Stark's psychology more closely, examining the subtleties of his motivations and the weight he bears as a hope symbol in a world gone dark.
The Invincible Iron Man series keeps investigating the complexity of Tony Stark's persona. He is not a perfect hero even if he represents technological advancement and superhuman strength. He battles internal demons, errs, and difficult moral conundrums. The show explores Tony's inner conflicts and highlights his sensitivity and the weight of his deeds. It reminds readers that human and prone to the same flaws and shortcomings as everyone else even the most strong heroes.