Summary

• Iron Man's harsh punishment for his enemy Feilong goes far beyond his usual hero behavior, showcasing the dark toll that his conflict with the Orchis leader took on Tont Stark, and ultimately leaving him questioning if it was the right choice.
• Feilong's fate may haunt Iron Man, as he struggles with the aftermath of his decision, suggesting that while the Feilong storyline has concluded for now, it has the potential for further impact in future stories.
• Tony Stark's dark turn in Invincible Iron Man #19, even as he and his mutant allies celebrate their victory in the final battle of World War Orchis proves he will go to extreme lengths not just to exact justice, but to punish his enemies.

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Invincible Iron Man #19!!

Iron Man has sentenced one of his major villains a fate worse than death, and even Tony Stark knows his choice was harsh. Stark is no stranger to violence; as a former weapons manufacturer turned superhero, war and conflict are built into every facet of his life, but he took that to a new level when confronting former Orchis’ leader, Feilong.

The Invincible Iron Man #19 – written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Andrea Di Vito– depicts the end of World War Orchis, and its aftermath. Though the heroes were victorious, many lingering consequences remain, including punishment to hand out to surviving of Orchis. Among those first in line was Iron Man antagonist Feilong.

During a conversation with Emma Frost, Iron Man its that he buried him alive and that "Feilong is someone you'll never see again," but isn't sure if it was the right choice. It is, indeed, a horrific one.

Iron Man Chose A Gruesome Punishment For His Enemy Feilong

Invincible Iron Man #19 – Written By Gerry Duggan, Andrea Di Vito, Bryan Valenza, & Joe Caramagna

Tony Stark has never had the same "noble" bend as some other heroes, but choosing to bury Feilong alive while he was awake, and horrified, is still far outside his norm.

Feilong ed Orchis after the X-Men "stole" Mars from him, which he planned to terraform, and became rivals with Iron Man shortly after meeting him. Tony was already in a rough patch, having lost a great deal of money and stepped back from his own company to leave it in the hands trusted friend, Zhong Wei. From there, Feilong masterminded a takeover of Stark Unlimited and was eventually named head of the company. Through callous manipulation and murder, he stole Tony's life's work from underneath him and ensured his tech got against mutants.

This included Emma Frost, certainly, doesn't seem bothered by the choice.

Feilong’s Fate Sours Iron Man’s Victory In The War Vs. Orchis

Tony Can Still Reverse His Decision

While Invincible Iron Man #19 provides some closure for the Feilong arc, it leaves the door open for the story's final beat to have further impact in the future.

Tony is already experiencing some distress over his actions, though, making it unlikely that he can live peacefully with the choice forever. Further, not everyone will be as understanding as the White Queen. It remains to be determined how his Avengers teammates would react, were they to learn of Feilong's fate – and if they don't, that is a major secret for Tony to be carrying around. That said, while Invincible Iron Man #19 provides some closure for the Feilong arc, it leaves the door open for the story's final beat to have further impact in the future.

Ultimately, humans and mutants came out on the winning side of the war against Orchis, but Iron Man's victory could feel hollow if he lets this decision stand. It may become his nightmare, just as much as it is Feilong's. He has already shown that he's the victor, that the villain's fate will be whatever he decides it is, and "saving" him now wouldn't change that. Throwing him in prison would ease Tony's conscience, and he already proved his point. Iron Man buried one of his greatest enemies alive, but he may need to rescue him to remain a hero.

The Invincible Iron Man #19 is available now from Marvel Comics.