Backspin
Backspin: Ghostface Killah (featuring Raekwon and Cappadonna) — Ironman (1996)
Mad scientist of the heart. (90/100)
To begin grasping the multitudes of Ghostface Killah, the Wu-Tang Clan’s enigmatic once-masked avenger, one must be familiar with the mythology of Iron Man.
In the iconic Marvel comic series, scientist and weapons manufacturer Tony Starks is captured in a war zone. His heart is irreparably damaged by shrapnel. To sustain his heart and break free from captivity, Starks builds a high-tech suit of armor. Once free, he continues to enhance the suit, which eventually provides him powers of superhuman strength, flight, and energy projection. Stark’s Iron Man is the ultimate self-made superhero.
With his solo debut, Ghostface channels Starks — both in name and ethos. Ironman finds Ghost careening through a madcap collection of pulse-pounding episodes. In totality, they capture the duality that makes superhero mythology so endlessly fascinating. He’s at once bombastic and reflective, steely and shattered. He’s equal parts impenetrable armor and cripplingly scarred heart.
The Wu-Tang lyrical marvel opens his first feature with a flurry of action. “Iron Maiden” raises the curtain on Ghost and his fellow Avengers, Raekwon, and Cappadonna, suited…
