Kieron Gillen Departs Iron Man

UPDATE 5/23/14 11:51 A.M.:

It seems that Marvel has also stealth cancelled the Iron Patriot title from Ales Kot and Garry Brown. Bleeding Cool took note of this earlier in the day, when they realized that the core Iron Man title was also being cancelled. Both series were ending story arcs in July, and had no solicitation information for August.

IRON PATRIOT #5

ALES KOT (W)

GARRY BROWN (A/C)

“UNBREAKABLE” PART 5

• The conclusion of “UNBREAKABLE” arrives — and nothing will ever be the same!

• He could have fallen alone. But instead they ran to his rescue

• Losses on both sides multiply as the country spirals towards a new future

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Keep reading Comic Book News UK, as Kot will likely have a statement about his departure.

Also, here is the official statement on why Mark Waid is leaving the Hulk after Issue #4:

Wow, I have made a LOT of people happy by leaving HULK. A LOT. Hooray?

@GerryDuggan will do a spectacular job on HULK. Zero bad blood--I just want to get further ahead on Daredevil and http://Thrillbent.com !

Original Article:

Author Kieron Gillen’s Iron Man run has been about expecting the unexpected. He originally planned to set the book in a space western style format. His plans on that were shattered by Bendis’ Guardians of the Galaxy, and the writer took the series in a whole new direction. While the book has many not been a fan favorite run on the title, it took a few dangerous risks particularly in the brand new introduction of a slightly different Arno Stark. The fusion of Iron Man with Thor villains with the "Rings Of The Mandarin" arc was also a twist on the Marvel formula. In keeping with the spirit of his early departure on books, the Iron Man author announced that the title had to be wrapped up a little bit sooner than he initially intended as there is another title he was offered post Original Sin that he simply could not refuse. He posted the following announcement on his Tumblr page:

I’ve had a bunch of people asking about the absence of Iron Man from the new solicitations. Basically, the situation is this. An enormous opportunity turned up.We looked at my schedule. We realized that it just wasn’t going to work. The new book Marvel was offering was so utterly irresistible, I knew something had to give - and I realized that I was actually in a good place to bring my run to a conclusion. I realized the ORIGINAL SIN story would be a damn good climax for everything I’ve done, and between all I’ve put in play with the Mandarin War, Iron Metropolitan and where the HULK/IRON MAN story ends up, there’s a mass of toys for the next writer to play with. And hey - with the annual? That’s 31 issues total, which is exactly as long as my Uncanny X-men and Journey into Mystery runs. Yeah, there’s a pang about the other things I was going to play with, but when you hear of what this opportunity is, I suspect you’ll understand.I’ll talk more when I can, obv. It’s been a ride.And now I return to your usual service of hyping The Wicked + the Divine. Pre-order this weekend, etc. 

The book is concluding in June’s last two issues of The Rings Of The Mandarin arc with #28 being the finale. Keep your eyes out for The Wicked + Divine from Image, and whatever Marvel project the Iron Man author has cooking up.