This adaptation of the screenplay of the movie of the same name is a rather difficult read. Not a terrible read, but one that you should take on with understanding. First, the screenplay is apparently either an early one, or based heavily upon the early trailers and teasers that have been noted ever since this movie received a launch date. Second, where the last several Marvel movie tie ins have been written by Peter David, this one is by Alexander Irvine. While not knocking the author, this novel dwells far more heavily on making comic book technology sound feasible, without simplifying it with the standard science fiction technobabble. (A scene that lasts for less than three minutes on screen takes up an entire chapter in the book as every element, structure, and geometric configuration of a device are deconstructed for the reader.) Again, this is not horrible, but it does end up distracting. My third issue stands with the almost ping pong ball effect of the storyline written here. While the primary elements of the movie are here, there are entire areas glossed over or skimmed past, and the final scene is written with a deus ex machina approach. Either major points were not given to the author, or it felt better to have it end this way for some reason.
On the other hand, it does read quite quickly, with my own original perusal running about an hour of reading time. It does have most of the major points in the movie noted, and the difficult task of converting the major special effects moments to page are bravely attempted. An attempt is made to tie the two novelizations together with hints of a greater criminal behind the scenes watching over everything. And the backgrounds on some of the characters are quite engaging and well written.
