christy2002 wrote:

Certainly I would say that volumes 7 and 8 would be almost complete duds (albeit entertainingly quaint) but volume 6 would be a classic.

Glad you said "almost" because if Iron man volume 7 were to include say issues 25-35 and Daredevil 73, it wouldn't be all duds. The Nick Fury / Zodiac crossover with Daredevil was a bit of a favourite of mine at the time. Firebrand makes his debut in #27 and #28 has a great Controller cover / story.
Well, I'm something of a classic Iron Man authority; used to have a complete collection. Here's how I think future Iron Man volumes might play out.

#6: Iron Man #'s 14-25, possibly the covers of Iron Man Annual #'s 1-2 (reprint issues)
High points: Red Ghost/Unicorn team-up; 3-part Midas/Madame Masque/Stark LMD story; Crimson Dynamo/Titanium Man/death of Janice Cord; battle with Sub-Mariner
Low points: Night Phantom; Mercenary; Minotaur

#7: Iron Man #'s 26-36, Daredevil #73
High points: First Guardsman; first Spymaster; Daredevil/Nick Fury/Zodiac story; first Firebrand; good Controller story
Low points: The Monster Master; MK-5

#8: Iron Man #'s 37-48
High points: Tony Stark's battle with his own Board of Directors; The Guardsman turns against Iron Man; origin retold by Barry Smith; batte with Firebrand
Low points: The man called Jonah

#9: Iron Man #'s 49-61
High points: 1st Moondragon; battle with Sub-Mariner; 1st Thanos; Mandarin/Unicorn team-up; Firebrand's revenge
Low points: Super-Adaptoid becomes Cyborg-Sinister; battle with Princess Python (that somehow takes more than two panels); Fangor; Masked Marauder