Featuring: Iron Man Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Art: Gene Colan Inking: Frank Giacoia Lettering: Sam Rosen Nail-biting: Irv Forbush 12 pages
Featuring: Iron Man Release: October 11, 1966 Cover: January 1967 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Pencilling: Gene Colan Inking: Frankie Giacoia Lettering: Artie Simek 12 pages
From this moment on, Iron Man is more invincible than ever before!
In a plot greatly echoing a recent Daredevil story, Mandarin now believes Happy to be Iron Man, because Happy had been going around in the suit. In the Daredevil analog, Foggy had put on the Daredevil suit to impress Karen. Here, Happy was a bit more noble. He was trying to help preserve the secret identity, as the press was starting to suspect that Tony Stark was Iron Man. On the basis of the fact that it’s ridiculously obvious to anybody paying attention.
Flash Thompson has also gotten himself into similar trouble by wearing the Spider-Man outfit.
Unfortunately, Tony is still recovering from his recent heart attack. It’s not clear he’s in any shape to help Happy after the Mandarin captures him. And even wearing the armor, Happy is no match for Mandarin. He just doesn’t have the practice with it.
Featuring: Captain America Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby powerhouse production Delineated by: Fearless Frankie Giacoia Lettered by: Swingin’ Sammy Rosen 10 pages
After all these years… all the countless battles… and the scars which will never fade… here I stand… still a loner– a human anachronism. All I’ve ever loved… all I’ve held dear… vanished with the past… while the memories remain to haunt me forever! But, I must be true to my trust! Every man has a purpose… a destiny to fulfill… and, whatever mine may be… I’ll never shirk it!
Captain America calls in the Avengers to deal with the Adaptoid. The Tumbler he just left to the police.
Hawkeye recalls the original Avengers foe the Space Phantom, and suspects a connection. But Cap notes the Adaptoid is a robot, while Space Phantom was an alien. Goliath and Wasp, the only ones present who actually fought the Space Phantom, do not weigh in.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Art: Gene Colan Inking: Frank Giacoia Lettering: Sam Rosen 12 pages
SURVEY SHOWS THAT STARK AND IRON MAN NEVER SEEN AT THE SAME TIME TOGETHER
It’s been a year coming. Back in Tales of Suspense #72, Senator Harrington Byrd planned to summon Tony Stark to Washington to make him reveal Iron Man’s secrets, so the US military could use the technology. The following issue, he tried to confront Stark in his office with the summons, but found only Pepper. The next issue, he got Iron Man on the phone, and says he’ll come to New York with a subpoena unless Stark comes willingly to Washington. In the next issue, he made good on the threat and showed up with the subpoena at Stark offices, only to find Iron Man battling Happy, who had turned into the Freak. Once that resolved, he had police escort Stark to a car, to personally escort him to Washington. Only Tony Stark was transported from that car en route to DC, and found himself in Asia a prisoner of the Mandarin. Then Iron Man had to fight Mandarin and Ultimo. Only to return home and find all his factories shut down because he’d failed to answer the summons to Congress. He needed to recharge, rest, and deal with Namor. But finally he called Senator Byrd and agreed to come to Washington. And he did go to Washington. Only to be attacked by Titanium Man. With Titanium Man defeated, Stark should finally be able to appear before Congress a dozen issues after being summoned.
And here he is.
Ready to reveal the secrets of Iron Man.
Until he has a heart attack before the first question gets asked. How convenient.
The Maddening Mystery of the Inconceivable Adaptoid!
Featuring: Captain America Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Stan Lee authored the script Jack Kirby pencilled the story Frank Giacoia inked the drawings Artie Simek lettered the panels Irving Forbush sharpened the pencils 10 pages
I consider it a rare privilege to serve the mighty Avengers, sir!
Bucky was Captain America’s partner in World War II, killed by Zemo, who was working for the Red Skull.
But he seems to be back somehow?
No, it’s just a photograph.
Jarvis is the butler to the Avengers. He’d previously worked for Tony Stark, but Stark has been loaning his mansion to the Avengers for some time, and has lent Jarvis with it.
We don’t yet know much about Jarvis. He was introduced to us in Tales of Suspense #59, but presumably had been serving the Avengers since early on. He probably had second thoughts about the job when Hawkeye tried to prove his merits to join the team by attacking their butler.
This issue is the most lines he’s had yet. He notes it’s a privilege to serve the Avengers.
He offers to draw a bath for Cap, but Captain America can shower by himself. He’s a big boy.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Script: Stan Lee Pencils: Gene Colan Inks: Frank Giacoia Lettering: Artie Simek Emergency first aid: Irving Forbush 12 pages
Featuring: Captain America Release: May 3, 1966 Cover: September 1966 12 cents Script: Stan (The Man) Lee Art: Jack (King) Kirby Inking: Frank (Good Guy) Giacoia Lettering: Artie (Smarty) Simek Recruiting: Irv (Fall Guy) Forbush 10 pages
There is nothing I cannot do! The universe itself must bend to my wishes, so long as I hold the Cosmic Cube! My every wish– my every command– must be instantly obeyed!
At this point, of the many many nicknames we’ve seen in credits, Stan the Man Lee, and Jack King Kirby are by far the most common.
I’m doing a thing I don’t like doing and skipping into the middle of this comic, skipping the Iron Man story at the start.
We had a choice as we have at least two cliffhangers to resolve. See what happens between Namor and Iron Man or between Cap and the Red Skull? I’ve chosen the latter. The fight between Iron Man and Namor continues in Namor’s title, so we have to read that before we get to this Iron Man story. And I was eager to see the resolution of this Captain America story.
Also, this issue’s Iron Man story begins a new saga, one I don’t want to entangle with the web of comics we’re in the middle of.
Red Skull has the Cosmic Cube, giving him godlike power.
He gets in a good villain monologue we use for the pull quote above.
While Cap’s thoughts form a good heroic response.
My life means nothing! The fate of all mankind is at stake! If he isn’t stopped– humanity itself is doomed!
Red Skull creates a creature called the Man-Thing to menace Cap. Won’t be the last Marvel character to use this name.
My oldest enemy! The most dangerous menace to freedom and democracy that the world has ever known!! Then– this must be why fate has spared me so long–?! It’s my destiny to battle him– to stand between the Red Skull and free men everywhere!
Well, that’s a compelling title.
Costumed assassins attack a power plant in the heart of New York.
They seemed to expect Captain America to show up. How do villains set these traps to target a particular superhero in New York. “If I commit a crime in New York I’m bound to attract precisely the superhero I intend!” Green Goblin just had a bank robbery, trusting Spider-Man would show up to foil it. Would Daredevil turning up ruin these plans?
But nobody but Cap saw these villains. Is he going insane?
The Trap is Sprung Featuring: Daredevil Release: August 2, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Spellbinding script: Stan Lee Phenominal pencilling; Gene Colan Dynamic delineation: Fearless Frank * Darlin’ Dick * Wild Bill Laudatory lettering: Artie Simek Bombastic bird-watching: Irving Forbush 20 pages
In this court– presided over by the Owl– I make my own laws!
I’m a little confused about who the inker is. GCD claims Esposito, who we see credited in the reprint below by his standard pen name, Mickey Demeo. The GCD also claims the original comic has this credit. UHBMCC claims that the original comic credits Giacoia. Earth’s Mightiest Blog has a scan of what looks like the original credits, and it’s Giacoia.
Looking at various collections on my shelves, the Epic Collection and Marvel Masterworks volumes credit Frank Giacoia; but the Essential Daredevil credits Esposito.
Here’s the original art for the issue, which has Giacoia, though you can see it appears to be a last minute change over a whited-out name.
Note about pencilling that John Romita is too busy polishing off the Amazing Spider-Man Annual. Though he only does the layouts for that comic.
In fact, Colan turns out to not just be filling in. As of this issue, he’ll be the regular penciler on Daredevil for the next several years, freeing Romita to focus on Spider-Man.
