Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner Release: June 30, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Fabulous script: Stan Lee Fascinating art: Gene Colan Fantastic inks: Dick Ayers Free-hand lettering: Sam Rosen Fancy haberdashery: Irving Forbush 12 pages
You are too conspicuous, walking around the city in that manner! Find the nearest clothing store…
In Avengers #17, the Avengers search for the Hulk, and end up vaguely near him, but not meeting him. But it’s sort of a crossover. Not really, but sort of.
In this issue, Namor is searching for Hulk, because he’s been brainwashed by Number One of the former Secret Empire, who wants revenge on Hulk for destroying the Secret Empire. Even though Hulk has never met the Secret Empire and had nothing whatsoever to do with their demise.
I would suggest the writer of the Namor stories hasn’t been reading the Hulk stories, but both series are allegedly written by Stan Lee.
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.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: August 9, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Smilin’ Stan Lee, author Genial Gene Colan, artist Gleeful Gary Michaels, inker Affable Artie Simek, letterer Ineffable Irving Forbush, referee 12 pages
If only the day would come when force is no longer necessary– when men would reason together instead! But, until such a time, we should be thankful that power such as Iron Man’s exists– and can be used in behalf of freedom!
Titanium Man holds Pepper hostage. The battle continues in DC, delaying Stark’s testimony to Congress.
“…for the sake of freedom everywhere, I dare not lose…” claims Iron Man. That sounds a little overly melodramatic and self-important to me.
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: Iron Man Release: May 3, 1966 Cover: September 1966 12 cents Stan Lee… writer Gene Colan… artist Gary Michaels… inker Sam Rosen… letterer Irving Forbush… armor polisher 12 pages
This feeling of total freedom… of being air-borne under your own power… like some great metal bird… makes all the hardhip, all the danger of the past, utterly meaningless… as inconsequential as some dim, half-forgotten nightmare!
We already read the second half of this issue to finish off Captain America’s battle with Red Skull. We held off on this first half as it starts a new arc for Iron Man with Titanium Man.
Where were we? Senator Byrd has insisted for a while that Tony Stark appear before Congress to reveal Iron Man’s secrets. Stark has been conveniently avoiding this summons by doing things like get kidnapped by the Mandarin. Growing impatient, Byrd had Stark factories closed. But now, after a battle with Sub-Mariner, he’s called Senator Byrd to offer to testify.
At some point, perhaps around the time he made this phone call, Stark also took a call from Hank Pym, and recommended his employee Bill Foster to help Pym’s research.
Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner Release: May 3, 1966 Cover: August 1966 12 cents Plotted by Smilin’ Stan (who then went on vacation!) Scripted by Rascally Roy (who wishes he had!) Begun by Gallant Gene (who caught the flu after finishing the first two pages!) Finished by King Kirby (who drew the last ten pages, then asked who Sub-Mariner was!) Inked by Darlin’ Dick (who else?) 12 pages
Never will Prince Namor surrender! Never shall your eyes view the true Sovereign of Atlantis humbled! Not all your vaunted power will give you the final triumph!
Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and my mother, this blog’s most loyal reader, always liked Namor in her youth. So this is for her.
The digital reprints leave off the letterer credit, and I don’t own the original of this comic. And my reprint in Marvel Masterworks has the same misprint as the digital version. But the GCD tells me there should be one more line in the credits, which reads:
Adorable Arthur (Who??)
Where were we? Red Skull is alive and has been working with Them, and AIM and Them may be the same organization. AIM/Them had created the Cosmic Cube, which Red Skull used to make himself a god, but was still defeated by Captain America. AIM is a defense contractor trying to worm its way into SHIELD and convince the government to remove Col. Fury. But Fury suspects what they are up to.
The Secret Empire is after the Orion Missile, and has hired Boomerang to the task. He has kidnapped the General’s daughter, Betty Ross, as the first step in his plan.
To save Namor from the Behemoth, Dorma agreed to marry Krang, and they ran off together. Unaware of her noble intentions, a furious Namor pursued them to the surface.
Returning to America from a battle with Ultimo, Iron Man found that his factories had been closed, and that he was running low on power and friends. Happy, Pepper, the Avengers… none were home when he desperately needed them. Happy and Pepper may have been on a date. The Avengers may have been in a hidden kingdom in South America.
Krang attacked Iron Man, then escaped. Namor blamed Iron Man for the escape, and decided to stop pursuing Krang and battle Iron Man instead.
This is the direct continuation of the story from Tales of Suspense #80.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: May 10, 1966 Cover: August 1966 12 cents Stan Lee, Sovereign of Script Gene Colan, Prince of Pencilling Gary Michaels, Imperator of Inking Artie Simek, Lord of Lettering 12 pages
At last! I’m at the peak of my power! This is the moment that makes all the agony of the past more than worthwhile! This is the supreme sensation which no other living being can ever experience– the feeling which none can ever fully comprehend– the triumphant moment when the strength of a thousand transistors flows thru me and I stand once more ready for battle– as the invincible Iron Man!
Namor attacks Iron Man. Superheroes do that when the meet, generally. And Namor has always walked that superhero/supervillain line.
Superhero brawls are a well-established trope by this point. A one-on-one battle between Namor and Iron Man was due. Of course they’ve fought before, but then Iron Man had all the Avengers on his side. And Namor still held them at bay.
The battle will exploit their respective weaknesses. They both need the occasional charge. Iron Man needs to plug in. Namor needs water.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: April 12, 1966 Cover: July 1966 12 cents Drama-drenched script by: Stan Lee Power-packed pencilling by: Gene Colan Fantasy-filled inking by: Jack Abel Twelve pages of lettering by: Artie Simek 12 pages
Sometimes I feel as though this iron head shield actually has a life of its own! I find myself thinking of Iron Man as someone else– almost as if it’s a separate entity– as though we’re really two men!
This is all getting confusing (to me, at least). Hulk has just escaped from the subterranean realm where Mole Man and Tyrannus were at war. The Secret Empire have employed Boomerang to steal the Orion Missile. Phase 1 of his plan was to kidnap Betty Ross. To save Namor, Dorma agreed to marry Krang. Namor only knows half this story, and ruthlessly pursues Dorma and Krang to the surface. Nick Fury recently teamed up with Captain America against Them. Fury suspects Them is connected to the supposedly benign scientific organization called AIM. Iron Man was kidnapped by Mandarin and brought to the Orient to fight Ultimo. He thus missed his summons to Congress, and has had his contracts revoked, factories closed, finances impounded, while a warrant has been placed for his arrest. This is all thanks to the zealous Senator Byrd. Before his factories were closed, Stark Industries was able to create a special suit for Colonel John Jameson, infected by space spores.
Of course, lots of other stuff is happening around the Marvel Universe, but that’s the most relevant for the next several issues.
We find Tony on the edge of collapse, recent events being a strain on his heart.
He’s in need of a charge.
Pepper and Happy are both not home. Are they out together? Tony is jealous.
When a Monarch Goes Mad! Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner Release: April 5, 1966 Cover: July 1966 12 cents Amazing story: Stan Lee Astonishing art: Gene Colan Astounding inking: Dick Ayers Agonizing lettering: Sam Rosen 12 pages
The color of one’s skin is but a chance accident of fate! It alters nothing else about the person!
Namor was fighting a Behemoth last issue, and Krang convinced Lady Dorma that Namor’s only chance for survival was for him to relinquish his control on the Behemoth, which he would only do if Dorma agreed to wed him.
This issue picks up right where that left off. Dorma had told Vashti she was to wed Krang, but not why. And Vashti has just delivered the news to Namor.
Namor declares the mention of Dorma’s to name to be treason. Rational. Namor claims he has the fury of youth. He had been a youth 25 years earlier when introduced in 1939. Not sure how long he can use that excuse. Vashti notes Namor had been the gentlest and noblest of monarchs. I am not sure that is true.
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
