tales of suspense – Coke ⊕ Comics

Tales of Suspense #86, Story B

The Secret!

Featuring: Captain America
Release: November 10, 1966
Cover: February 1967
12 cents
Produced with pandemonium by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inking by: Frank Giacoia
Lettering by: Artie Simek
10 pages

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Strange Tales #155, Story B	Reading order	Avengers #34
Tales of Suspense #86	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #87

…you were one of the greatest! Don’t ever forget that!

Before we start, I’d like to note the date. Tomorrow, December 20 2025, marks 85 years since the introduction of Captain America, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

December 20, 1940, almost a year before Pearl Harbor, at a time American policy and popular sentiment was still against involvement in the war in Europe, here was Captain America punching Adolf Hitler in the face.

There are those on the internet who claim comics have become too political in recent years. To my mind, they’re not political enough. This cover was a bold political statement, and remains one of the greatest comic covers of all time, a fine introduction to one of Marvel’s greatest superheroes.

Superheroes should stand for what is right, not for what is popular. That’s how they become timeless.

Captain America is on a mission in the Orient, trying to rescue a double agent.

Tales of Suspense #85, Story B

The Blitzkrieg of Batroc!

Featuring: Captain America
Release: September 8, 1966
Cover: January 1967
12 cents
A Stan Lee Jack Kirby premium presentation
Inimitable inking by: Frank Giacoia
Laborious lettering by: Sam Rosen
10 pages

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Strange Tales #150	Reading order	Strange Tales #151
Tales of Suspense #85	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #86

Indeed, eet shall be for zee last time, mon ami…! For none may strike Batroc in such a manner… wizout paying zee price!

“This must be the place,” thinks Cap, anticipating David Byrne.

In Tales of Suspense #76, Captain America defeated Batroc, but a SHIELD agent on assignment succumbed to poison and was hospitalized. We didn’t learn her name. She reminded Cap of a woman he’d known in World War II, a woman whose name we also didn’t learn.

Tales of Suspense #85

Into the Jaws of Death

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

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Tales to Astonish #85, Story B	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #86
Tales of Suspense #84, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #85, Story B

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.

Tales of Suspense #84, Story B

The Super-Adaptoid!

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

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Tales of Suspense #84	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #84
Tales of Suspense #84	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #85

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.

Tales of Suspense #84

The Other Iron Man!

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

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Tales of Suspense #83, Story B	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #84, Story B
Tales of Suspense #83, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #84, Story B

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.

Tales of Suspense #83, Story B

Enter… The Tumbler!

Featuring: Captain America
Release: August 9, 1966
Cover: November 1966
12 cents
A Stan Lee Jack Kirby pandemonium-packed production!
Delineated by: Richard Ayers
Lettered by: Samuel Rosen
(Or: How formal can ya be?)
10 pages

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Tales of Suspense #83	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #84
Tales of Suspense #83	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #84

What can be wrong? I’ve adapted everything about Captain America… and yet… there is still a quality lacking!

AIM has fallen, but a dying Count Royale warned SHIELD that their creation the Adaptoid may yet finish their work.

The Adaptoid, a pantograph, infiltrated Avengers headquarters by assuming Jarvis’ form, then drugged Captain America, and assumed his form. He has also stolen Captain America’s shield.

Unfortunately for the Adaptoid, if you look like Captain America, his enemies become yours. The Tumbler has come to challenge Captain America and prove his superiority. So now he’s the Adaptoid’s problem.

Tales of Suspense #83

Victory!

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

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Tales of Suspense #82, Story B	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #83, Story B
Tales of Suspense #82, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #83, Story B

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.

Tales of Suspense #82, Story B

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

Previous	#587	Next
Tales of Suspense #82	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #83
Tales of Suspense #82	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #83

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.

Tales of Suspense #82

By Force of Arms!

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

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Captain America Comics #6, Story B	PRELUDE
Tales of Suspense #81	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #82, Story B
Tales of Suspense #81, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #82, Story B

And now, you loud-mouthed, thick-skinned, empty-headed Volga Boatman–

Tony Stark’s testimony to Congress is delayed yet again when Titanium Man attacks.

We get an all-out battle between the armored foes.

Tales of Suspense #81

The Return of the Titanium Man!

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

Previous	#585	Next
	PRELUDE	Captain America Comics #6, Story B
Strange Tales #150, Story B	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #82
Tales of Suspense #80, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #81, Story B

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.

Earlier, an Iron Man in need of help had sought out the Avengers and found them not at home. An editor’s note suggested they were across town fighting Power Man and Swordsman, but I prefer to think they were in a hidden South American kingdom.

Elsewhere in the Marvel Universe, SHIELD has just defeated AIM and the Secret Empire, and deduced both were branches of Hydra returned. Dr. Strange has defeated Kaluu. Thor has won the Troll War. The Avengers have defeated the Sons of the Serpent. Daredevil has escaped the Owl’s island. Peter Parker has met a hot redhead. Sub-Mariner remains a pawn of Number One from the Secret Empire, on a mission to destroy Hulk. And Hulk just wants to be left alone.