Featuring: Iron Man
Release: September 8, 1864
Cover: December 1964
12 cents
Written by the king of comi-drama: Stan Lee
Illustrated by the master of panoramic spectacle: Don Heck
Inked by the prince of line design: Dick Ayers
Lettered by the sultan of shaky borders: Sam Rosen
13 pages
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| Fantastic Four #33 | Reading order | Tales of Suspense #60, Story B |
| Tales of Suspense #59, Story B | Tales of Suspense | Tales of Suspense #60, Story B |
Iron Man is suspected of murdering Anthony Stark! But how can that be when Iron Man and Stark are the same person!
The art team is Heck and Ayers. We recently saw their work on Avengers #9 and will soon see it on Avengers #10. I was not impressed with their Avengers work. They acquit themselves much better here, even when rendering the Avengers. The faces are clear and distinct. The lines are clean.
Here’s where we were. Iron Man’s heart problems have accelerated. He needs the constant flow of power from his suit to his heart. He cannot remove his suit even for a minute, lest he risk his heart giving out. This means he cannot appear as Tony Stark. He made some excuses as Iron Man for Tony’s disappearance, but Pepper and Happy are suspicious.
This story seems to take place pretty soon after the ending of last issue. Pepper and Happy are searching for Mr. Stark. We saw that Avengers #9 explicitly took place in the middle of all this, with Iron Man reflecting on Stark’s disappearance and Pepper and Happy’s suspicions.
He can’t remove most of the suit, but can remove the helmet. I feel like there are easier ways around his problems. He just needs clothes that go over the suit. Maybe put on a nightgown, lie down in bed, pretend to be sick, and have Happy see your face in bed. Instead, Iron Man comes up with a convoluted story that Stark is away on a secret government mission and left him in charge.
When Iron Man is seen taking money from Stark’s safe, he finds himself in trouble with law enforcement.
Thor doesn’t seem too happy about the situation. The Avengers will leave Iron Man to handle his business, but Thor does ask (not tactfully) if Iron Man has betrayed Stark, and lets him know in no uncertain terms the Avengers expect him to remove the cloud of suspicion.
Hawkeye returns, still working with the Black Widow, who has a plan for him to sabotage Stark’s weapons plant. He notes he’s opposed to treason, but his objections fall apart when Natasha bats her eyelids.
Hawkeye and Iron Man fight.
Hawkeye escapes, but Black Widow was captured by Soviet spies, who are taking her for interrogation.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 51/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in The Invincible Iron Man Omnibus vol. 1. You can find it in the Iron Man Epic Collection vol. 1 or Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man vol. 2. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Iron Man/Anthony Stark
- Pepper Potts
- Happy Hogan
- Thor
- Black Widow/Natasha
- Hawkeye
- Giant-Man
- Wasp
- Sergi Amkov
Story notes:
- If Iron Man removes the suit, the flow of power from the belt power pods to his heart will stop; he can’t risk losing that extra power even for a minute.
- Happy is convinced Pepper is in love with Stark.
- Happy suspects Iron Man may be responsible for Stark’s disappearance.
- Iron Man writes note that Stark is on secret government mission and has placed Iron Man in charge.
- Iron Man skips tonight’s Avengers meeting.
- Hawkeye has misgivings about treason, but falls easily for Black Widow’s lies about peace.
- When Hawkeye takes Pepper hostage, the Avengers offer help; Iron Man thinks the hostage will be safer if he goes in alone.
- Hawkeye’s arsenal: power-blast arrow; arrow with steel cable; stun-flash arrow.
- Sergi Amkov heads the Iron Curtain spy system in North America.
| Previous | #273 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four #33 | Reading order | Tales of Suspense #60, Story B |
| Tales of Suspense #59, Story B | Tales of Suspense | Tales of Suspense #60, Story B |
