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.
It’s possible this dude is supposed to be the president. Not certain. President Johnson perhaps.
Anyways, the two armored dudes continue to fight. For freedom or whatever.
During the last battle with Titanium Man, Happy revealed that he knew Iron Man’s secret identity. But then a blow from Titanium Man gave him convenient selective amnesia. Amnesia or death are the fates of those who learn superhero secrets.
Ironically, a shock from this battle with Titanium Man will trigger those lost memories, and now Happy recalls the truth.
The ending is a bit sad. Titanium Man retreats to sea in defeat, where a sub is waiting for him. But the sub abandoned him for his failure. The Soviets don’t accept failure.
He is adrift at sea, crying out that he did his best.
Anyways, maybe next issue Stark will finally testify before Congress. Hard to imagine anything else can delay it at this point.
This finishes that Titanium Man arc, but in the back stories, Cap’s battle with the Adaptoid will continue. And I’m curious to see if Stark finally makes his hearing. So we’ll finish up this issue and then go straight to the next issue.
I haven’t forgotten about Namor, Hulk, and the Secret Empire. We’ll get there soon.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 53/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Iron Man/Tony Stark
- Pepper Potts
- Titanium Man
- Happy Hogan
- Senator Byrd
Minor characters:
- Joe (newscaster)
- Bill (newscaster)
Story notes:
- Iron Man uses electric wire to save Pepper.
- Pepper wonders if Iron Man has feelings for her.
- Diamond-edged drill can’t pierce Titanium Man armor.
- Iron Man overloaded Titanium Man’s main circuit.
- Titanium Man’s fall triggers a sonic boom, which restores Happy’s memories.
- Titanium Man escapes to sea, to waiting sub that abandons him for his failure; he is left adrift.
- Stark now off to testify before committee.
| Previous | #588 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Man, Iron Man was getting more patriotic than Captain America at this point.
I figure they represent different types of patriotism. There’s the “ideals over the current government” kind, and the “build weapons for the government and do as told” kind.