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
| Previous | #595 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales of Suspense #85 | Reading order | Thor #140 |
| Tales of Suspense #85, Story B | Tales of Suspense | Tales of Suspense #86, Story B |
And, every one of his rings has a different deadly power!
Happy Hogan/Iron Man has been defeated, but now Mandarin must face Tony Stark/Iron Man.
We see two of Mandarin’s rings in action this issue. One is the impact ring. The other fires sub-freezing gas.
There are ten rings, each with a unique power. Recall what we’ve seen in the past:
- Paralysis
- High-frequency wave
- Explosive
- Black light
- Castle-mechanism control
- Satellite control
- Flame
- Poison gas
- Blinding light
- Disintegration
- Gas solidifier
- Jet ring (makes objects fly)
Huh. That was already twelve. Maybe there is some doubling up? Does the ring that releases poison gas also solidify the gas? Maybe that high-frequency wave controls the castle mechanisms and the satellite?
I don’t know how to count the rings. I’m not a mathematician.
Iron Man does note Mandarin has modified one ring to make it more powerful.
I do appreciate that each of the Mandarin’s rings has a different power. One of my issues with the Ten Rings in the Shang-Chi film, was that each had the same power, which was to release non-descript glowy energy. Each of the ten should be distinct.
Mandarin traps Iron man in enclosing steel walls.
Turns out the walls were strong, but the cement and floor were not. There’s probably a good lesson there for those working in cybersecurity.
Iron man refers to a soldier as Fu Manchu. That’s a bit racist, but so is everything about these Mandarin stories.
Iron Man redirects Mandarin’s missile to his own fortress, presumably killing the Mandarin in the process.
Is the Mandarin dead for good? Spoiler: No.
Again, we are disregarding the Captain America story that concludes the issue. We also disregarded last issue’s. Instead of putting these comics in the “done” box, they are being moved back into the “to index” box.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 50/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Happy Hogan/Iron Man
- Tony Stark/Iron Man
- Mandarin
Story notes:
- Iron Man confronts Mandarin while a guard escorts Happy away.
- Mandarin uses impact ring. Iron Man notes it’s more powerful than before.
- Mandarin is shocked his karate is ineffective when he can split boulders.
- One ring fires sub-freezing gas; Iron Man counters with heat induction knob.
- Iron man removes gloves to defeat Mandarin hand to hand.
- Red Air Force testing Mandarin’s missile, not realizing the Mandarin is in control of its target.
- Iron Man powers up Happy and programs his armor to take him to base at Okinawa.
- Iron Man redirects missile to Mandarin’s own castle.
| Previous | #595 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales of Suspense #85 | Reading order | Thor #140 |
| Tales of Suspense #85, Story B | Tales of Suspense | Tales of Suspense #86, Story B |
