| Characters |
Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Sub-Mariner [Namor] (cameo); Warlord Krang; Lady Dorma |
| Synopsis |
On returning from the Orient, Tony Stark finds his money has been impounded, his factories shut down, and there's a warrant out for his arrest--all for failing to appear before Senator Byrd's Congressional committee! Weak and low on power, he goes to Pepper's apartment--but she's not home. In a stairwell, he dons his suit of armor and does an emergency charge. After having no better luck at Avengers HQ or Happy's apartment, he strolls down to the waterfront to think. But from the waters rises Warlord Krang's flagship! On the run with Lady Dorma, he sees a chance to impress her, and attacks! As she tries to stop him, Iron Man strikes back, sending his ship fleeing. Desperate, Iron Man flies to his factory and crashes in thru a skylight. But he barely gets to his feet when he's suddenly confronted with--Sub-Mariner! |
| Genre |
superhero |
| Script |
Stan Lee; Gene Colan (co-plot) |
| Pencils |
Gene Colan |
| Inks |
Jack Abel |
| Letters |
Artie Simek |
| Notes |
Part 1 of 3. The Avengers were apparently off fighting Power Man & The Swordsman during this story, as shown in THE AVENGERS #29 (June 1966). Warlord Krang plot continues from TALES TO ASTONISH #81 (July 1966), even though that issue probably came out a week or two after this one. Because of Stark's problems with the law, SHIELD was forced to seek other sources of weapons & technology, seen in STRANGE TALES #146-149 (July-October 1966). |
| Reprinted |
in Iron Man Special (Marvel, 1970 Series) #1 (August 1970); in Marvel's Greatest Superhero Battles (Simon and Schuster, 1978 series) #nn (1978); in Essential Iron Man (Marvel, 2000 series) #2; in Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man (Marvel, 2003 series) #3 (2005) |
| Characters |
Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Red Skull [Johann Schmidt]; A.I.M.; Count Bornag Royale; Cosmic Cube; Horst; Wolfgang |
| Synopsis |
Cap battles a squad of costumed assassins attacking a power station in the heart of NYC--but nobody else can see them! While a crowd thinks he's losing it, the baddies escape in a solar-powered aircraft. Elsewhere, we learn that Cap's worst enemy, The Red Skull, is alive! He, along with two compatriots, Horst & Wolfgang, wound up in suspended animation thanks to an experimental gas released during a bombing run near the end of WW2. Found & revived by "THEM," they now work with the secret organization--but only as long as it suits their purposes. Using a "hypno-helmet," another assassin strikes while Cap is consulting with a psychiatrist. Elsewhere, we discover that Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) are really part of "THEM," as Count Royale prepares for his mission to discredit Nick Fury. Before he leaves, the scientists show him their greatest achievement--"The Cosmic Cube." He worries if it should fall into the hands of a "madman" like The Skull--but they remind him that The Skull, like Royale, serve "The Grand Imperator." The Skull plans to frame Cap for murder, and Horst prepares to kill a WW2 vet who's getting Cap's autograph. But Cap clobbers Horst, revealing a printed circuit supplied him by SHIELD which countered the hypnotic waves. Shocked to learn his oldest enemy is alive, he realizes his most desperate battle lies before him. |
| Genre |
Superhero |
| Script |
Stan Lee; Jack Kirby (co-plot) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Frank Giacoia |
| Letters |
Artie Simek |
| Notes |
Part 1 of 3. 1st modern-day appearance of The Red Skull. The suspended animation via experimental gas bit is a tribute to BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY. The truth about Count Royale & A.I.M. was under suspicion in STRANGE TALES #146 (June 1966); as this episode exposes their true motives, it most likely came out afterwards; yet, according to the dialogue, it must be a flashback to just before it, as Count Royale is shown on his way to The Heli-Carrier, and there is no break between STRANGE TALES #146-147 (June-July-1966). 1st appearance of The Cosmic Cube. |
| Reprinted |
in Marvel Double Feature (Marvel, 1973 series) #3 (April 1974); in Marvel Masterworks (Marvel, 1987 series) #14 (1990); in Captain America Sentinel of Liberty (Simon and Schuster, 1979 series) #nn (1979); in Essential Captain America (Marvel, 2000 series) #1 (July 2000); in Marvel Masterworks: Captain America (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 (2003) |