Invincible Iron Man #103: Review

Oct 1977

?, George Tuska

Story Name:

Run For the Money!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #103 Review by T Vernon (September 2, 2014)

Review: With the reappearance of Marianne Rodgers, Bill Mantlo has succeeded in his scheme of returning this series to the status quo of 1968-1974! Only ones missing are Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts (and they pop up in #112)! It was an odd move for a new writer hoping to make his mark—wonder if there was an edict from on high? Anyway, maybe this time Midas will actually be a threat—he seems to have wised up in his plotting. Indeed, a villain buying a hero’s organization out from under him was a pretty uncommon occurrence—and this without knowing Iron Man is Tony Stark. Kingpin would pull a similar stunt on Daredevil in the “Born Again” arc a bit more comprehensively and with a much smaller cash outlay. By the way, if you want to read a sad story, look up Bill Mantlo on Wikipedia.

Comments: Part one of six parts. This issue marks the third appearance of fledgling hero Jack of Hearts; he was introduced in DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU #22 and returned in THE INCREDIBLE HULK #214. Midas previously appeared in IRON MAN #17-19. Marianne Rodgers went crazy in #52, was seen in an asylum in #58, then returned briefly in #74-75. Iron Man gives an autograph to Jo Duffy, Marvel editor and writer.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #103 Synopsis by T Vernon

In his flying car, Jasper Sitwell is in hot pursuit of Harry Key and Krissy Longfellow who are fleeing Stark International with stolen armor. Key fires off a smoke bomb and when the air clears, Jasper is surprised to see they have vanished. In reality the car has pierced a hidden gateway and they have been beamed up to a flying fortress resembling a Greek temple….
In Paris, Iron Man books seat on a flight to New York, and after dealing with adoring fans (and critics) he settles down for the trip home….
Arriving at the temple, Krissy is surprised to find Mordecai Midas alive and well. Midas is displeased with Key’s failure to obtain for him every last piece of Iron Man’s armor and pushes the luckless private eye over the edge of the fortress to his death. Krissy reveals herself to be Midas’ old ally Madame Masque in disguise. Below Jasper finds the dying Harry Key but the flying fortress is gone—to descend onto the main Stark building. Through sabotage, espionage, and stock trading, Midas is the new owner of Stark International. When Iron Man flies toward the building he is greeted by weapons fire. The passing hero Jack of Hearts sees Shellhead fighting his own company and jumps to the conclusion that the Avenger has turned villain. They battle and crash through the roof where Iron Man discovers Midas and Madame Masque. Midas gloats over his victory in seizing the company and Iron Man flies away helplessly….
Epilogue: Marianne Rodgers is released from the asylum where she has been for several years….