Invincible Iron Man #129: Review

Dec 1979

David Michelinie, Sal Buscema

Story Name:

Dread Night of the Dreadnought!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #129 Review by T Vernon (April 7, 2015)

Project 13 was previously seen in THOR #271. An earlier Dreadnought was defeated by SHIELD in STRANGE TALES #154. It bears no relation to the Dreadknight from issues #101-102. I don’t think it is ever made clear who this Dreadnought was working for.

So how do they follow the greatest story arc in Iron Man history? Why they tie up a previous subplot, of course! Tony gets control of his company back without SHIELD ever doing a thing with it! Looks like David Michelinie was too tired from creating the classic “Demon in a Bottle” to want to mess with another major change to the status quo i.e. Nick Fury as Tony’s hostile “boss.” So we have some financial wheeling and dealing plus a fight with a giant robot to remind us that this is a comic book after all. The fight is pretty cool, too bad it’s clear from the get-go that Dreadnought is completely outmatched. That’s why he’s just a speed bump.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #129 Synopsis by T Vernon

Tony Stark meets with Nick Fury to address the matter of SHIELD’s controlling interest in Stark International. Fury thinks he now has the leverage to force Tony to resume the manufacture of weapons. Tony counters with three bits of news: 1) he is going to make his patents available to all, 2) the company staff is resigning en masse, and 3) Tony will be taking a nine-month vacation. These actions will render the firm useless for Fury’s purposes. Tony and a more reasonable Fury come to an agreement whereby SHIELD will sell its holdings and return Jarvis’ two shares to him. Tony breaks the news to Bethany Cabe and James Rhodes and then to an overjoyed staff. Afterward, Tony and Fury head to a bar (where Tony orders ginger ale) but Fury is called away by a priority alert. Tony quickly dons his armor and heads in pursuit as Iron Man….
Arriving in his flying car, Fury discovers that the secret lab known as Project 13 has been broken into and all the staff killed. Fury’s car is destroyed and he is overpowered by a deadly giant robot called Dreadnought. Iron Man arrives and confronts the monster sent by a mysterious “Director” on an equally mysterious mission. Dreadnought bathes Shellhead in liquid fire but it does no good; it then tries to freeze the hero, again with poor results. As a last measure the Dreadnought seizes Iron Man and sends a deadly current of electricity through his body; Tony’s armor merely absorbs it and sends it back into his foe causing the robot to overload and explode. Fury thanks Iron Man for being more loyal than his boss; Shellhead sets him straight: Iron Man and Tony Stark are in agreement on all issues.