Invincible Iron Man #142: Review

Jan 1981

David Michelinie, John Romita Jr.

Story Name:

Sky Die!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #142 Review by T Vernon (July 6, 2015)

Comments: Part one of three parts. Senator Chad Mountebank (a synonym for scoundrel or deceiver) was seen briefly in issue #117; this is his only other appearance. Likewise, Michael Trudeau was seen at the party in issue #137; this is his only other appearance. Again, there’s a brief appearance by the family, Fred, Ethel, and their son Ricky from issue #131; this seems to be their only other appearance. Looks like David Michelinie has been cleaning house. Meanwhile, Tony offers to bring the “desert” to dinner with Beth, sounds like a hot time is planned.

Review: Another cool issue with spies, science fiction, and some comedy. The outer space scenes that end the issue are especially fine. And as a bonus we see another new armor, this one looking just a little bulkier to accommodate all of the necessary technology.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #142 Synopsis by T Vernon

Tony Stark and Bethany Cabe return to the company after their Caribbean vacation (issues #140-141) to a clamoring crowd of employees. Security chief Vic Martinelli pulls rank to tell Tony that SHIELD has commandeered the analytical lab complex for a top secret investigation. After calming down a feisty Mrs. Arbogast, Tony heads over to the lab. There he finds Nick Fury and SHIELD trying to find out what happened in Allenburg, Iowa that left 200 people dead within a five-mile radius; the only thing they can determine is that the killing beam came from above, from the sky—or outer space. Leaving, Tony makes a dinner date with Beth then returns to the office where Senator Chad Mountebank is waiting. The Senator tries to bribe/threaten him into denying SHIELD the use of the lab; Tony throws him out….
At their office, Beth and partner Ling McPherson look over the accumulated mail and Beth is surprised to find a letter addresed to Mrs Bethany van Tilburg which she quickly hides….
The mysterious enemy contacts sleeper agent Michael Trudeau in the Stark company and orders him to stop SHIELD’s investigation. Elsewhere, Tony checks out the restoration of the Jupiter Landing Vehicle (destroyed in issue #116) supervised by Scott Lang. After the boss leaves, Trudeau enters, overpowers Scott, and hijacks the Landing Vehicle. He crashes it through the wall of the lab where SHIELD is working, announcing that he does not want to hurt anyone. Tony quickly dons his armor and faces the massive machine as Iron Man. Shellhead quickly realizes he can’t stop Trudeau without destroying the lander yet again so he wrecks it and hands Trudeau over to the police. Deciding to go right to the source of the problem, Tony puts on a prototype space armor and flies to Allenburg, Iowa. Once there, he jets straight up into space. After dodging a communications satellite he discovers a massive cloaked space station—with the name Roxxon on it….