Invincible Iron Man #191: Review

Feb 1985

Dennis O'Neil, Luke McDonnell

Story Name:

The Iron Destiny

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #191 Review by T Vernon (June 27, 2016)

Comments: Part one of two parts. Vibro returns from #186-187. The ending recreates in brief the cover of TALES OF SUSPENSE #39 as Tony dons the gray armor for the first time since issue #169.

Review: It's Tony versus Rhodey and here we have the set-up, next issue is the fireworks. This part has a nice view of the heroes' psychology: the increasingly paranoid Rhodey and the fearful and reluctant Tony. Vibro really isn't a major threat, just a plot device to bring the two heroes together for their dramatic confrontation. Stay tuned.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #191 Synopsis by T Vernon

An angry Jim Rhodes in the Iron Man armor demolishes all the trees around the Circuits Maximus HQ, rationalizing it as providing room for expansion. When the Erwins question his reasoning, he gets angry and flies off. Tony Stark expresses concern about his old friend and reveals to the Erwins that he has been creating a new Iron Man armor similar to the original (in TALES OF SUSPENSE #39) in case someone should have to stop the increasingly out-of-control Rhodey....
Iron Man arrives at the Los Angeles HQ of the West Coast Avengers, where he broods about his recurring headache and thinks Tony is going to take the Iron Man role away from him....
Meanwhile, detectives are bringing Vibro back to California to stand trial but being close to the San Andreas Fault restores his full power and he breaks his bonds and escapes, using his shock waves to levitate over a fence and hurry away, seeking revenge against Iron Man. On their way to LA to see Rhodey, Tony and the Erwins spy Vibro and follow him in their car. Tony refuses to don the armor, insisting he is no longer Iron Man. They trail the baddie to an air show then head to LA to alert the authorities. They meet with Rhodey and mention Vibro; Rhodey becomes angry and insists on pursuing the villain. En route to the air show, Rhodey thinks he sees someone enter a barn and crashes through the roof, only to find an angry farmer. Telling him to send a bill, Shellhead then jets to the air show where he breaks through a wall and destroys a grounded plane in his eagerness to face his foe. Vibro reveals himself and knocks the Golden Avenger for a loop. Guards tell Iron Man to take the fight elsewhere but he refuses. Hearing of the showdown on the radio, Morley Erwin insists on donning the new armor to face Rhodey, but Tony, realizing it is his responsibility, puts on the armor once again....