Invincible Iron Man #63: Review

Oct 1973

Mike Friedrich, George Tuska

Story Name:

Enter: Dr. Spectrum

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #63 Review by T Vernon (November 13, 2013)

Review: Fake Green Lantern faces Iron Man! Exciting issue begins and ends with some soap opera, and includes a pointless interlude with a hapless paparazzo (unless Marvel felt the need to demonstrate that Tony doesn’t need his armor to push little people around—he has his vast wealth!). Dr Spectrum is a formidable foe and the all-too-brief battle scene is very well done. More to come!

Comments: Part one of four parts. The original Dr. Spectrum, an analogue of DC’s Green Lantern, was introduced as part of the Squadron Sinister in AVENGERS (1963) #69-71; this story arc is his second and last appearance. No explanation as to why Obatu has an appointment with Tony Stark in New York while Tony is in Detroit.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #63 Synopsis by T Vernon

Iron Man returns to Detroit just as tornado-level winds threaten the city. He spies Roxanne Gilbert fleeing the storm and swoops down to rescue her, all of which is caught on film by tabloid photographer Willie-Boy. His heroic efforts to save others from the storm only convince Roxie he is only trying to get attention and she leaves alone. Switching back to Tony Stark he catches her up and tries to convince the attractive pacifist he’s not a bad guy. They arrive at her apartment to be met by Willie-Boy eager to snap her picture with Tony. Tony reveals that he owns the paper the paparazzo works for and ejects him. Meanwhile back at Stark Headquarters in New York, African leader Dr Obatu arrives for an appointment with Tony Stark; old pal Eddie March is there too. Suddenly Obatu is attacked by a quartet of costumed baddies and Eddie helps fight them off. The African Nationalist wants Eddie to be his bodyguard….
As Tony oversees the repair of the space shuttle damaged in issue #60, he is attacked by Dr Spectrum who can create anything he wishes by means of the Power Prism. After a few half-hearted explosions, the villain sends Tony for his real quarry—Iron Man. The hero returns in armor to face Spectrum who is quarreling with the parasitic Prism. Iron Man uses the ultra-violet rays which defeated this foe before but the villain wrecks it, blinds Tony with bright light then envelops the hero in an explosive gel which detonates, burying Iron Man beneath a shower of stones. Believing Iron Man dead, Dr Spectrum leaves. Tony returns to the hotel to find Pepper distraught over Happy’s news that he’s leaving her. Tony listens attentively as she pours out her heart and a grateful Pepper kisses him—just as Happy walks in….