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Invincible Iron Man #88

Jul 1976
Archie Goodwin, George Tuska

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Story Name:

Fear Wears Two Faces!


Synopsis

Invincible Iron Man #88 synopsis by T Vernon
Rating: 3 stars
On a dark, rainy night, Iron Man flies to catch a speeding train. There he finds Pepper and the unconscious Happy Hogan; Pepper tells Tony that they are resigning from Stark Industries so that Happy can recuperate at a special clinic in Chicago—and keep away from the danger that surrounds Iron Man. He bids them farewell and heads home. Elsewhere on that stormy night, a truck driver comes upon the scene of the crash of a livestock truck, with dead pigs scattered everywhere. The alien Blood Brothers emerge from the wreckage and hijack the truck to take them to New York….
Tony Stark returns to his plant to find his most recent hire, former professor Abe Klein hard at work. Meanwhile at a trendy restaurant, Michael O’Brien tries to enlist Roxanne Gilbert in his scheme of revenge against Stark but she refuses and walks out….
The truck carrying the Blood Brothers crashes into the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel and the alien menaces go on a rampage—under orders from an unseen master. Iron Man races to the scene and takes on the burly bruisers.
[Foreshadowing: the one controlling the Blood Brothers lies buried under a rubble-strewn lot in Chelsea. He is cared for by a seedy derelict named Scrounger.]
Elsewhere, shady private eye Harry Key sees an opportunity at Stark Industries. Michael O’Brien spots Key leaving his office and follows him secretly….
The Blood Brothers teams up, hurling rubble at Iron Man, dropping a huge chunk of concrete on the hero to pin him down, smashing his helmet and repulsor rays, and stomping on him until the dock gives way and Iron Man is dragged to the bottom of the river by the heavy weight on him….

 

Review / Commentaries


Invincible Iron Man #88 Review by (May 14, 2014)
Review: A big battle scene is broken up by various bits of foreshadowing and subplots: The Hogans are leaving the series again! Abe Klein is still here, remember him? Michael O’Brien is still delaying any kind of action against Tony Stark! Roxie Simpson is hanging around because the new temporary writer doesn’t know if his successor will want to keep her! And [dum-dum-DUMMM] who is the mystery villain under the rubble? Okay issue but no classic.

Comments: Part one of a two part story. The Blood Brothers were introduced in issue #55 and turned up again in MARVEL FEATURE #12. First appearances of Harry Key and Scrounger. The mentions of S.W.A.T. and THE ROOKIES refer to two popular police TV series of the day.


> Invincible Iron Man comic book info and issue index

Elektra
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Excelsioring your collection:
Marvel Iron Man MARK7 Statue ARTFX 1/6 Statue
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

George Tuska
Vince Colletta
Janice Cohen
Gil Kane (Cover Penciler)
Mike Esposito (Cover Inker)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Joe Rosen.
Editor: Marv Wolfman.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Abe Klein
Abe Klein

(Abraham Klein)
Controller
Controller

(Basil Sandhurst)
Iron Man
Iron Man

(Anthony Stark)
Pepper Potts
Pepper Potts

(Pepper Hogan)

Plus: Blood Brothers, Harris Hobbs, Michael O'Brien, Roxanne Gilbert.