Invincible Iron Man #95: Review

Feb 1977

Bill Mantlo, George Tuska

Story Name:

Ultimo

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #95 Review by T Vernon (July 8, 2014)

Review: Bill Mantlo takes over as writer for the next several issues and his primary goal seemed to be returning this series to the late 1960s. He will bring back Tony’s bad heart, his armor in a briefcase, and his sparring with suspicious congressmen. Jasper Sitwell and Madame Masque will return (as will the near-forgotten Midas) and he will resurrect the Mandarin. Result: some good stories but otherwise very familiar (oh look, it’s Ultimo!). This issue? Tony called before Congress while a giant monster is on the loose. Pretty standard but the Washington Monument scene is cool. Though as he usually did in the 1960, Tony flies to DC as Iron Man making it very clear to even the most casual observer that Stark did not arrive in town by conventional means. And a no-prize to anyone who can explain how the extra-large Ultimo fit into that medium size torpedo.

Comments: That is an awkward pose Shellhead is in on the cover, isn’t it? Pondering the women in his life, Tony thinks about Pepper, Roxanne Gilbert, and Marianne Rodgers. First appearance of Senator Andrew Jackson Hawk who will be in every issue until #100; he also appears in INCREDIBLE HULK #231-239 (most of the issues, anyway) and later turns up in WHAT IF? #26 as Captain America’s running mate in his bid for the Presidency. Ultimo was last seen in issue #70. Oh yeah, part one of six parts.

From Our Blog:

Gwen Stacy, beauty queen of Standard High School, was Peter Parker's (alias Spider-Man) first great love.

Gwen Stacy: Classic Beauty

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #95 Synopsis by T Vernon

A massive atomic pile driver slams into Iron Man’s chest over and over and over until it shatters. Krissy Longfellow and Abe Klein were watching with apprehension as Shellhead tested his new armor; he is now confident that he can stand up to any menace. Alone in his office, Tony Stark removes his armor, unhappy that he must play the cold unfeeling hero even to his friends but it is necessary to prevent anyone else from dying like Janice Cord (issue #22), while also agonizing over whether to date Krissy (in the pre-sexual harassment days). He takes a call from Senator Andrew Jackson Hawk asking him to Washington for an investigation as to whether Stark has been bribing foreign officials….
Off shore a Soviet submarine fires a huge torpedo past an American ship that can do nothing to stop it; the missile lands on the beach and the Navy issues a bomb alert. As Iron Man arrives in Washington, a mystery villain presses a button that opens the beached torpedo to reveal—Ultimo! The army is helpless against the giant as it makes its way toward the city; Iron Man heads to face him realizing he’s been set up. Shellhead and the army do their best against the monster but they are ineffective. In the battle, the Washington Monument is cracked and it tips off of its foundation. Iron Man manages to catch it and balance it back in place. With his eye-beams and powerful fists, Ultimo delivers blow after blow to the weakening hero until he finally collapses to the ground unconscious….