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Iron Man #16

Aug 1969

Archie Goodwin, George Tuska

Story Name:

Of Beasts and Men

Synopsis

Iron Man #16 synopsis by T Vernon

Rating:

At SHIELD headquarters the semi-comatose Jasper Sitwell has been hooked up to a psyonic amplifier to access his most recent memories. As Nick Fury watches, Jasper relives Unicorn’s attack on Tony Stark’s aircraft (last issue), as he pushed the millionaire hero out with a parachute and then was seriously injured in his own jump. Fury and Gabe Jones head to the crash site, looking for any sign of what happened to Tony Stark. An examination of the wreckage indicates that Iron Man and Unicorn fought in an underground lab and there is evidence both were killed….
We then flash back to moments after the Red Ghost detonated his lab (again, last issue). The two armored figures were buried in the debris. Iron Man discovered that while his chestplate was producing energy, his repulsor rays and jet books were smashed; the Unicorn finds his weapons intact but his power belt was destroyed, leaving him unable to use them. The two must work together, a cable from Iron Man’s suit connecting to the Unicorn’s power horn, and the villain can break free, carrying the hero with him….
Meanwhile in Africa, the Red Ghost uses his powers of intangibility to infiltrate a SHIELD satellite-tracking station with the help of his two new super-apes (one with super-strength and the other able to control minds), he swiftly seizes control of the building, intending to build a larger version of the Cosmic Ray Intensifier and use it to create an army of super-apes to conquer the world. Iron Man and Unicorn arrive at the research center and the hotheaded villain can think only of revenge so he rushes in blindly, against the hero’s advice. After a violent melee with the apes, the cable connecting the two is pulled loose, robbing Unicorn of his powers, and the two are subdued. As the Red Ghost moves to pull the switch activating the Intensifier, he is suddenly inhibited by a force acting on his mind; it is his ape with mental control powers, stopping him. Seems the apes do not support the villain’s mad plans to turn them into an army in his service and they wreck the Intensifier. Unicorn knocks Iron Man down and captures the Ghost to force him to cure the Unicorn’s illness and restore his powers, absconding in the baddie’s aircraft. Iron Man is left behind to repair his armor after freeing the SHIELD station staff.

Review / Commentaries

Iron Man #16 Review by T Vernon (December 5, 2012)

Review: An issue where the hero and villain have to work together for a common goal is always fun and this issue is no exception. The Red Ghost, an absurd villain at the best of times, comes across as quite silly here in George Tuska’s portrayal of him laughing insanely as a goony human face and his hair in the shape of horns, atop a cloud of mist; that, and the guy hangs around with apes! And the dude is still around, appearing in WINTER SOLDIER #1-5 in 2012! Another enjoyable issue, if a tad on the goofy side.

Comments: How did Iron Man and Unicorn know where to find the Red Ghost? He didn’t mention going to Africa in the previous issue.

> Iron Man comic book info and issue index

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This comic is in the following collection:

Collecting IRON MAN (1968) #1-25, and material from TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #84-99 and IRON MAN AND THE SUB-MARINER #1.

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Marvel Iron Man MARK7 Statue ARTFX 1/6 Statue

Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Archie Goodwin

George Tuska

Johnny Craig

Unknown

Marie Severin (Cover Penciler)
Marie Severin (Cover Inker)

Additional Credits

Letterer: Jean Simek.
Editor: Stan Lee.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Iron Man
(Anthony Stark)

Jasper Sitwell

Nick Fury
(Nicholas Fury)

S.H.I.E.L.D.

Red Ghost

Unicorn

Plus: Gabe Jones (Gabriel Jones).

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