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Iron Man #49

Aug 1972

Mike Friedrich, George Tuska

Story Name:

And In the Shadows There Lurks the Adaptoid!

Synopsis

Iron Man #49 synopsis by T Vernon

Rating:

Having resolved to be more in control of his life and business affairs, a new, confident Tony Stark strides into Stark Industries to begin work on a new direction for the company. Suddenly, his fiancée Marianne Rodgers rushes in; she has had a vision of the death of Iron Man. A looming figure resembling a robotic Grim Reaper bearing an axe…a fight on a catwalk...Marianne rushing to help...the railing breaks...Iron Man plunges into a vat of acid. Tony tries to comfort her but she receives another ESP flash: Iron Man is needed at Avengers Mansion immediately. Tony dons his armor and heads to the team headquarters where he is ambushed by the Super-Adaptoid, a giant android possessing the powers of four of the Avengers. The two battle and the villain gets the upper hand, firing an arrow that releases a nerve gas. Iron Man falls unconscious and the Super-Adaptoid carries him to the roof and tosses him off. The sudden inrush of air revives the hero and he swoops out of his power dive and reengages the enemy. [Back at the factory, the distraught Marianne seeks comfort from a visiting Pepper Potts; Pep encourages her to rush to Tony’s side.] The antagonists fight it out in Central Park. There, his energy sources low, Iron Man buries his foe under piles of stone. The Super-Adaptoid is suddenly evolving and must rest, while Iron Man staggers back to the mansion. There he is met by Marianne; he begs her to help him—but she has another premonition of the death of the hero and her part in it. She panics and flees, leaving Tony dying on the floor….

Review / Commentaries

Iron Man #49 Review by T Vernon (July 30, 2013)

Review: The Super-Adaptoid! A villainous android that combines the powers of Captain America, Hawkeye, Wasp, and Giant-Man! He’s Marvel’s answer to Amazo, the DC villain who has the powers of the entire Justice League. Problem is, whereas Amazo has super-strength, super-speed, heat vision, invisibility and many other powers, the Super-Adaptoid is big, can fly, hurl a shield, and shoot trick arrows. Hardly one of the most formidable foes for Iron Man, he gets some surprising changes in the next two issues. Meanwhile, the best part of the story is those visions of Marianne’s, featuring that creepy cyborg executioner with the long hair and the George Tuska overbite. I’m a sucker for prophecy of doom stories, ‘cause I can’t wait to see how they really turn out. True, this isn’t one of the classics (MACBETH holds the record there) and the Super-A isn’t the most menacing villain but it’s okay.

Comments: Part one of three. First appearance of Pepper Potts since her cameo in issue #37. Introduced as a Captain America enemy in TALES OF SUSPENSE #82-84, the Adaptoid mimicked the powers of the Avengers and renamed itself the Super-Adaptoid. Why it went back just this once to its original designation is not known.

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This comic is in the following collection:

Collecting IRON MAN (1968) #26-67 and DAREDEVIL (1964) #73.

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Mike Friedrich

George Tuska

Vince Colletta

Unknown

Gil Kane (Cover Penciler)
Frank Giacoia (Cover Inker)

Additional Credits

Letterer: John Costanza.
Editor: Stan Lee.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Avengers

Iron Man
(Anthony Stark)

Pepper Potts
(Pepper Hogan)

Super-Adaptoid
(Super Adaptoid)

Plus: Marianne Rodgers.

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