Context Menu

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1: Review

Apr 1968

Archie Goodwin, Gene Colan

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

The Torrent Without -- The Tumult Within!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 Review by T Vernon (August 15, 2012)

Review (Iron Man): The plot does not move ahead very much but the terrific action fills the issue, thanks to the great Gene Colan! If it were Bendis writing what we’d get is ten pages of conversation and a single punch thrown….

Comments: This one-shot title was published out of necessity: when TALES OF SUSPENSE became CAPTAIN AMERICA and TALES TO ASTONISH turned into THE INCREDIBLE HULK, there were ten-page stories left over for Shellhead and Subby, so this title was created to bridge the gap left before the two heroes received their own self-titled mags. Iron Man story continues from TALES OF SUSPENSE #99 and continues in IRON MAN #1; Sub-Mariner story continues from TALES TO ASTONISH #101 and continues in SUB-MARINER #1. Subby story: First full appearance of Destiny (Paul Destine).

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 Review by Rob Johnson (August 18, 2012)

The Helmet of Power in the Sub-Mariner story will turn out to be the Serpent Crown in disguise. This will go on to feature in lots of stories, and also gain a convoluted history. There will be various versions of this artefact, one of which is currently plaguing the Secret Avengers.

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

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 Synopsis by T Vernon

This story continues from TALES OF SUSPENSE #99.

Aboard the Maggia sub which is under attack by A.I.M., the powerless Iron Man is held fast to a magnetic lab table, unable to move as the waters rush in. In a desperate move he manages to connect his recharge cable to the short-circuiting wire from the laser overhead, restoring his power. In the gambling ship above all is chaos, as A.I.M. agents board the ship in search of the cash aboard. Big M orders Whiplash and the Maggia thugs to retaliate and the battle is on, as the undercover SHIELD Agent Jasper Sitwell searches for the imprisoned Iron Man. Below, the Armored Avenger manages to escape the lab and seal the hatches slowing the flow of water to the ship above. In a secret control room, Big M activates the Gyro-Oscillator which sends the ship tilting back and forth to upset the A.I.M. gang’s plans. The rogue scientists respond with a shock ray blast that disables the Maggia weapon. Whiplash captures Jasper Sitwell just as Iron Man arrives on the ship. He blasts the baddie with his repulsor rays but suddenly the A.I.M. Vortex-Suction Beam pulls Iron Man through the ship’s hull toward the A.I.M. vessel….

This story continues in IRON MAN #1.

Story #2

Call Him Destiny... or Call Him Death!

Writer: Roy Thomas. Penciler: Gene Colan. Inker: Frank Giacoia. Colorist: ?. Editor: Stan Lee. Letterer: Sam Rosen.

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

By T Vernon

After his battle with a giant ice warrior in the Antarctic, Sub-Mariner crashes through into a dark chamber where he comes face-to-face with the sinister figure who has been haunting his dreams. He strikes…but misses because his opponent dodges, as he can read Namor’s mind. Subby is overwhelmed by a feeling of overwhelming evil from this enemy who calls himself Destiny, and who seems familiar—and dreaded. Destiny freezes Namor in place as he tells his story: he was originally a mentalist in a cheap sideshow but he had genuine psychic powers—and sought a way to profit from them. Research revealed to him the existence of a forgotten race called the Ancients who were master of mental abilities. The man who would become Destiny joined the crew of the icebreaker Oracle on its voyage to Antarctica and persuaded the captain to mount an expedition for the lost city of the Ancients. And that captain was Leonard McKenzie, Namor’s father. Searching a remote cavern alone, McKenzie and the villain discover a massive machine sealed in the ice. While McKenzie headed back to summon the rest of his crew, Destiny, unwilling to share the secrets of the Ancients’ power, breaks through the ice to the dynamo—but caused an avalanche. He was saved by the mysterious Helmet of Power, which he now wears…. Namor, now realizing the paralysis is only an illusion, breaks free and attacks Destiny. The villain reaches a Sonar-Cannon and fires at the hero. Namor destroys the cannon but in so doing causes the frozen ceiling to fall in on them. Destiny is protected by the Helmet of Power, but Namor is buried alive under tons of ice….

Story #3