Iron Man (1968 series) #110

Review: The sci-fi really heats up in this issue as we encounter the Rigellians, the New Men of Wundagore, and the Punisher robot which has been mislaid by Galactus himself. Oddly the two races were introduced very close together during Jack Kirby’s run on THOR, in fact the issue that ended the Rigel storyline introduced the High Evolutionary and his creations. One of the hardest of Jolly Jack’s talents to reproduce was his amazing ability to pour out new concepts by the bushel, seemingly unable to halt the overflow of creativity locked inside his head—but they try here. Doesn’t quite feel right but it isn’t for want of effort. A rather informative two-page spread shows us the full data on our two heroes; the coolest touch: Shellhead’s height and weight are recorded in Rigellian units.

Comments: Part two of four parts. The Rigellians were aided by Thor in THOR #131-134 and they promised not to try to colonize our solar system again. The Punisher (not the Frank Castle one) was introduced in the classic FANTASTIC FOUR #49; the Rigellians picked him up after the “death” of Galactus in FF#175. And by the way, “sojourner” does not mean “traveler,” it means “temporary resident.”