Review: Iron Man #35

"Revenge!"

Introduction

“Alex, I’ll take ‘Atrocious 1970’s Comic Book Crossovers’ for $500.”

“This comic book has both Daredevil and Nick Fury as guest stars as they’re attacked by four lame supervillains for the control of some silly apparatus called the Zodiac Key.”

“What is Iron Man #35?”

Bad Jeopardy parodies aside, there’s so much going on with this issue that it’s hard to know quite where to start.  We've got another eye-catching Sal Buscema cover.  I’m not always a fan of word balloons, but they certainly do their part here to grab any wandering eyeballs. 

We also have new writer, Gerry Conway, being handed the keys to another series, having just taken over Daredevil the previous month. Although only 18 years old at the time, Conway would have a rapid accession from this title in less than a year to take over The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Fantastic Four and Spiderman. While his run on the latter title earned strong accolades, I have to say that Conway’s tenure on Iron Man falls more into the category of “What Did I Ever Do To You?” as will become painfully apparent in future issues.  The writer sums it up best in Marvel Masterworks Volume 7 when he refers to the work being done on Iron Man as a “mess.” 

It also seems that for this story, Conway’s using a plot from the previous writer, Allyn Brodsky.  That covers a few of the sins in this notably-flawed crossover. 

I know it's 1971, Daredevil. But I'm not sure it was a good idea even back then to call a woman you just met "Sweetie."

One of them being the return of Whitney Frost/Madame Masque.  Not that I mind the return of Count Nefaria’s lovely daughter.  But absent any background information, I had no idea of her complex background, just assuming she was another costumed character who liked swinging from building to building.

Then there’s Zodiac. A dozen villains each adorned as a sign of the Zodiac and who recently messed around with the Avengers.  Anyway, one of them, Scorpio, had a funky looking device called The Zodiac Key which served as a highly convenient plot device - doing whatever‘s needed doing in that particular story.

Is it just me or does Kevin O'Brien look really out of place with those other four?

As for Daredevil’s involvement, I’m assuming that one reason is that Gerry Conway had just started that series and a crossover was a nice way to essentially buy a month to get his bearings.  Two, I would also assume that since this issue also received considerable promotion through house ads, neither title was setting the sales charts on fire and a story of this nature would hopefully change that dynamic.

Almost forgot - Spymaster’s back again.  He's the dude in the blue and yellow armor who spent two issues touting himself up as the next big Iron Man baddie and who’d just seriously wounded SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell. Turns out to only be a Zodiac flunky.

That is a lot to unpack before even plunging into this issue.  But before doing so, I had to add that while we have a new writer, we’re still stuck with Don Heck’s dated and unappealing art.

Alright.  Deep breath.  Let’s dive into “Revenge!”

Synopsis 

There are many examples of splash pages that immediately grab the reader, immediately pulling them into the story. This isn't one of them.

We pick up right where we left off, with Iron Man swearing vengeance most foul on the Spymaster for shooting Jasper Sitwell.  Good thing we have word balloons.  Based solely on Heck’s art, our hero could simply be telling someone to watch where they’re going.  As for Jasper, there’s not even a mark on him. Sitwell could just be sleeping off a “Mickey” someone gave him at the SHIELD officers club.

After two pages recapping the last two issues, we’re introduced to the exceedingly long legs of Whitney Frost (a panel more akin to the questionable anatomy of 90’s comics).  She’s just learning of Sitwell’s fate.  Apparently all it took was for the guy to fall into critical condition before Frost realizes that she actually loves him. 

How is it that a face mask convincingly covers a gold mask covering a real face?

As for the guy who put the hurt on said SHIELD agent, we discover that the “one step ahead of everyone” master villain from the past two issues is actually an “incompetent bungler” according to Capricorn, a guy with green skin and bright red horns. Apparently, it was Zodiac who hired him and now offers him a chance at redemption if he can capture Daredevil.

As Spymaster slithers off, Iron Man visits SHIELD to check on Jasper.  No change, but Nick Fury asks him to have Tony Stark investigate a weapon called the Zodiac Key, moving our plot forward.

Just curious, is Capricorn's skin really green? And where did he get those wild red horns?

Doing likewise is Daredevil who encounters Madame Masque on a rooftop.  Before his semi-flirtatious banter sends him to HR, they’re netted by the Spymaster and hauled into an odd-looking brown and yellow flying craft that should have drawn at least some attention.

The book then takes us back to Stark Industries where really overbearing new cast member Kevin O’Brien joins Iron Man and Nick Fury who are studying the Key with a nifty-looking Kirbyish doohickey. 

Which is good since Capricorn, Aquarius, Sagittarius and Spymaster teleport into that same lab.  Which is bad since even with Kevin O’Brien offering a hand, they’re outmatched.    

In all reality, Iron Man should be able to mop the floor with all three of the Zodiac clowns before his skim milk/no whip mocha is completed at Starbucks.  But this can’t be a crossover if that happens.  So the Zodiac Key suddenly becomes sentient, commanding Kevin to take the it hold of it so he can zap the good guys into unconsciousness.

Iron Man, this is what happens when you let someone like the Spymaster beat you up.

By the way, I hope you like Kevin O’Brien.  Conway’s going to expose us to plenty of this walking Irish stereotype during this time on the book.  

The next scene has all five of our heroes imprisoned in energy cylinders that don’t look nearly as slick as the ones on the cover.  Cutting off the gloating from the goofy-looking bad guys, the Key tells Zodiac to release Nick Fury so that he can take it which will lead to … well that’s what we’ll find out in Daredevil #73. 

Still have no idea why the key wants Nick Fury over everyone else.

Which I will review next week!

Story 

The actual writing for Gerry Conway’s first Iron Man is an improvement over that of his predecessor.  The characters speak the lines they’re supposed to speak. 

As for the crossover itself, where do I start?  Did Allyn Brodsky really intend to reduce his mighty new villain into an errand boy after just introducing him?  If Spymaster could actually go toe to toe with Iron Man, then why in God’s name would he grovel before a green guy with antlers.  I’m also wondering why Whitney now feels love for someone she used for his SHIELD knowledge for a number of earlier issues in this series.  Then there's the Zodiac Key.  If it was powerful enough to break through Iron Man’s “repulsor field” why didn’t it do so and go after Fury again?

This is what we call underwhelming art.

But hey, the story ended with us right where the cover told us we were going.  Might as well read Daredevil #73 to see what happens.  Besides, Conway writes that one too. 4/10

Art 

I don’t enjoy being so critical of anyone’s work.  It’s my sense that Don Heck attempted to convey the mood and energy that this story required.  His Whitney Frost certainly caught my attention.  The Zodiac HQ definitely has a futuristic vibe - as does the SHIELD facility as well as the widget Iron Man uses on the Key.  Nor do I mind the use of “Kirby Krackle” at the end.  But all that said, each panel seems to reveal some weakness of Heck’s.  Be it lackluster fight scenes.  Distorted poses.  Minimal or bland backgrounds.  All of which ultimately distract from rather than enhance the story.  And Mike Esposito (who's now going by his real name) doesn’t seem able to do much to improve anything with his inks.  

Can't quite call this inspired art either.

It’s my pleasure to report that there is daylight at the end of this poorly rendered tunnel.  Don Heck’s tenure is coming to an end.  But not for another two issues. 3/10

Wimp Factor

This is an interesting issue in that we go from Iron Man immediately enclosing up the Zodiac Key in a force field - which is darned impressive - to not being able to immediately take out the non-powered Zodiac buffoons.  Or even have a real battle with Spymaster.  6/10 

Villain Rating

Spymaster’s tumble to lackey status is going cost him a point from last issue, dropping him to 5/10.  As for our four Zodiac clowns, pulease.  3/10 (assuming they at least have formidable weapons of some kind.)

Overall Rating

A nice try to boost the sales of two struggling books with this one marred by bad art. 4/10

Additional Nuts & Bolts:

• As previously mentioned, this issue was promoted across other Marvel comics with the house ad below.