Review: Iron Man #42

Happy Valentines Day, Tony Stark! Did you know you're dating a Demon Queen?

There are any number of "red flags" that guys should look out for in the beginning of a new relationship. You know, what's her response when you want to hang out with your buddies? Or what's her opinion of your music? And of course, is she trying to change you in some way.

Then there's, does she become a Demon-Queen and seek your destruction?

That's the "red flag" Tony Stark faces with his new girlfriend Marianne Rodgers in this issue.

And she does all this while Tony's dealing with a Senate committee investigating Stark Industries as well as further attacks from the ever-manipulative nicotine addict, Mr. Kline and his latest lackey, a new mystic weirdo named Mikas. Since all this takes place in Washington DC, it's our civic duty to find out what happens "When Demons Wail!"

Credits

Writer: Gerry Conway

Pencils:  George Tuska

Inks: Frank Giacoia

Letterer:  Jean Izzo

Editor: Stan Lee

Cover Art: Maria Severin, George Tuska & Frank Giacoia

Release Date: July 6, 1971

Just so we're clear, who is it that's supposed to suffer? Iron Man? Or those of us who read this issue?

Synopsis

Just like the cover, the splash page displays the lovely Ms. Rodgers in a full demonic makeover. Wearing a dreadfully pained expression, all our guy can do is ask, “Why?”

Turns out it’s just a dream, leaving Tony Stark in a cold sweat as well as providing a cue for him to recap the previous issue. In the next room, we find an equally restless Marianne - without that Mistress of Mephisto-look -  pondering the premonitions she’s had these past couple issues.  Because Marianne could overthink toasting a piece of bread, she once again asks herself if she really wants to be with Tony Stark.  Naturally it takes all of one panel - and the realization that she’s in a luxury suite in Washington DC - to realize that of course she’s over the moon for the guy.    

I'll behave myself for this attractive series of panels.

BTW, in case anyone’s wondering why they’re in separate bedrooms, keep in mind that this is 1971 when the Comics Code Authority still held sway over much of what occurred between the covers - to say nothing of between the sheets.  Clearly the last thing they wanted was for any impressionable youngsters to realize that consenting adults could share a bed.

The comic now moves on to Mr. Kline.  Said chain-smoking puppet-master contacts his "mutant sector" where he enlists a skinny guy who looks less like a supervillain and more like the lead singer of a glam rock band opening for David Bowie.  Dude also refers to himself as "Soulfather" - which sounds like the name of his backing band.   

Who was it that designed this guy's costume? And who's idea was it to include those orange gloves?

Before Mikas can do Mr. Kline's bidding, we check in on SHIELD Agent Jasper Sitwell. The good news - he's back on his feet again! The bad news - it’ll be two presidents before we see Jasper again.

All of this does however, give the star of this book time to put in jail by Senator McJavit - the lawmaker who's face shows that he was weaned on sour lemons. Seems that the surly senator doesn’t buy Iron Man saving the day in the previous issue and insists on his being held for questioning. All of which makes me grateful that this is only a comic book and that our nation would never, ever consider holding any citizen in jail without due process.

This panel confused me as a kid and still does decades later.

Our political education is quickly interrupted by a mental image of Mikas with Marianne - whom he's just captured and now showing off that enticing Demon Queen ensemble. That's enough to encourage Iron Man to quickly turn his stay in the hoosegow into a very short one.

Once our guy is hot on their trail, Senator McJavit reveals himself to be the faceless Operative 12!  Said diligence is awarded with his being melted by Mr. Kline.

Following a flash of light, Iron Man now finds himself in an eerie hellscape where Mikas, his ensorcelled sweetie and several small demons await. 

By the way, has anyone managed to keep track of all of Mikas’ powers?  Let’s see.  He can turn into energy.  Teleport.  Project mental images.  Control minds. And now he commands demons?

Damn.  That mutant sector of Mr. Kline’s must have put in some serious overtime with him.

Anyway, as those demons pounce on our hero, the overachieving bad boy takes the mike for some heavy-duty monologuing about his abilities and spilling the beans on Mr. Kline.  Part of me wants to tell Mikas to take it down a notch. The fight's going his way. He's starting to look a little desperate.

At that point, tackling him makes sense for Iron Man- if for no other reason than to shut the guy up.  They trade a few punches in some black muck or tar or whatever it is before Iron Man finally directs a repulsor ray into T. Rex's third cousin.  Of course, our new villain easily survives. Which is as good a place as any to end this issue.

Hey, Tony? Didn't I warn you about Marianne in our last review?

Ratings

Writing 

Yikes!  While I appreciate Gerry Conway presenting Iron Man with a more formidable villain, surely, he could have done better than Mikas.  Bad enough to have a name so close to one of Iron Man’s lamest villains (portly Greek guy who obsesses over all that glitters), but adding “Soulfather” only makes him laughable.  

Then you’ve got his ever-growing list of powers.  Mind control?  Okay, then why not simply take over Tony Stark/Iron Man’s mind?  Telepathy?  Maybe that tracks as a mutant power that Kline developed.  But then where do the demons and that hellscape come from?  And the energy blasts?  Add in the ability to withstand a repulsor blast at point blank range.  That’s quite a cache of talents that don’t really seem to match up in any coherent manner.

I'm guessing this is the first comic book caption to ever refer to exploding cakes.

This all goes back to an unfortunate hallmark of Conway’s tenure on this series  - incredibly haphazard plotting. 

As for the writing, I’ve always been of the school that captions and artwork work in tandem, presenting a compelling story that keeps us flipping the pages. 

Unfortunately, too many of those captions are bogged down with a needless array of verbiage that display a strong vocabulary, but not much else. 

Rough going for his penultimate issue. 2/10

Art 

Despite solid inks from Frank Giacioa, after three straight issues of George Tuska's art, we’re starting to experience the limitations to his repertoire.  There are only so many expressions, poses and body types available.  As a result, there’s a “sameness” starting to permeate his work on this title.   

And I have to ask, who was it that designed Mikas? What magazines or TV shows was George or someone at Marvel watching when they gave him that laughable costume?  Given his slight frame, I’d worry that that medallion alone would drown him if he fell into so much as a bathtub.  

Anyway, I'm not sure Neal Adams at this peak could've saved this story.  5/10

That's what you get for getting my girlfriend to dress in green lingerie that she won't wear for me!

Wimp Factor

Much as I despise that downcast look on Iron Man that was far too prevalent in this issue, our hero was taking on someone who claimed to be a god.  And if we couldn’t figure out Mikas's powers, it's not fair to hold that against Iron Man. But it still should not take so long for him to zap a bad guy with that repulsor ray. 5/10

Villain Rating

This issue gave us three villains.  Let’s see how they did.  Mr. Kline continued his behind-the-scenes manipulations without any giving us any hints as to why or any further reference to the bosses he has to answer to. In other words, nothing ventured, nothing gained. 5/10 Then we have poor Marianne as the entranced Demon Queen.  All she really does is torment her new boyfriend by agreeing with her captor.  We don’t even get to see her in that sexy green catsuit.  1/10 That pretty much puts the emphasis on Mikas.  Believe it or not, I actually sorta like him.  The story of a mutant coming from such a difficult background holds some intrigue. But man, when you toss in that an incompatible set of powers, downright embarrassing costume, way over-the-top dialogue and calling yourself “Soulfather,” you leave me no choice but to be harsh.  4/10

Overall Rating

A couple decent potential ideas tripped up by a weird villain with competent but unexciting art.  3/10

Welcome back, Jasper! See you in 6 years!

Additional Nuts & Bolts

• Would you believe that this is the second straight issue without Kevin O’Brien?  And I’m perfectly okay with that. However, it’s only fair that I let you know he’s back next issue.  And in an even more prominent role.

• Poor Jasper.  He’s brought back to the series in #33 only to end up in a coma one issue later.  Then after months of being a source of guilt for Tony Stark because he felt responsible for failing to stop the Spymaster, Jasper finally awakens.  Now that it seems he’s going to make a full recovery, our SHIELD Liaison to Stark Industries doesn't return to these pages until #97 in 1977. 

• Colorists weren’t credited at this time in comics and even so, I doubt whoever provided them for this cover wants to be identified.  Not when they make Marianne Rodgers a red-head.  As insecure as she is, last thing she needs to know about is that her current  lover held quite a torch for a certain redhead, the former Pepper Potts.

• And this also serves as the final month for Marvel charging only fifteen cents for their comics. Of course they go up by ten cents next issue - but with more pages. Except in Daredevil and Iron Man. Something I'll chat about in the next review.