Review: Iron Man #44
- Rick Moore
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
Please Tell Me That We've Hit Rock Bottom!
Are you happy now, Marvel? After several years of treating this series as an afterthought, assigning inexperienced writers with little editorial oversight, Iron Man has been reduced to bi-monthly status with rumors of impending cancellation rampant.
As it is, our hero's story is a scant thirteen pages - an abbreviated length due to the previous plan to pair his adventures with Daredevil. The remainder of the book consists of a silly Ant Man story by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru.
Scripting this issue is Robert Kanigher - a veteran writer with a considerable resume for DC, including lengthy stints on Wonder Woman, Justice League and The Flash. This turns out to be one out of three comics he ever writes for Marvel. While I’ll delve into my assessment of the writing later, I will say that it left much to be desired.
Right now, it's time to secure a hankie as we “Weep for a Lost Nightmare.”
Credits
Writer: Robert Kanigher (Gerry Conway - Plot)
Pencils: George Tuska
Inks: Vince Coletta
Letterer: Jean Izzo
Editor: Stan Lee
Cover Art: Gil Kane & Frank Giacioa
Release Date: October 5, 1971
Synopsis
Following a gorgeous cover, this issue picks up where we left off in the previous issue with Iron Man's suit and Tony Stark's heart both nearly expired, leaving Irish gadfly and now newly minted superhero Kevin O'Brien carrying him into the Avengers Mansion. Following along and offering pointless prose is Tony's girlfriend and just reformed Demon Queen, Marianne Rodgers.
After an obligatory scuffle with Captain America which gives the art team an opportunity to indulge a couple Jack Kirby inspired poses, Kevin attaches the right jumper cables to spark the armor and his boss back to life.
That our green-garbed rescuer enjoyed knocking the sentinel of liberty on his keister is fodder for what happens in the next issue. But we've still got to wade through this mess.
Having avoided wandering into that distant light, Tony's mind drifts to images of past loves before being suddenly confronted by a giant one of the…Night Phantom?
We're talking about a lame one-shot villain from way back in #14 who turned out to be an embittered man gaining super strength and some invulnerability by a Lazarus Pit type of pool that disappeared with him at the end of the issue.
Naturally, this is all part of the ever evolving and completely inconsistent, mind-numbingly incoherent schemes of that chain-smoking android, Mr. Kline. His metal nose is bent way out of shape at last issue's villain and little brother to David Bowie, Mikas, for not breaking Tony Stark’s will. Now the mastermind just wants Tony Stark destroyed.
Simple enough.
Which is a good segue way to the most disturbing - and coming out of absolutely nowhere in this universe - panel with Kevin’s thought balloons confessing to a burning desire for…Marianne?
What the eff?
Dude, you’ve treated her like dirt every time your paths have crossed - including the splash page of this issue. Now you’re babbling about the taste of her lips? I’m not a playboy like your boss, but even I can say that first rule to having someone like you is at least being nice to them.
Adding insult to injury, we next come across an Irish cook who apparently knows Marianne well enough to say that she should dump Tony for Kevin as an Irishman will “Keep the eternal bloom in your cheeks.” This cook then makes an inappropriate comment about Jewish mothers before coming across the Night Phantom who we can only hope has pointed out the need for her to observe proper personal boundaries and be more respectful of other religions and ethnic groups.
Hearing the cook's screams, Tony crawls to a cabinet where he finds his armor. We’re then treated to two and a half pages of Iron Man trading blows with the Night Phantom. Outside of one panel where he fires a repulsor ray, it appears that, like most of his previous battle, Iron Man relies strictly on his fists, foregoing any number of other weapons that his armor possess. Of course he provides inane excuses for being low on power already. Predictably, it’s the Night Phantom who emerges with the upper hand, causing him to reference Mr. Kline in his victory speech.
That’s a mistake because the name Mr. Kline makes Iron Man mad. And when you make Iron Man mad, he…fumbles around with a switch somewhere on his armor to get more power. That allows our hero to blast his opponent with a potent combination of repulsors and awful dialogue.
Although Tony thinks the job is done, it turns out that all he accomplished was blasting open the Night Phantom’s chest, showing that he’s actually one of Mr. Kline’s androids!
With the Night Phantom back on his feet and ready to resume the rumble as well as Marianne now refusing to leave the scene, we've reached the end of this story, awarding us the opportunity to watch Ant Man and a nerdy service employee save the world from a diabolical insect.
And can I ask just where is Kevin? An appearance by the Guardsman wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to happen.
Writing
While I highly question the choice of the Night Phantom as this issue’s villain, the far more troubling aspect of this troubled story is Kevin O’Brien’s now professed lust for Marianne Rodgers. Just where did that come from? Since this is Gerry Conways plot, I’m thinking this is another case of his “making it up as he goes.” And that panel did give Robert Kanigher a chance to wax on the eloquence.
Which he does and which he does way, way too much throughout all thirteen pages of this story. The guy once published a book about how to make money writing. After enduring his flowery embroidering on literally every word in this issue, I’m thinking that he really needs to go back to reread that damned book. 1/10.
Art
Call me crazy, but to my eyes, this is the best art I’ve seen on Iron Man in ages. I say that because to me, Iron Man stories work best with clear, bold lines and bright, shiny colors. It’s what Bob Layton would do to stunning success years later, with light reflecting off his armor. George Tuska will never be everyone’s cup of mocha, but I believe the smooth lines of the often-vilified Vince Coletta work on this title. I’m not saying Coletta should touch someone like Gene Colan on Daredevil or Neil Adams on Avengers but compared to the other inkers who’ve worked with Tuska on this series, I believe he works better than most.
A definite step up for this book. 6/10
Wimp Factor
Not a good issue for our main guy. Bad enough to be carried by your protege, but to then get your rear end handled to you by another flipping android? Not helping is to once again have to fumble around with finding the switch to goose up your power. Nor can we go more than three panels without some reference to your weak heart. Thank goodness the Scarecrow isn’t in town to further tarnish your rep. 10/10
Villain Rating
I’m hardly be the first to admit that Iron Man’s Rogues Gallery isn’t the most intimidating. I would guess that’s part of the reason that Gerry Conway sought to create some new adversaries for our hero during his tenure. What I don’t get is if Gerry Conway decided to finally bring back one of Iron Man’s previous villains, what in the name of all that's holy possessed him to choose the Night Phantom? 3/10
Overall Rating
Slightly improved art is the only plus in this disaster of an issue. 2/10
Additional Nuts & Bolts
After a month of comics with a cover price of twenty-five cents and increased story content, Marvel moved back to its regular twenty-page stories with a cover price of twenty cents - the same as rivals DC had done a couple months earlier. An explanation offered in that month’s Bullpen Bulletins, states they rescinded their decision for "economic reasons far too complicated to go into..."
Iron Man also appears in that same Bullpen Bulletins, refuting rumors of his cancellation, instead indicating a return to monthly status "as soon as possible." Since this is decades before the internet and social media, I’m not sure where those rumors swirled, but a change to monthly status would not occur until Iron Man #48.