Review: Iron Man #71
Grab A Bowl of Cereal for a Saturday Morning Adventure!
“Spaaaaaace Ghoooooost!”
I love Hanna-Barbera Superheroes! Space Ghost! Herculoids! Birdman & the Galaxy Trio! Mightor! Samson and Goliath! Those shows were what first turned me onto comic books as a kid. Indeed, part of the appeal of collecting comics at that time was that they reminded me of those animated adventures that were long gone from the Saturday mornings landscape by the early 70’s.
Why am I bringing this up?
Because, to me, Iron Man #71 felt like a 60's Hanna Barbera cartoon. It had a cool hero with what I considered a “Saturday Morning Villain.” Face it, the Claw posed no real physical threat to Iron Man. Best he could do was hurl creepy or quirky monsters and machinations at our hero. Much like what would happen in one of those delightful cartoons from 1967-69.
Sure, it was Iron Man versus the Claw. But in my head, it might as well have been Space Ghost taking on The Creature King or Birdman up against Dr. Nightshade.
With those wondrous memories in mind, let’s grab a huge bowl of Apple Jacks and plant ourselves on the floor in front of that console TV for the third and final part of “Confrontation!”
Credits
Writer: Mike Friedrich
Pencils: George Tuska
Inks: Vince Colleta
Colorist: George Roussos
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Roy Thomas
Cover Art: Ron Wilson & Mike Esposito
Release Date: August 27, 1974
Synopsis
Just like those Hanna-Barbera classics, Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito cover presents a dynamic image of our hero that would serve as an excellent title card were this a cartoon. For their part, Tuska and Esposito attempt likewise with a symbolic splash page that would have more of an impact if the Claw wasn’t such a offensive-looking villain.
Speaking of the Claw, he’s fully engaged in describing last issue to Loc Do - his flunky who has taken possession of the Mandarin’s rings with schemes dancing in his mind. Gongingly oblivious to that, the Claw updates all of us again on the upcoming Super-Villain War.
Now that the newcomers are up to speed, it’s time for Iron Man to burst into the castle - somehow coming right into the chamber with the Claw. But that Asian troublemaker won’t take that lying down. Nope. He’ll get the heck out of there as Iron Man’s attacked by a living glob of green. Our hero realizes that this mass of lime Jello is trying to drag him into a furnace. To avoid that fate, Iron Man causes an electrical explosion that turns the jelly to dust.
No time to savor the win as he next faces a horde of small, cute robots - that turn out to be extremely explosive! To his shame, the Golden Avenger is overcome by the robots as they somehow disengage his internal wiring. Motionless, he’s placed into a rocket full of robots ready to explode. But instead of going off once they leave the castle, the timer’s set to give Iron Man just enough time to get his armor going again and escape before the big boom.
An overconfident Claw’s toast is interrupted by a returning Iron Man. Causing him to spill a rather exquisite vintage of whatever was in the goblet, the Claw promises his most horrifying monster next!
Before we see said beast, we’re given a recap on Roxie Gilbert and Marty March who were last seen coming into a hidden city that the latter helped build. Showing their gratitude, the city’s leaders have now captured both Marty and the Annoying Hippy. And don’t worry. This plot line is only two issues - four months on a bi-monthly schedule - from a resolution.
But that diversion gives the Claw time to introduce Iron Man to a standing, purple cockroach with huge fangs. Worse - it spits radioactive flames! However, our quick-thinking hero deals with that by jetting through the poor mutation’s body, using its blood to put out those flames. Of course, that same blood is akin to an acid that could eat through our guy’s armor. This necessitates finding a conveniently placed pool where he can dilute those chemicals…before returning again to the Claw.
This time, our Saturday Morning Villain’s not alone. The Black Lama makes his first appearance in seventeen issues. Iron Man’s response is to tell the Claw that he’s going after the Black Lama because he’s a greater threat. (Gee, you’re correct, Iron Man. Still couldn’t you have phrased that in a way that didn’t hurt the Claw’s feelings?)
A repulsor ray goes through the intangible Lama and into the castle’s main generator, prompting a quick end this adventure since everyone has to exit the castle before it blows sky-high - just like the HQ’s of Metallus or Zorak or any of Space Ghost’s major villains at the end of the episode! Unfortunately, some fast skywriting from the Claw tells our hero that he’ll be back!
Iron Man then heads to Stark Industries’ Manilla plant - completely forgetting poor Roxie - his mind preoccupied with concerns about dealing something the scope of the Super-Villain War on his lonesome. Not that anyone said he couldn’t bring in the Avengers. Anyway, such doubts are erased when he’s greeted by the newly reconciled Pepper and Happy.
That leaves only a caption telling us that next issue has our hero at the 1974 San Diego Comic Con. It’s an issue I’ve dreaded reviewing because I really disliked it as a kid for several reasons.
How do I feel about it five decades later? Find out next week!
Story
High five to Mike Friedrich for crafting a story that worked in spite of a villain I can't stand. Just like those classic cartoons I so cherished, he wisely used a lot of action to cover any potential flaws in the story. Even though I really can’t take the Claw seriously, I had fun seeing how Iron Man emerged victorious over whatever monster, construct or mutation he faced. I also was pleased to see the Black Lama return. A feeling that, unfortunately, will soon change. Likewise, it was good for Happy to admit his mistakes with Pepper wanting a career. Not sure why our hero didn’t immediately check on the Annoying Hippy after the Claw had departed. But again, that storyline is winding towards its conclusion.
Along with everything else, this issue had me looking forward to more of the upcoming “Super-Villain War.” 6/10
Art
Maybe it's the opportunity to draw absurd looking monsters, but the art was an improvement over the past several issues - although nothing can make me like that dreadful looking faceplate. Gone were also the poorly drawn panels that popped up too often in the previous issues as well. Much more consistent - meaning good story telling dotted with all the regular poses and expression from the House of Tuska-Esposito. 5/10
Wimp Factor
Aside from playing Gulliver to the Lilliputian robots, Iron Man confidently handled whatever silliness the Claw dished out. Only one mention of his heart. That’ll get down to 3/10.
Villain Rating
Although it requires considerable effort to overlook that racist yellow skin tone and those offensive Fu Manchu tropes, the Claw did make a good “Saturday Morning Villain.” I still can't believe he actually prevailed over the Mandarin, but his toys did manage to keep our hero busy for an entire issue. 5/10
Overall Rating
If I’m comparing this to the Superfriends circa 1973, it’s manna from Heaven! But compared to the other comics I was reading at the time, it earns a respectable 6/10
Additional Nuts & Bolts
On the same day this issue was released, Giant-Size Avengers #2 also hit the stands. That particular comic immediately became and remains a personal classic for several reasons that I will share in a special post on Wednesday, September 16. I invite all of you to read it and offer your thoughts.
Whether we like it or not, the Claw returns in #75 to face the winner of Round Two of the Super-Villain War. (And once again, note that I refuse to call him by the name used in the comic book for what should be obvious reasons.)
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