Review: Iron Man #73
Disappointment - Thy Name is Iron Man #73!
“Before we launch into this week’s review, I have with me Alex Nevsky, the Crimson Dynamo, long-time Iron Man opponent and featured villain in this issue. First, I want to thank you for agreeing to this interview, Mr. Nevsky. It’s been quite a few years since anyone’s heard from you.”
“That is true."
“So where have you been all these years? Word was that the KGB had assassinated you after the next issue of Iron Man.”
“Well, after Iron Man got lucky in this issue, I decided to retire from the supervillain game and instead focus on my electronics skills, doing so under a new identity. One that would keep me one step ahead of Soviet agents.”
“What happened from there?”
“I went into hiding in South Africa. While I was there, I found work with some guy named Elon. Using some of my expertise, I helped develop an electric car as well as some satellite tech. After that, Elon kept me around for other projects, including what you may recall as DOGE."
"You mean the Department of Government Efficiency that created all that turmoil in early 2025?"
“Let's just say that being part of DOGE allowed me to do more damage to the United State government than all my years working as an uncover agent for Russia.”
“Speaking of Russia, what is your status with your home country?”
“Couldn’t be better. I met with Vladamir Putin just last week and we’ve patched up everything. In fact, he’s so pleased that I reached out to him, that he sent me a special bottle of vodka that I’m about to taste now.”
“Stop! Don’t drink that!”
“Gaaahhh!”
“Mr. Nevsky? Mr. Nevsky? Guess we’ve reached the end of our interview. Be here next time when I ask Roxanne Gilbert if there’s any truth to the rumors about her and Neil Young at Woodstock.”
Iron Man #73 stands out as a comic book that I couldn’t wait to read. It had a rematch between our hero and the Crimson Dynamo - one of my all-time favorite Iron Man villains! Likely cameos from the Titanium Man and Radioactive Man. A new artist! And a return to monthly status! I could not wait for this one to come out!
But that’s what I did. Wait. For nearly four months. Distribution of Iron Man had fallen off where I lived, meaning this issue never arrived in any of the shops where I bought comic books. I finally finagled my way to a copy thanks to a trip to Portland just a couple weeks before #74’s arrival.
All that anticipation for an issue that unfortunately fell far short of my lofty expectations, breaking my fourteen-year-old heart with “Turnabout: A Most Foul Play”
Credits
Writer: Mike Friedrich (based on an idea from Tom Orzechowski)
Pencils: Arvell Jones & Keith Pollard
Inks: Jim Mooney
Colorist: Stan Goldberg
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Len Wein
Cover Art: Gil Kane & Frank Giacoia
Release Date: December 24, 1974
Synopsis
Artist George Tuska is clearly no longer in the building!
That was my first thought when I went from the distinctly dull Kane-Giacioa cover to our hero breaking out of his own building for some urgent business. At that point, I couldn’t decide if that art was good or bad. Curious to get on to that promised rumble between my hero and the Crimson Dynamo, I decided I’d simply consider Arvell Jones and Keith Pollard’s art as … different.
But instead of Iron Man flying out the window for that overdue rematch, we learn that he’s hurrying off to deal with a less-than-spinetingling steam explosion. We’re also informed that Stark Industries is now to be called Stark International.
All quite fascinating - but none of it has a damn thing to do with the Crimson Dynamo!
At least our hero has the decency to take off for Viet Nam once he’s sealed the steam leak. At the same time, Alex Nevsky learns that Roxie Gilbert’s imprisoned at an experimental city that he somehow knows about. How does he know about it? Who cares? Just get into that armor so that you and my favorite superhero can knock each other senseless!
Still more time is wasted with us seeing Roxie and Marty March still being held at gunpoint. All this to show that the mean guy in charge has a cute niece who has the hots for Marty. Whatever. Where’s my big fight?
Iron Man arrives at last for the showdown! But instead of he and the Dynamo going mano y mano, the armored Russian fires missiles from this hidden city at our guy.
Missiles? All our hero has to do is engage in some really awkward poses before steering them into a mountain. Yawn.
The Dynamo must’ve gotten the memo that it was time to do something! That “something” is a cloud of black smoke that allows one head butt into Iron Man’s knee. Instead of pressing any advantage, the Dynamo hits the sidelines long enough for our hero to dispel the smoke before unleashing a repuslor blast. Now we’re getting somewhere!
The Crimson Dynamo responds with a power pulse of his own that knocks Iron Man to the ground! Oh wow! Here comes the red-suited Russian to maintain the barrage! But our hero isn’t taking this laying down! He responds with a huge right cross that sends the Dynamo flying!
Now this is what I’d been waiting for!
Only, the Dynamo isn’t prepared for the power of Iron Man’s punch. Instead of answering it, he grabs what’s essentially a napalm bazooka. Of course, the flames from this weapon spill all over the city. Sharing in all of our disappointment over his now fleeing Soviet adversary, Iron Man devotes a page rescuing everyone.
And … that’s it? Twelve panels for the battle I waited nearly four months to read! And so badly drawn that I wanted Tuska and Esposito back!
The rest of the issue has the leader of that hidden city tumble into a pit of spikes - ending any chance he had of appearing in a future MCU project. From there, it's learning that Marty intends to remain in the Hidden City. Having been kept on the sidelines for several issues, the Annoying Hippy immediately reverts back to her ungrateful self, asking Iron Man if he’s going to call Marty a deserter. Actually, that’s not up to Iron Man or Tony Stark. That’s more of a legal matter for the military to decide.
With that all put to bed, our final page has Roxanne pondering a growing intrigue about the man behind the Iron Mask and our hero planning to deal with the upcoming “Super-Villain War.” Along those lines, we’re told that the next issue features Modok fighting The Thinker!
Not quite Dr. Doom vs. Magneto, but better than the Toad tackling the Ringmaster.
Story
On the plus side, this issue finally brought closure to a storyline initiated back in #67. But that’s really about it. The outcome left too many unresolved questions. What was the purpose of the hidden city? What was the Titanic Three’s connection to it?
Then we get to our main antagonist who simply failed to perform.
And I'm still wondering why Iron Man's not sought out the Titanium Man? He's the guy who actually killed Janice Cord back in #22.
Also disappointing is the minimal backstory on Marty March. We know he was wounded in the war, but nothing about his desertion to build any support or understanding.
While it was good to reference the upcoming Super-Villain War, wouldn’t it have been more interesting to have either The Thinker or MODOK learn that they’d be facing off against each other in lieu of reading it in the final panel?
Once again, too many missed opportunities hold this one down. 4/10
Art
Both Arvell Jones and Keith Pollard went on to solid careers as comic book artists. Pollard took over this book a few years later and became the penciller for Spider-Man, Thor and the Fantastic Four. Given that, it’s hard to believe just how weak their art was on this issue. Through no fault of his own, I don’t think Jim Mooney was the right choice as inker. But he’s not responsible for the awkward postures, bland backgrounds, indistinguishable faces, limited expressions and poorly choreographed fight scenes. Best way I can describe it is that neither Jones nor Pollard were ready to move from the minor league into the majors. 3/10
Wimp Factor
When it appeared that Iron Man’s greatest challenge wasn’t from either missiles or the main villain, but a ruptured steam line, I’d say we can safely rate the Wimp Factor pretty low. 1/10
Villain Rating
Crimson Dynamo, you came into this issue as one of my top Iron Man villains. I so looked forward to you and my favorite hero settling a fight that had been brewing since #22 and you’re done after barely a page? You resort to weapons? You run away? This rating hurts me more than you. 3/10
Overall Rating
Disappointment - thy name is Iron Man #73! 3/10
Additional Nuts & Bolts
For the first time in years, there’s a new Iron Man picture on the logo. It’s the visual for a molded figurine sold in 1974 - and no, I did not own one.
This is also the first issue of Iron Man with Len Wein as Marvel’s new Editor-in-Chief. Being a collector with over two years of knowledge, I knew of Wein as a good writer, having read his stories at both Marvel and DC.
We won’t see Marty March again until #297 in the early 1990’s.
This issue was it for Alex Nevsky. According to a much later Marvel Handbook, the KGB assassinated Kevsky. Regardless, less than a year later, we had a new Crimson Dynamo (Yuri Petrovich) in Champions #7. In Iron Man #109, Dimitri Bukharin shows up as the fifth Crimson Dynamo, being a member of the Soviet Super Soldiers.
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