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Essential Iron Man #1
Essential Iron Man, volume 1
The Essential Iron Man, Vol. 1: Tales of Suspense, No.39 - 72
528 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1964
18 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,566 books2,330 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 3, 2016
I really dig these Marvel Essential books, these thick paperbacks that reprint classic comics stories in black and white. This makes it cheaper than your standard trade paperback since it foregoes and the color and printed on newsprint.
I read Essential Iron Man Volume 1 expecting a lot classic superhero action. I got that more and more. Stan Lee was squeezing a lot of ideas. Given the time frame, the Cold War and spying references were expected. The romance angle caught me off guard. You never see these kind of stories anymore in modern comic books.
It is always great to revisit the original stories in their original forms, especially when I can read more than twenty issues under one cover.
I read Essential Iron Man Volume 1 expecting a lot classic superhero action. I got that more and more. Stan Lee was squeezing a lot of ideas. Given the time frame, the Cold War and spying references were expected. The romance angle caught me off guard. You never see these kind of stories anymore in modern comic books.
It is always great to revisit the original stories in their original forms, especially when I can read more than twenty issues under one cover.
February 17, 2013
Iron Man from the very beginning in all its hyperbolic grandeur! These are precious. Tony Stark's POW experience in Vietnam, creation of the awful first Iron Man suit, battles with enemies like "The Unicorn", "The Melter" (no shit!), "Gargantus" and the superb "Mandarin". Commies abound and the American dream is pursued in stopping the advance of the evil Reds at the hands of Iron Man. Blatant and repetitive exposition consume the panels, crushing the illustrations down into one quarter of the frame. In those days, Iron Man was a veritable Batman-utility belt of weird technological shit that he just happened to have on him at a particular moment and he'd gladly explain to you, in the midst of battle, of course, how it all works. Worth reading simply for the ridiculous dialogue and Cold War background which paints Reds as Mongoloid simpletons and the Chinese as conniving warlords. Has some Avengers stuff in it, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, etc. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2013
In an effort to pin down what it is I like (and dislike) about Iron Man, I'm going back and reading him from the beginning. I can say with certainty that Tony Stark was originally (a) kind of a prick and (b) pretty dull. As a kid I picked up a few issues from the beginning of the Michelinie/Layton run; I might be waiting until his backstory and supporting cast are fleshed out sufficiently to make me enjoy reading Iron Man stories.
September 21, 2020
Collected in a mammoth, 528-page black and white volume containing Tales of Suspense #39-72 where we see a Stan Lee & Don Hick & co create a new character with Tony Stark who falls into the hands of a Vietnamese crimelord who wants Starks knowhow and manages his prisoner so well that he can create Iron Man>.
The visuals of the harness do change during these early stories that is full of commie and red menace stories and are somewhat bland, but they are still a lot of fun as a window upon the past of our history, or better the US history. They are really enjoyable even if some of the villains are really weird, The Melter really?-
For anybody who enjoys the real roots of Marvel they are here in glorious B/W and a shedload of fun too.
The visuals of the harness do change during these early stories that is full of commie and red menace stories and are somewhat bland, but they are still a lot of fun as a window upon the past of our history, or better the US history. They are really enjoyable even if some of the villains are really weird, The Melter really?-
For anybody who enjoys the real roots of Marvel they are here in glorious B/W and a shedload of fun too.
March 2, 2023
Prve 34 epiozde nastale 1964. godine. Ako ste kao ja i volite da čitate o istoriji stripa i kako se razvijao neki heroj onda vam ovo može biti zanimljivo. Lepo se vidi kako se Iron Man razvijao i kako priče postaju duže, bolje, napetije i zanimljivije. Jako je ideološki obojeno u duhu Hladnog rata i jasna je podela na dobre i loše momke. Da ne pričam o ženskim likovima i Starkovoj sekretarici😁 Mene priče nisu očarale, ali mi je sa istorijskog aspekta jednog popularnog superheroja drago što sam pročitala.
May 23, 2013
The first volume in the Essential Iron Man series naturally features Shellhead's first appearances in Marvel Comics' Tales of Suspense.
These are some fun stories, even if a lot of them are somewhat forgettable. Iron Man battles a villain called Doctor Strange, a giant caveman robot and a mess o' Commies before getting into with his soon-to-be Rogues' Gallery: Crimson Dynamo, the Melter, the Mandarin, Mr. Doll ... okay, so even then, not all of them were classics. Captain America, the Angel (and the original X-Men) and Hawkeye the Archer (when he was a bad guy) also show up in these pages.
The artwork is a sixties' dream: Don Heck, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko all take turns at the helm, with Ditko re-designing Iron Man's golden armor into the red-and-yellow suit he was most associated with for the next 25 years.
While there are, as I mentioned, a lot of stories that read like filler, is actually is an "Essential" volume for once, for both fans of the Golden Avenger and Marvel Comics in general.
These are some fun stories, even if a lot of them are somewhat forgettable. Iron Man battles a villain called Doctor Strange, a giant caveman robot and a mess o' Commies before getting into with his soon-to-be Rogues' Gallery: Crimson Dynamo, the Melter, the Mandarin, Mr. Doll ... okay, so even then, not all of them were classics. Captain America, the Angel (and the original X-Men) and Hawkeye the Archer (when he was a bad guy) also show up in these pages.
The artwork is a sixties' dream: Don Heck, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko all take turns at the helm, with Ditko re-designing Iron Man's golden armor into the red-and-yellow suit he was most associated with for the next 25 years.
While there are, as I mentioned, a lot of stories that read like filler, is actually is an "Essential" volume for once, for both fans of the Golden Avenger and Marvel Comics in general.
July 21, 2018
Did not age well. This was when comic books were for children only. 'Reds' are evil and women are either shopping or in love. It got better towards the later issues, but I think I'm giving up on pre-80s Marvel.
January 7, 2018
Great fun! I read many of these stories in the 1970s as they would turn up in reprints, and then in the '80s I had amassed a small collection of the original TALES OF SUSPENSE comics, mostly the later, more affordable Gene Colan-illustrated issues. So reading this first ESSENTIAL volume gave me Shellhead's full story--and I loved it!
The earliest ones were comics intended only to be fun diversions. "Kala, Queen of the Netherworld" (TOS 43) and "The Mad Pharaoh" (TOS 44) were a couple of my favorite yarns that were certainly flushed down the memory hole once Stan Lee began consciously (and mercenarily) building the "Marvel Universe." I mean, Iron Man traveling back in time to meet Cleopatra, and Iron Man even making it onto an ancient hieroglyphic inscription? Fun stuff, but swept under the continuity carpet (along with such facts your history teacher never taught you, like the bashful, blue-eyed Thing inadvertently becoming the real Blackbeard the Pirate!). I preferred Robert Bernstein's stories over Stan Lee's. Bernstein's were standalone stories that were lighthearted and fantastical. Lee brought in the continued stories and--ugh!--the Tony-Pepper-Happy love triangle that grew wearisome very fast. I really think Lee was a frustrated soap opera scripter since he worked these star-crossed lover scenarios into virtually every title he wrote and they invariably brought the narrative to a slog.
I'm in the minority in really liking Iron Man's early, bulky armor with the shoulder antenna. I like the later ones, too, with the horns and the rivets down the face, both of which came and went quickly. Don Heck's scratchy art looks great in black and white. I credit these Essential volumes for giving me a greater appreciation of the art, which was often ill served by bad printing and overworked colorists. I had never read the Steve Ditko-illustrated issues, and was impressed by his work, even if it's rushed and lacking the attention he lavished on SPIDER-MAN and DR. STRANGE. Don Heck and Dick Ayers prevailed as the definitive Iron Man artists, however, though Mike Esposito was also a good inker of Heck. Wally Wood, who inked TOS #71, was just too overpowering an inker. I prefer him on DAREDEVIL, where he really shined in a handful of early issues. Interestingly, Gene Colan would come along and make a big impact on both DAREDEVIL and IRON MAN, though not in this first Essential collection.
Highly recommended for fans of great comic art and storytelling. Minus one star for Stan's turgid romances.
The earliest ones were comics intended only to be fun diversions. "Kala, Queen of the Netherworld" (TOS 43) and "The Mad Pharaoh" (TOS 44) were a couple of my favorite yarns that were certainly flushed down the memory hole once Stan Lee began consciously (and mercenarily) building the "Marvel Universe." I mean, Iron Man traveling back in time to meet Cleopatra, and Iron Man even making it onto an ancient hieroglyphic inscription? Fun stuff, but swept under the continuity carpet (along with such facts your history teacher never taught you, like the bashful, blue-eyed Thing inadvertently becoming the real Blackbeard the Pirate!). I preferred Robert Bernstein's stories over Stan Lee's. Bernstein's were standalone stories that were lighthearted and fantastical. Lee brought in the continued stories and--ugh!--the Tony-Pepper-Happy love triangle that grew wearisome very fast. I really think Lee was a frustrated soap opera scripter since he worked these star-crossed lover scenarios into virtually every title he wrote and they invariably brought the narrative to a slog.
I'm in the minority in really liking Iron Man's early, bulky armor with the shoulder antenna. I like the later ones, too, with the horns and the rivets down the face, both of which came and went quickly. Don Heck's scratchy art looks great in black and white. I credit these Essential volumes for giving me a greater appreciation of the art, which was often ill served by bad printing and overworked colorists. I had never read the Steve Ditko-illustrated issues, and was impressed by his work, even if it's rushed and lacking the attention he lavished on SPIDER-MAN and DR. STRANGE. Don Heck and Dick Ayers prevailed as the definitive Iron Man artists, however, though Mike Esposito was also a good inker of Heck. Wally Wood, who inked TOS #71, was just too overpowering an inker. I prefer him on DAREDEVIL, where he really shined in a handful of early issues. Interestingly, Gene Colan would come along and make a big impact on both DAREDEVIL and IRON MAN, though not in this first Essential collection.
Highly recommended for fans of great comic art and storytelling. Minus one star for Stan's turgid romances.
June 26, 2025
“What in the name of a thousand transistors — is that??!”
The first thing to get out of the way: Don’t play a drinking game that triggers every time you read the word “transistor”!
The second thing to get out of the way: #49 is a great issue, by far the best in this collection, and really Stan Lee’s finest work to this point. Its story begins with an absurd plot device to make Angel “evil”, but that sets up a stunning act of heroism from Iron Man as he sacrifices his life to force Angel to save him and prove there’s still good in the wayward mutant. It’s truly worthy of Luke Skywalker sacrificing himself in Return of the Jedi to force his father to find the good inside him and save his son, and predates it by 20 years. Plus Angel quips, “Can’t be that unthinking when you’re dealing with an X-Man, chum! Or should I say… an EX-X-MAN??!”
Look for: a villain called Doctor Strange who predates the hero (#41); Mister Doll, a poor person’s Puppet Master (#48); a Scarecrow to compete with DC (#51); a retitle to Tales of Suspense featuring the Power of Iron Man (#53); Iron Man’s roller wheels and a redesign to a worse helmet (#54); Iron Man staying earnest but becoming tortured (#56); an establishment that it’s been “years” since Iron Man’s earlier adventures! (#67); the Titanium Man watching Iron Man movies (#69); Happy guessing Iron Man’s secret identity (#70); and best of all, the Mad Thinker in the pose of Rodin’s Thinker! (#72)
Being an Avenger really is work. Before, Iron Man’s unexplained absence was grounds for a month suspension. Now, he’s excused if he notifies the Avenger on Duty in advance! (#60)
First appearances of: the Mandarin (#50); Black Widow (#52); and Hawkeye (#57).
MCU connections: the Latin name Gargantus (#40) is similar to Gargantos, the Shuma-Gorath stand-in in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; the attaché case holding the suit is familiar from Iron Man 2 (#54); and Tony Stark’s cousin Morgan is the namesake of MCU Tony’s daughter (#68).
The first thing to get out of the way: Don’t play a drinking game that triggers every time you read the word “transistor”!
The second thing to get out of the way: #49 is a great issue, by far the best in this collection, and really Stan Lee’s finest work to this point. Its story begins with an absurd plot device to make Angel “evil”, but that sets up a stunning act of heroism from Iron Man as he sacrifices his life to force Angel to save him and prove there’s still good in the wayward mutant. It’s truly worthy of Luke Skywalker sacrificing himself in Return of the Jedi to force his father to find the good inside him and save his son, and predates it by 20 years. Plus Angel quips, “Can’t be that unthinking when you’re dealing with an X-Man, chum! Or should I say… an EX-X-MAN??!”
Look for: a villain called Doctor Strange who predates the hero (#41); Mister Doll, a poor person’s Puppet Master (#48); a Scarecrow to compete with DC (#51); a retitle to Tales of Suspense featuring the Power of Iron Man (#53); Iron Man’s roller wheels and a redesign to a worse helmet (#54); Iron Man staying earnest but becoming tortured (#56); an establishment that it’s been “years” since Iron Man’s earlier adventures! (#67); the Titanium Man watching Iron Man movies (#69); Happy guessing Iron Man’s secret identity (#70); and best of all, the Mad Thinker in the pose of Rodin’s Thinker! (#72)
Being an Avenger really is work. Before, Iron Man’s unexplained absence was grounds for a month suspension. Now, he’s excused if he notifies the Avenger on Duty in advance! (#60)
First appearances of: the Mandarin (#50); Black Widow (#52); and Hawkeye (#57).
MCU connections: the Latin name Gargantus (#40) is similar to Gargantos, the Shuma-Gorath stand-in in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; the attaché case holding the suit is familiar from Iron Man 2 (#54); and Tony Stark’s cousin Morgan is the namesake of MCU Tony’s daughter (#68).
February 2, 2020
Phenomenal! My most favorite superhero of all time. How Iron(ic) that I would become the Port Hueneme (CA)'s man of steel, researching Pixburgh's still industry. These are issues that were out of my price-range as a kid & exorbitant now. I totes get Happy's fascination with a beauteous redhead (Pepper) & I hope that all works out.
Read
November 26, 2020best book to introduce boys to technology and mathematics (ironman defeats mandarin using math in two stories) the ideas are from popular sience magazine, popular mechanics magazine and science fiction movies
July 4, 2021
It was interesting to read the comics and see original story of Iron Man, but I probably would have enjoyed this more if I had been reading them as each issue came out.
January 10, 2013
To me, the most amazing fact about Iron Man is that it took him more than 5 years to get his own self-titled comic book. He premiered in Tales of Suspense #39 and continued to be the top feature or one of the top features until Issue 99 when the Magazine was named after Captain America and he was off for a one-shot magazine with Sub-mariner before getting his own in May 1968. This book collects Iron Man's first 34 adventures in Tales of Suspense.
Overall, they made for some pretty interesting reading. Due sharing Tales of Suspense, most of Iron Man's adventures were 13 pages long, with eight few being 18 (45, 47-49, 55-58). Even the 18 page story is less than heroes such as Spider-man, Daredevil, the FF were given for their own books. This led to plots being spread across multiple issues.
Still, long time fans of Iron Man will see some key introductions. Early Iron Man pals Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts entered in TOS #45, the Crimson Dynamo in #46, the Mandarin in #50, the Black Widow in #52, Hawkeye in #57, and Titanium Man in #69.
The nearly 3 years of Iron Man stories gives a great birds eye look at the development of the character. In Issue #39, Tony Stark is introduced as a billionaire who with the help of a good elderly scientist defeats the Communists who captured him by becoming Iron Man and finds himself condemned to live in his armor forever to stay alive.
By Issue 40, it'd turned into just the chestplate. In Issue 41, Iron Man would receive the first of many makeovers in his costume. The first makeover was changing from Silver to Gold (to show he had a heart of gold and to make him less like a sci-fi monster.) By issue 48, his armor looked very similar to what we had today. This is one case where not having color in these Essential Books does make a difference, as I'd love to see the colors in these transitions.
While Issue 39 advertised Tony as a tragic figure, this got lost in most early. For the first year, Iron Man seemed to be having his own golden age or trying out for DC. These are much more light-hearted fare with some odd science fiction and some odder science. My favorite scene remains the one where Tony sells the army rocket-powered roller skates that will allow soldiers to go down a sixty miles an hour. Just what they needed in the jungles of Vietnam.
Some of my favorite story archs in here included: 1) Mandarin Issue (#50, 54-55, 61-62): From the beginning, the Mandarin was a great villain, very powerful, and their first meeting with Iron Man fought to a standstill. Somewhat politically incorrect with the more oriental look, but still a great challenge to Iron Man.
2) The Captain America v. Iron Man Story (#58): A story that personifies Silver Age silliness. The Chameleon shows up at Stark's factory disguised as Captain America and tells him the real Captain America is actually the Chameleon disguised as Captain America.Iron Man proceeds to fight Cap. Captain America thinks its a joke and is expecting to see it on Candid Camera.The whole thing is resolved by Ant Man and Iron Man ends the story by quoting LBJ.
3) The Battle with Titanium Man (#69-#71): The Soviet Titanium Man challenges Iron Man to a duel. Iron Man fights him, but with the Soviet cheating, Iron Man will need a help from a supporting cast member who makes a big sacrifice, a moving story.
Beyond story lines and intros, this is a good collection. They come up with some great puzzles for Iron Man and while the villains are hit and miss, there's definitely some A material in here. I also love the Anti-Communist stuff and am adding an extra star for that. ("It's a feature not a bug.)
There are negatives. Some of the stories don't worry. The early incarnation of Hawkeye seems to be little more than Marvel's answer to Green Arrow. The blind hypnotic following of Black Widow makes the character seem weak and somewhat pathetic and he has no motivation other than a desire for attention for donning a costume. He has no reason for changing direction from costumed hero to costume villain other than the Black Widow asking him to.
The one other complaint I can have is that sufficient grounds for a secret identity weren't established. He's a public figure, Iron Man is his bodyguard. He says at one point he fears for his employees or for Pepper and Happy, but given that every criminal knows he hangs around Stark's factory that doesn't really cut it.
Overall, Iron Man is a fascinating character. Once again, Lee creates a character that thoughtfully prods us on how we judge other people. Like Spider-man and Daredevil, our assumptions can be wrong. Tony Stark, considered one of the most lucky men on earth is lonely, and his heart is one step away from stopping needing constant recharges. Tony is a fascinating character in that he jury rigs a device to take care of his heart and never considers turning to another doctor or scientist. It says that Tony is an accomplished man who thinks he can do anything and nearly can, but that do it alone attitude is going to be the source of a lot of grief.
Overall, they made for some pretty interesting reading. Due sharing Tales of Suspense, most of Iron Man's adventures were 13 pages long, with eight few being 18 (45, 47-49, 55-58). Even the 18 page story is less than heroes such as Spider-man, Daredevil, the FF were given for their own books. This led to plots being spread across multiple issues.
Still, long time fans of Iron Man will see some key introductions. Early Iron Man pals Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts entered in TOS #45, the Crimson Dynamo in #46, the Mandarin in #50, the Black Widow in #52, Hawkeye in #57, and Titanium Man in #69.
The nearly 3 years of Iron Man stories gives a great birds eye look at the development of the character. In Issue #39, Tony Stark is introduced as a billionaire who with the help of a good elderly scientist defeats the Communists who captured him by becoming Iron Man and finds himself condemned to live in his armor forever to stay alive.
By Issue 40, it'd turned into just the chestplate. In Issue 41, Iron Man would receive the first of many makeovers in his costume. The first makeover was changing from Silver to Gold (to show he had a heart of gold and to make him less like a sci-fi monster.) By issue 48, his armor looked very similar to what we had today. This is one case where not having color in these Essential Books does make a difference, as I'd love to see the colors in these transitions.
While Issue 39 advertised Tony as a tragic figure, this got lost in most early. For the first year, Iron Man seemed to be having his own golden age or trying out for DC. These are much more light-hearted fare with some odd science fiction and some odder science. My favorite scene remains the one where Tony sells the army rocket-powered roller skates that will allow soldiers to go down a sixty miles an hour. Just what they needed in the jungles of Vietnam.
Some of my favorite story archs in here included: 1) Mandarin Issue (#50, 54-55, 61-62): From the beginning, the Mandarin was a great villain, very powerful, and their first meeting with Iron Man fought to a standstill. Somewhat politically incorrect with the more oriental look, but still a great challenge to Iron Man.
2) The Captain America v. Iron Man Story (#58): A story that personifies Silver Age silliness. The Chameleon shows up at Stark's factory disguised as Captain America and tells him the real Captain America is actually the Chameleon disguised as Captain America.Iron Man proceeds to fight Cap. Captain America thinks its a joke and is expecting to see it on Candid Camera.The whole thing is resolved by Ant Man and Iron Man ends the story by quoting LBJ.
3) The Battle with Titanium Man (#69-#71): The Soviet Titanium Man challenges Iron Man to a duel. Iron Man fights him, but with the Soviet cheating, Iron Man will need a help from a supporting cast member who makes a big sacrifice, a moving story.
Beyond story lines and intros, this is a good collection. They come up with some great puzzles for Iron Man and while the villains are hit and miss, there's definitely some A material in here. I also love the Anti-Communist stuff and am adding an extra star for that. ("It's a feature not a bug.)
There are negatives. Some of the stories don't worry. The early incarnation of Hawkeye seems to be little more than Marvel's answer to Green Arrow. The blind hypnotic following of Black Widow makes the character seem weak and somewhat pathetic and he has no motivation other than a desire for attention for donning a costume. He has no reason for changing direction from costumed hero to costume villain other than the Black Widow asking him to.
The one other complaint I can have is that sufficient grounds for a secret identity weren't established. He's a public figure, Iron Man is his bodyguard. He says at one point he fears for his employees or for Pepper and Happy, but given that every criminal knows he hangs around Stark's factory that doesn't really cut it.
Overall, Iron Man is a fascinating character. Once again, Lee creates a character that thoughtfully prods us on how we judge other people. Like Spider-man and Daredevil, our assumptions can be wrong. Tony Stark, considered one of the most lucky men on earth is lonely, and his heart is one step away from stopping needing constant recharges. Tony is a fascinating character in that he jury rigs a device to take care of his heart and never considers turning to another doctor or scientist. It says that Tony is an accomplished man who thinks he can do anything and nearly can, but that do it alone attitude is going to be the source of a lot of grief.
January 12, 2023
Ol' Shellhead in his earliest appearances. Classic Marvel.
February 28, 2016
Reprints Tales of Suspense #39-72 (March 1963-December 1965). Industrialist and playboy Tony Stark is injured by an explosion leaving a piece of shrapnel headed to his heart. To save himself and avenge his ally Professor Yinsen, Tony Stark must create a suit of armor and becomes a hero. Now posing as his own bodyguard, Tony Stark is Iron Man!
Written by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Robert Bernstein, Don Rico, and Al Hartley with illustrations by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, Essential Iron Man Volume 1 collects the first part of Iron Man’s run in Tales of Suspense #39-72 before the character got his own title. Like all Essential volumes, the title is presented in black-and-white with more newsprint style paper than other higher grade trade paperbacks.
Iron Man was never my favorite character, and these early collections are rather simple stories like many of the early Marvel comics. The character has of course changed over the years since his origin originally has him injured in Vietnam. With the issues split between Iron Man and other tales and then Iron Man and Captain America beginning in Tales of Suspense #59 (November 1964), Iron Man doesn't have very long issues to develop.
This collection does feature some good guest appearances from the X-Men’s Angel and Captain America and some first appearances of classic characters. Kala in Tales of Suspense #43 (July 1963), Jack Frost aka in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963), the Crimson Dynamo in Tales of Suspense #46 (October 1963), the Melter in Tales of Suspense #47 (November 1963), The Mandarin in Tales of Suspense #50 (February 1964), the Scarecrow in Tales of Suspense #51 (March 1964), Black Widow in Tales of Suspense #52 (May 1964), the Unicorn in Tales of Suspense #56 (August 1964), Hawkeye in Tales of Suspense #57 (September 1964), and Titanium Man in Tales of Suspense #69 (September 1965) all have their first appearances in this volume. Iron Man allies Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan both first appear in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963) and become big players in both the lives of Iron Man and Tony Stark. Plus there is another villainous Doctor Strange in Tales of Suspense #41 (May 1963)…of course he never caught on.
Some of these first appearances are good...some aren't, but issues like Hawkeye and Black Widow (who were first villains when they premiered) are fun. The Mandarin also quickly jumps to the top of Iron Man’s villains since he had more personality than other characters like the Melter or Unicorn. Iron Man also does well with other “armored” villains like Titanium Man or Crimson Dynamo who have both changed over time with changes in the political atmosphere.
Essential Iron Man Volume 1 is better than I expected to be since I'm not a huge Iron Man fan. If you like the Iron Man films (which I like more than the character) or The Avengers, it is fun to see how Hollywood has updated and modified Stark for today’s world. As the title implies for Marvel’s fans, it really is an essential…unlike others in the line.
Written by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Robert Bernstein, Don Rico, and Al Hartley with illustrations by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, Essential Iron Man Volume 1 collects the first part of Iron Man’s run in Tales of Suspense #39-72 before the character got his own title. Like all Essential volumes, the title is presented in black-and-white with more newsprint style paper than other higher grade trade paperbacks.
Iron Man was never my favorite character, and these early collections are rather simple stories like many of the early Marvel comics. The character has of course changed over the years since his origin originally has him injured in Vietnam. With the issues split between Iron Man and other tales and then Iron Man and Captain America beginning in Tales of Suspense #59 (November 1964), Iron Man doesn't have very long issues to develop.
This collection does feature some good guest appearances from the X-Men’s Angel and Captain America and some first appearances of classic characters. Kala in Tales of Suspense #43 (July 1963), Jack Frost aka in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963), the Crimson Dynamo in Tales of Suspense #46 (October 1963), the Melter in Tales of Suspense #47 (November 1963), The Mandarin in Tales of Suspense #50 (February 1964), the Scarecrow in Tales of Suspense #51 (March 1964), Black Widow in Tales of Suspense #52 (May 1964), the Unicorn in Tales of Suspense #56 (August 1964), Hawkeye in Tales of Suspense #57 (September 1964), and Titanium Man in Tales of Suspense #69 (September 1965) all have their first appearances in this volume. Iron Man allies Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan both first appear in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963) and become big players in both the lives of Iron Man and Tony Stark. Plus there is another villainous Doctor Strange in Tales of Suspense #41 (May 1963)…of course he never caught on.
Some of these first appearances are good...some aren't, but issues like Hawkeye and Black Widow (who were first villains when they premiered) are fun. The Mandarin also quickly jumps to the top of Iron Man’s villains since he had more personality than other characters like the Melter or Unicorn. Iron Man also does well with other “armored” villains like Titanium Man or Crimson Dynamo who have both changed over time with changes in the political atmosphere.
Essential Iron Man Volume 1 is better than I expected to be since I'm not a huge Iron Man fan. If you like the Iron Man films (which I like more than the character) or The Avengers, it is fun to see how Hollywood has updated and modified Stark for today’s world. As the title implies for Marvel’s fans, it really is an essential…unlike others in the line.
April 24, 2015
Okay, this is the first... 40 or so issues of Iron Man, from 1962-65 or so. As a comic book, it sucks. Tone, pace, plot, story arc, it's all terrible except for the art. But, if you're wondering what kind of thing they thought was suitable for consumption for an 8-12 year old in the early to mid 60s, it's gold. Scientific illiteracy? Yuuup! Sexism? Boy howdy! Red scare era political jingoism? Sure nuff! Racism? Yeeeeah (on the Asian front; thanks 'Nam)!
When you think we haven't come a long way, when you have to explain to some fool that racism isn't "over", get something like this and give yourself some perspective.
Okay, one cool thing in this phone book, when Stan paints Ruskie politicians he made sure to emphasis how untrustworthy they are. Then when Stan portrays American politicians they are invariably making statements like "...I know Tony Stark is providing our military with the technological edge to beat the dirty reds, but this one time it seems his missiles don't work, therefor he must be a traitor." No matter how many times Tony comes through and saves the day, proves himself indispensable the second there's a hiccup in his plans they are ready to call the cops on him. Cool. And Tony's major Senatorial rival was "Senator Byrd", which begs the question, was Stan talking about Senator Robert Byrd who was a Senator from '59-10... You'd think Stan Lee would be for a West Virginian Democrat.
When you think we haven't come a long way, when you have to explain to some fool that racism isn't "over", get something like this and give yourself some perspective.
Okay, one cool thing in this phone book, when Stan paints Ruskie politicians he made sure to emphasis how untrustworthy they are. Then when Stan portrays American politicians they are invariably making statements like "...I know Tony Stark is providing our military with the technological edge to beat the dirty reds, but this one time it seems his missiles don't work, therefor he must be a traitor." No matter how many times Tony comes through and saves the day, proves himself indispensable the second there's a hiccup in his plans they are ready to call the cops on him. Cool. And Tony's major Senatorial rival was "Senator Byrd", which begs the question, was Stan talking about Senator Robert Byrd who was a Senator from '59-10... You'd think Stan Lee would be for a West Virginian Democrat.
March 9, 2012
I picked bought this online, thinking it would be a full-color reproduction of the original Iron Man stories. The first ding against it is that it is all black and white. I'm pretty sure the originals were in color, so I assume this was a cost-staving measure on Marvel's part. I definitely do not like it. There's something inherently wrong about publishing "four-color crack" in black and white.
(ASIDE: If a comic is originally black and white, I have nothing against it. I've read some wonderful, beautiful b&w comics.)
The other thing you should know is that these comics have not aged well. The writing is cornball at best. My wife had to keep reminding me that when these were published, only kids were reading them, so neither thought nor style was put into the prose and the plots. The villains were all Commies, the science is laughable, and the attitudes toward women were prehistoric.
I'd recommend this for anyone interested in Iron Man's origins, and for those curious to see how much comics have evolved over the years. If you're looking for good stories, strong characters, and well-wrought prose, however, you'd best skip this one.
(ASIDE: If a comic is originally black and white, I have nothing against it. I've read some wonderful, beautiful b&w comics.)
The other thing you should know is that these comics have not aged well. The writing is cornball at best. My wife had to keep reminding me that when these were published, only kids were reading them, so neither thought nor style was put into the prose and the plots. The villains were all Commies, the science is laughable, and the attitudes toward women were prehistoric.
I'd recommend this for anyone interested in Iron Man's origins, and for those curious to see how much comics have evolved over the years. If you're looking for good stories, strong characters, and well-wrought prose, however, you'd best skip this one.
June 10, 2014
While some of the quality (or lack thereof) can be laid at the feet of the time the stories were created, a good deal of it has to do with Iron Man being one of the Marvel b-team of characters, with consequent slapdash work on the art and stories. Rife with racism and sexism, this volume of the first Iron Man stories is best seen as a historical curiosity than anything else.
There's a lot of amusement value to be had, mind you, given Stan Lee's fumbling attempts to do the 1960s Spy-Fi thing. Readers will also be amused at the first appearance of The Black Widow...and her conspirator in anti-American mayhem, Boris. Yes, Boris and Natasha. Which means Tony Stark must be Moose, and Pepper Potts is Squirrel.
There's a lot of amusement value to be had, mind you, given Stan Lee's fumbling attempts to do the 1960s Spy-Fi thing. Readers will also be amused at the first appearance of The Black Widow...and her conspirator in anti-American mayhem, Boris. Yes, Boris and Natasha. Which means Tony Stark must be Moose, and Pepper Potts is Squirrel.
June 15, 2010
I picked this up when it I really wanted some new comics and this was all I could find at the book store.
The early stories are pretty weak until Stan Lee picks up full writing credit. They just didn't have much pizazz.
The evolution of the art for the side characters was interesting. Happy and Pepper Pots start off pretty homely (for comic book characters). But as they become more important to the stories and the romance is keyed up, they become more and more attractive.
The explanations for Stark's super technology is pretty amusing 40 years later. Transistors!
The early stories are pretty weak until Stan Lee picks up full writing credit. They just didn't have much pizazz.
The evolution of the art for the side characters was interesting. Happy and Pepper Pots start off pretty homely (for comic book characters). But as they become more important to the stories and the romance is keyed up, they become more and more attractive.
The explanations for Stark's super technology is pretty amusing 40 years later. Transistors!
March 5, 2009
IRONMAN!!! The original cheesy comic book! I honestly had only read the new ones that look like manga. If you didn't like those, this is much better. Ironman was fun to read and experience the cultural concerns at the time to the Chinese, Soviets, Koreans, Magical creatures, robots, circus freaks, chauffeurs. I loved this book but as you get into the later issues after this book they get worse. I couldn't find The essential iron man 2 because it was not in print any more.
September 27, 2012
I picked this up with the goal of reading through all of the Iron Man comics as best as possible. After you sift through some of the racism and sexism (common for the time period in which it was written I suppose?) about halfway through I actually found myself getting emotionally involved in the lives of Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, and Happy Hogan. I recommend this to anyone curious about how the popular superhero started out as well as an interesting study into the mind of early 1960s America.
June 3, 2019
I liked this collection, but mostly because I've been a huge Iron Man fan since I was a kid. The Cold War stereotypes about the Soviets and Chinese are entertaining and irritating in equal amounts. Enjoying this collection all relies on your ability to understand the context of the stories and to not judge the content too harshly based on comics standards of the 21st century.
July 29, 2013
Good times in the World of the original Iron Man. Seems old shell head shared comics space with Captain America. I'm after that one next. Fun, great old-timey art (a few of these are Kirby, the rest are mostly the under-rated Don Heck. )
Includes the Hawkeye and Black Widow origin stories!
Includes the Hawkeye and Black Widow origin stories!
January 29, 2014
Le originali prime storie dell'uomo di ferro. Per quanto naif le primissime storie restano interessanti, col tempo migliorano. Don Heck qui lavora meglio del solito, su avengers fosse stato a questi livelli.
inoltre le prime apparizioni di Occhio di Falco e della Vedova Nera nonché del Mandarino.
inoltre le prime apparizioni di Occhio di Falco e della Vedova Nera nonché del Mandarino.
November 19, 2013
Enjoyed getting in touch with the early Iron Man mythology. The early stories are a bit creaky, but the book develops its voice and style within the first year or so. I look forward to reading volume 2!
March 3, 2008
What can i say?...I like comics! And don't call me a nerd!
September 3, 2008
Man the old stories in comicbook-dom are lacking in nuance.
December 28, 2008
This book was a ton of fun to read. If you like nutty cold-war paranoia with your super heroics, then look no further.
January 1, 2009
For those interested in the original Iron Man issues, this is a decent enough place to start. No color, which is bogus, but the true first-time origin story is pretty cool to see.
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