Tales of Suspense #42

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Cover Date: June 1963

Plot Overview: Iron Man catches several Communist agents in an FBI sting operation and hears the name the Red Barbarian. A short while later Tony Stark shows off his new disintegrator ray. U.S. officials comment that the Communists would love to get their hands on this new technology.

Meanwhile behind the Iron Curtain, the Red Barbarian is approached by the Actor. The Actor can impersonate anyone that he sees just once and he wants to steal the plans for the Barbarian. The Actor departs for the U.S. and uses his abilities to summon Tony Stark to Washington D.C. for a fake meeting.

The Actor uses the chance to impersonate Tony Stark and gain access to his secret lab. The Actor figures out that Tony Stark is Iron Man while searching for the plans. The Actor finds the plans and leaves behind some Communist agents to assassinate Tony Stark. Stark arrives shortly and the agents attack. Their bullets have no effect because of the chestplate Tony Stark wears. Stark turns out the lights and becomes Iron Man. He grabs the agents and they tell him about the Actor stealing the plans.

Iron Man uses a rocket to get to Russia ahead of the Actor. He captures the Actor while he travels to meet the Red Barbarian. Iron Man then departs and approaches the Red Barbarian pretending to be the Actor. Iron Man hands the Red Barbarian a case and tells him that he needs to wait 4 hours for it to open and then departs.

Iron Man frees the Actor who then runs to the Red Barbarian. The Actor tells the Barbarian his story but the Barbarian thinks the Actor is trying to trick him. The Actor tries to reveal Iron Man's true identity but the Barbarian has him killed before he can communicate the information.

My Take: This was kind of a weird comic. The villains got a ton of screen time and Iron Man actually kind of felt like an afterthought when the issue was all said and done. It kind of felt that the issue was mostly from the perspective of the actor.

This issue was a fun read. It didn't get too bogged down in exposition. The story moved at a fast pace and it was pretty straightforward. The end was also a pleasant surprise as Iron Man used trickery instead of brawn to win the day. And it didn't feel too contrived.

My main complaint is that Tony Stark and Iron Man needed a little more screen time. This is only Iron Man's fourth appearance and he really didn't get much character development in the issue. It felt different from the way the past 2 issues had worked. But that's really a minor complaint from me.

I'd give this **1/2 out of *****.

Notes: The Red Barbarian and the Actor first appear in this issue but I don't think they ever show up in another comic.

Next Issue: Journey Into Mystery #93

Posted in: Iron Man,Tales of Suspense