TALES OF SUSPENSE #48: Iron Man Gets a Makeover

Published: December, 1963

First the big news: Iron Man gets a makeover! And boy oh boy, does he look refreshed! If Tyra Banks of America’s Next Top Model could get her pretty little mitts on Iron Man, she’d have one heck of a blockbuster show!

Remember how Iron Man started out in that awful gray tin can of a costume? After that, he looked shinier in gold (well yellow, actually, but use your imagination). But now we see him in gold and red, looking much more like the Iron Man we’re familiar with. There may be further developments down the road for Iron Man, but at this point, we have at last arrived at the “modern” Iron Man. Those of you who know what lies ahead for this character may be laughing yourselves silly at my simplistic comments, but still, you have to admit: Iron Man looks good.

That’s the big news, but there’s something else going on in this issue that really strikes me as both ridiculous and entertaining at the same time. Speaking of costumes, is it just me, or does anyone else find a delicious sense of irony in the whole idea of Iron Man taking exception to the physical appearance of this outing’s villain, Mr. Doll?

I especially like this sequence on page 2. Read carefully:

Huh? What? “A get up like that”? Isn’t this what your mother used to say about the pot calling the kettle black? I guess when Stark decides to don his “powerful guise,” somehow that’s not the same as what Mr. Doll is doing. Well, true. Iron Man does look powerful. Mr. Doll just looks…ridiculous.

But really, what can you say about this guy? He dresses like a Jester Academy drop out, and his superpower seems suspiciously like that of Alicia Masters’ stepfather, the Puppet Master. Doll has been using a…doll…which is really a “figurine” of some indeterminate substance, on which he alters the facial features to resemble anyone he wishes to victimize.

After his first run-in with Doll, Stark questions his commitment to his Iron Man activities, but eventually decides, “I prefer death to admitting defeat at the hands of a menace like Mr. Doll!” Yeah, that would be pretty embarrassing, wouldn’t it? There might be some honor in being conquered by Doctor Doom, Loki, or Magneto…but defeat at the hands of Mr. Doll? Don’t want that on your superhero resumé!

So, my question: Why not call him Mr. VooDoo? Or Dr. VooDoo? Wouldn’t that feel stronger, more menacing? Or was the word “VooDoo” taboo under the Comics Code, along with words like vampire, werewolf and zombie? I understand it’s difficult to create villains of mettle when huge portions of the English language are unavailable, but with Mr. Doll, it just seems Stan simply gave up and said, “Enough! I’m going to the house.” When wealthy businessman Carter relays his story to the police, and they acknowledge that Mr. Doll is a “whacky [sic] name,” this must be Stan’s way of saying, Yeah, yeah, I know…I’ll do better next time, I promise.

Mr. Doll uses his doll to manipulate the richest men in town by causing them unbearable pain, until they agree to sign over their fortunes to him, “everything in writing, nice and legal.” Of course, when Doll sets his sights on Tony Stark, he must first deal with Iron Man.

So Mr. Doll paralyzes Iron Man, then takes a moment to refashion the doll’s face to resemble Tony Stark. He warns Iron Man not to move, since “I can alter my doll to resemble you in seconds, and bring you back on your knees!”

So here’s my problem: We understand that because Iron Man and Tony Stark are one and the same, there will never be a moment in this scenario when Mr. Doll is in danger, BUT…Mr. Doll isn’t in on the big secret! How bold (or how stupid) is he, that he feels comfortable releasing Iron Man from his spell, even momentarily?

Doll should realize that Iron Man could jump him and secure the figurine in less time than it would take to rework the face. He can only threaten one person at a time, and he doesn’t have super strength or super speed. He just has…a doll. So why does he take the chance?

I’m disappointed in the logistics of this story. Not impressed by this villain, and not really impressed with Iron Man’s solution to the problem. A transistor-powered force beam that can remold matter from a distance? Ha! Should have seen that one coming—or at least something like that. It’s just too predictable.

No, the real star of this story is Iron Man’s new suit. Stark makes the decision to lighten and brighten when he realizes that his current suit is too heavy, weighs him down and “saps too much energy.” Locking himself in his private lab, Stark works “as few men have ever worked before!” to fashion the new suit. And when it is fashioned, we are treated to a fashion show:

I love the attention to detail in this spread. I love the way the pieces of Iron Man’s new suit “click” into place. The best part of all this, however, is when Stark explains on the next page that his new mask allows his expression to psychologically instill fear in the hearts of his enemies. LOL! Because facing off against a man in an iron suit is only SEMI-terrifying, if you can’t see his eyes.

And of course, I love the colors. What a feast of red and yellow! Coming up in my Meanwhile… post for December, 1963, I’ll make fun of the Hate Monger for wearing a big yellow H on his chest. So why is it okay for Iron Man to sport a lot of yellow in his costume? Well, first of all, Iron Man doesn’t wear a big I on his chest, just in case he forgets his superhero codename. Also, we know it’s not really yellow, it’s gold. Perhaps it would have served Steve Ditko well, if the color gold had been available on his pallet back in 1963. I guess it took a bit of imagination for the comic readers to envision the details of what Iron Man must have looked like, and how easily this new suit form-fitted Stark’s body.

Yes, back in the day, imagination was essential. Today, all we need is our eyes:

In addition to all this, as we know from past issues, Pepper Potts has a crush on the boss. When Tony needs to slip out the back door, he convinces his guard to leave him alone with Pepper for a few moments, because he wants to ask her out on a date. Hearing this, Pepper gets all googly. Happy, of course, does not look happy. But then again, he never does.

Alas! It’s all a ruse, a “powerful guise,” if you will, so Stark can gain the privacy he needs—not to romance Pepper, but to slip into his Iron Man persona. Now, I understand he had to do something to get away from the guard, but isn’t that exceptionally cruel of Stark? Isn’t he aware that Pepper has feelings for him? Well, if he wasn’t aware before, he is now.

And so, in addition to a new and improved superhero, we also have another episode in the Stark Industries Love Triangle soap opera. I’m sure there’ll be lots more fun in store for Iron Man, now that he can assemble more quickly, move with greater agility, and last longer without poor Tony Stark’s heart giving out.

I’m just not sure the same can be said for Pepper.

So this has been a time of monumental change for Iron Man, but the fun doesn’t stop here! Another hero will experience a bout of growing pains, as events spin wildly out of control, next time we venture into the topsy-turvy Marvelous Zone!! Be sure to join me!