{"id":34693,"date":"2026-01-07T09:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T09:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=34693"},"modified":"2026-01-06T18:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:23:18","slug":"invincible-iron-man-epic-collection-volume-7-1976-1978-ten-rings-to-rule-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/01\/07\/invincible-iron-man-epic-collection-volume-7-1976-1978-ten-rings-to-rule-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Invincible Iron Man Epic Collection volume 7 (1976-1978): Ten Rings to Rule the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Bill Mantlo<\/strong>, Gerry Conway<\/strong>, Herb Trimpe<\/strong>, Roger Stern<\/strong>, George Tuska<\/strong>, Keith Pollard<\/strong>, Keith Giffen<\/strong>, Carmine Infantino<\/strong>, Jeff Aclin<\/strong>, Mike Esposito<\/strong>, Don Perlin<\/strong>, Jack Abel<\/strong>, Fred Kida<\/strong>, Alfredo Alcala<\/strong>, Rudy Nebres<\/strong>, Bruce Patterson<\/strong>, Josef Rubinstein<\/strong>, Bob Wiacek<\/strong>, Pablo Marcos<\/strong>, Don Newton<\/strong> & various (MARVEL)
\nISBN: 978-1-3029-6059-9 (TPB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

Arch-technocrat and supreme survivor Tony Stark<\/em> has changed profile and rebuilt himself many times since debuting in Tales of Suspense<\/strong> #39 (March 1963). There and then, as a VIP visitor to Vietnam assessing the efficacy of munitions he had designed, the inventor was critically wounded and captured by sinister, savage Communists. Put to work building weapons with the dubious promise of medical assistance upon completion, Stark instead crafted the first of innumerable technologically-augmented protective suits to keep himself alive and deliver him from his oppressors. From there it was a simple – transistor-powered – jump to full time superheroics as a modern Knight in Shining Armour\u2026<\/p>\n

Conceived after the Cuban Missile Crisis at a time when Western economies were booming and \u201cCommie-bashing\u201d was America\u2019s obsession, a dashing new Thomas Edison employing Yankee ingenuity, wealth and invention to safeguard the Land of the Free and better the World seemed an obvious development. Combining then-sacrosanct faith that technology and business in unison could solve any problem, with the universal imagery of noble knights battling evil, Stark – the Invincible Iron Man<\/strong> – seemed an infallibly successful proposition.<\/p>\n

Of course, whilst he was the acceptable face of 1960s Capitalism – a glamorous, benevolent, rich, technocratic and all-conquering hero when clad in super-scientific armour – the turbulent tone of the 1970s soon relegated his suave, \u201ccan-do\u201d image to the dustbin of history. With ecological disaster and social catastrophe from myriad big business abuses new zeitgeists of the young, the Golden Avenger and Stark International were soon confronting some tricky questions from an increasingly politically savvy readership.<\/p>\n

With glamour, money and fancy gadgetry not quite so cool anymore the questing voices of a new generation of writers began posing uncomfortable questions in the pages of a series that was once a bastion of militarised America. Collectively accommodating cover-dates November 1976 to October 1978, this Epic chronological epistle completes that transitional period, reprinting Iron Man<\/strong> #92-114, plus Annual<\/strong> #4 and a guest yarn from Marvel Premiere<\/strong> #44 as Bill Mantlo\u2019s passionate writing triggered a minor renaissance in the Steel Sentinel\u2019s chrome-plated chronicles that resulted in some of the best stories of the Eighties era. It also returned Iron Man to the top-rank of Marvel stars.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a fan thanks to the movie interpretation, that iteration starts right here, right now\u2026
\n\"\"
\nThe mettle majesty opens with manic menace The Melter<\/em> who soon regrets an ill-advised grudge rematch in \u2018Burn, Hero… Burn!\u2019<\/em> (Gerry Conway, George Tuska & Jack Abel) before Herb Trimpe returns to plot and pencil Iron Man<\/strong> #93. Pitting Old Shellhead against a British-based modern-day pirate in \u2018Kraken Kills\u2019<\/em> (Conway script & Abel inks), the self-declared Commander deduces Stark\u2019s secret identity before blackmailing the inventor into building weapons for his super-submarine fleet. Never at a loss, though, Stark turns the tables, sparking \u2018Frenzy at Fifty Fathoms!\u2019<\/em> to scupper the madman\u2019s plans…<\/p>\n

Invincible Iron Man Annual<\/strong> #4 (August 1977) offers an all-action alliance with newly constituted super-team The Champions<\/strong> by Mantlo, Tuska & inker Don Perlin. When psychic assassin M.O.D.O.K.<\/em> overwhelms the Golden Avenger, Iron Man calls in old allies Black Widow<\/strong> and Hercules <\/strong>(plus teammates\u00a0Ghost Rider<\/strong>, Iceman<\/strong>, Darkstar<\/strong> and The Angel<\/strong>) to thwart \u2018The Doomsday Connection!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Also from that issue comes an out-of-place martial arts vignette by Roger Stern, Jeff Aclin & Don Newton. \u2018Death Lair!\u2019 <\/em>stars former Master of Kung Fu<\/strong> villain Midnight<\/em> on a mission of murder against old Iron Man enemy Half-Face<\/em>…<\/p>\n

The regular monthly climb to reclaimed pole position resumes with veteran Iron Man artist Tuska joining plotter Conway, scripter Mantlo and inker Perlin in unleashing giant android \u2018Ultimo!\u2019<\/em> (IM<\/strong> #95, cover-dated February 1977) against Washington DC. Clad in upgraded armour and in the Capitol to answer congressional questions about his company, Stark is targeted by a vengeful hidden nemesis who activates the mountainous monster for a classic B-movie sci fi rampage in the streets, with the Golden Avenger supplementing hard pressed Army and National Guard units\u2026 before falling in ignominious defeat due to sabotage\u2026<\/p>\n

Mantlo, Tuska & Abel prove you can\u2019t keep a good Iron Man down as the embattled hero rallies and retaliates in \u2018Only a Friend Can Save Him\u2019<\/em> as former close ally and dutiful S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell<\/em> joins the counterattack. Meanwhile, a long-simmering plotline advances as NYPD detective Michael O\u2019Brien<\/em> – who holds Stark responsible and accountable for the death of his brother Kevin<\/em> – finally allows his obsession with a cover-up to pull him across legal lines and into collusion with shady PI Harry Key<\/em>, whose latest client also has nasty plans for the playboy inventor\u2026<\/p>\n

Thanks to ingenuity and sheer guts, Stillwell & Iron Man seemingly destroy Ultimo deep below DC, but their triumph is short lived as a return to Stark\u2019s Long Island factory provokes a \u2018Showdown with the Guardsman!\u2019<\/em> (Conway, Mantlo, Tuska & Perlin). When Mike takes PA Krissy Longfellow<\/em> hostage, steals the armour suit that drove his brother insane and ambushes the Golden Avenger wearing it, the clash is swift and brutal. Thankfully this time, the blockbusting battle ends before another good man dies\u2026<\/p>\n

Whilst subsequently treating O\u2019Brien, another distraction comes when an old frenemy attacks the facility and US interventionist economic practises. \u2018Sunfire Strikes Again!\u2019<\/em> sees the Japanese ultra-nationalist mutant warrior again seek to derail progress, unaware that he\u2019s a pawn of the lurking presence gunning for Stark. However, the harried hero\u2019s problems start with the fact that his greatest weapon is offline and he\u2019s fighting in borrowed Guardsman armour. When the conflict frees imprisoned Michael O\u2019Brien, the cop seeks to make amends by joining the battle in an obsolete Iron Man outfit, but – even with Mike Esposito inking – the new allies rapidly find themselves \u2018At the Mercy of the Mandarin!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

During the melee, Key tries his luck in the Stark vaults once too often and encounters an unexpected problem, thanks to another insidious infiltrator planted by a different scheming mastermind. However, having freed himself, Tony is too now busy rushing to a far-distant, potentially world-ending final battle in anniversary issue #100. Invading China, Iron Man faces horrors, homunculi Death Squads<\/em>, nuclear armageddon and his most obsessive enemy whose \u2018Ten Rings to Rule the World!\u2019<\/em> ultimately prove insufficient to the task\u2026<\/p>\n

With the tyrant\u2019s countless plots to discredit Stark now exposed, our hero starts a long journey home, even as in Long Island, Harry Key, Sitwell and one of the traitors in Stark\u2019s midst begin a cautious espionage dance\u2026<\/p>\n

Iron Man\u2019s trip stalls when he\u2019s shot down over Yugoslavia (just google it) and awakens in a creepy old castle filled with freaks and outcasts safeguarded by a familiar – to elderly or dedicated Marvelites at least – huge and daunting figure. Recovering in \u2018Then Came the Monster!\u2019<\/em> our weary voyager views Castle Frankenstein and panics: clashing with the gentle \u201cModern Prometheus\u201d before the real menace emerges.<\/p>\n

Inked by Esposito & Pablo Marcos, \u2018Dreadknight and the Daughter of Creation!\u2019<\/em> channels old Marvel horror tales as a brutal and brutalised escaped experiment of Doctor Doom<\/strong>\u2019s laboratories seeks to compel the great granddaughter of Victor Frankenstein<\/em> to share with him the secrets of creating life\u2026
\n\"\"
\nThis ruthless high-tech paladin\u2019s sadistic efforts are eventually thwarted by Iron Man and the original (good) Monster, after which the Steel-Shod Sentinel at last arrives home in #103\u2019s \u2018Run for the Money!\u2019<\/em> by Mantlo, Tuska & Esposito. Sadly, it\u2019s just in time for the next domestic crisis as Sitwell exposes the traitor only to be captured by revolting corporate villain Midas<\/em>, who – patience exhausted – launches a truly hostile takeover using tanks, mercenaries, lawyers and the Stock Market\u2026<\/p>\n

He is temporarily checked by itinerant junior hero\/innocent bystander Jack of Hearts<\/strong> who – as per standard Marvel protocol – is attacked by weary, late arriving Iron Man who misconstrues events and assaults the well-meaning stranger. Shock follows shock as Midas\u2019 legal chicanery forces Iron Man\u2019s surrender, ceding control of Stark International to his enemy, even as the villain\u2019s agent and top lieutenant Madame Masque<\/em> quits to ally herself with the defeated hero and his ousted, outmanoeuvred alter ego Tony Stark.<\/p>\n

In the aftermath, repercussions of the takeover ripple outwards. With Stark no longer paying her bill, deeply disturbed super-telepath (and former Stark inamorata) Marianne Rodgers<\/em> is kicked out of the sanatorium that has been keeping her psionic deadly tendencies in check\u2026<\/p>\n

The fightback begins in \u2018Triad! <\/em>(Mantlo, Tuska & Esposito) after Stark initially refuses the help of Masque. Thus she instead allies with former lover\/patsy Sitwell whilst elsewhere, interested parties Michael O\u2019Brien and Jack of Hearts also seek to stop Midas converting Stark\u2019s purloined resources into a world-conquering armed force. Also heading slowly towards a showdown, Marianne graduates towards Long Island, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake\u2026<\/p>\n

With \u2018Every Hand Against Him!\u2019<\/em> and despite the stakes being so high, Tony has quit forever, preferring to hide in his father\u2019s old house with Madame Masque. Less sanguine over the crisis and National Security threat, many of Iron Man\u2019s allies join a volunteer force recruited by psychic superhero The Wraith<\/em> and eventually consisting of Police Captain Jean de Wolf<\/em>, former Iron Man stand-in Eddie March<\/em>, The Guardsman & Jack of Hearts, covertly backed up by Sitwell and (the first) Nick Fury<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

Still short of power, they co-opt through blackmail, Masque\u2019s lethal skills and Tony\u2019s last remaining armour suit to take out Midas. \u2018Then There Came a War!\u2019<\/em> (#106) sees the squad invade SI to face a legion of automated Iron Men. At the height of battle Marianne Rodgers – in a fugue state – finally reaches her destination. As Keith Pollard & Fred Kida step in to illustrate the catastrophic conclusion, \u2018And, in the End\u2026\u2019<\/em> sees her power tip the scales, uncovering even more treachery in Tony\u2019s inner circle and inspiring the despondent hero to take back his heritage, his company and his honour\u2026<\/p>\n

With most of his allies apparently dead, Iron Man calls in Avenging ally Yellowjacket <\/strong>(AKA original Ant-Man<\/strong> Henry Pym<\/em>) to help whip up a miracle cure in #108 (Mantlo, Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek). This incurs some \u2018Growing Pains!\u2019<\/em> and a palate-cleansing action-filled monster-bash as the clear-up somehow reactivates Kang the Conqueror<\/strong>\u2019s devastating Growing Man<\/em> android to add to the wreckage and rubble\u2026<\/p>\n

Once the fighting is finished, rebuilding Stark International begins, with Mantlo, Infantino & Kida dictating the pace prior to another crisis after Jack of Hearts traces the Growing Man\u2019s programming commands as emanating from Luna. Thus Iron Man and his superhero apprentice board a Quinjet and experiences a very painful \u2018Moonrise!\u2019<\/em> when their mission intersects a secret sortie by Soviet Super-soldiers Darkstar<\/em>, Vanguard<\/em> & Crimson Dynamo<\/em>. The Communist cosmonauts are only investigating a bizarre alien artefact, but entrenched political and personal animosities spark a savage clash. Both sides are preoccupied when the silver egg activates, transporting those closest to it – the Americans – to somewhere far, far away\u2026<\/p>\n

Mantlo, Pollard & Kida stretch their fantasy muscles in an astral epic as the heroes materialise aboard a vast ship bearing Colonizers of Rigel<\/em> to their next conquest. Sadly, these \u2018Sojourners Through Space!\u2019<\/em> have targeted Wundagore II – used by animal-enhancing man-made deity the High Evolutionary<\/strong> to store former experiments – and are soon caught up in a battle against formidable space Knights of Wundagore<\/em> and two devastating late-arriving, quickly escaping human captives within their colossal Command ship\u2026<\/p>\n

When an alliance of humans and hyper-evolved Earth beasts proves too costly, the Rigellian venture is called off in \u2018The Man, the Metal, and the Mayhem!\u2019 \u00a0<\/em>but this in turn leads to renegade Colonizer subcommander Arcturus<\/em> spitefully targeting Earth with a robot stolen from Galactus<\/strong> (the original Punisher<\/em> from Fantastic Four<\/strong> #48-50). Upon its despatch, closing instalment \u2018Moon Wars!\u2019<\/em> (IM <\/strong>#112, July 1978 by Mantlo, Pollard & Alfredo Alcala) sees a swift, unauthorised Colonizer strike prompt a desperate dash back to Luna and shattering descent to Detroit for Iron Man, resulting in blistering battle with the cosmic weapon of chastisement and a new definition of the word \u201cinvincible\u201d for the triumphant Golden Avenger\u2026<\/p>\n

With Mantlo scripting, Pollard layout pages and Trimpe\u2019s pencilling for inker Josef Rubinstein, Iron Man<\/strong> #113 trumpeted a fresh beginning for Stark International after defeating the bloody takeover bid of Mr Midas<\/em>. However, as the new complex opened for business, an old enemy is already infiltrating the company whilst a more brazen assault comes after a dying foe is manipulated into attacking the complex using \u2018The Horn of the Unicorn!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Seeking help for the beaten-and-at-death\u2019s door Unicorn, the Metal Marvel consults The Avengers<\/strong> and inadvertently triggers a second assault by the villain who also activates a long-interred robotic threat that seems agonisingly familiar in \u2018The Menace of\u2026 Arsenal!\u2019<\/em> (Mantlo, Giffen & Bruce D. Patterson) leading to a turning point moment you\u2019ll need the next book or another collection to enjoy…
\n\"\"
\nTo Be Continued…<\/p>\n

Here, however, one last narrative nubbin comes from Marvel Premiere<\/strong> #44 (October 1978): the one-shot try-out of Stark\u2019s former apprentice, by Mantlo, Giffen & Rudy Nebres). \u2018The Jack of Hearts!\u2019<\/em> reexamines the origin of trust fund brat Jack Hart<\/em>, who was inundated in the experimental \u201czero fluid\u201d invented by his murdered father. Seemingly resurrected and imbued with incredible energy and computational powers, Jack hunts The Corporation<\/em> who ordered the hit and here – thanks to new connection in S.H.I.E.L.D. – inconclusively clashes with their preferred hitman Hemlock<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

With covers throughout by Jack Kirby, Al Milgrom, Abel, Ron Wilson, Dan Adkins, Gil Kane, Dave Cockrum, Sal Buscema, Jim Starlin, Val Mayerik, George P\u00e9rez, Terry Austin, Frank Giacoia, Joe Sinnott, Joe Rubinstein, John Byrne, Wiacek, Pollard, John Romta Jr., Ed Hannigan & Frank Giacoia, other extras include house ads, cartoon fan letter \u2018Printed Circuits\u2019<\/em> (by Fred Hembeck from #112); editorial pages and style sheets from Marvel Premiere<\/strong> #44 and original art covers by Starlin, Mayerik & Cockrum.<\/p>\n

From our distant vantage point the polemical energy and impact might be dissipated, but the sheer quality of the comics and cool thrill of the eternal aspiration of man in perfect partnership with magic metal remains. These Fights \u2018n\u2019 Tights classics are amongst the most underrated but impressive tales of the period and are well worth your time, consideration and cold hard cash
\n\u00a9 2025 MARVEL.<\/p>\n

You\u2019d think we barely have room for a review this time as it\u2019s such an auspicious day for comics…<\/p>\n

In 1912 today creepy cartoon colossus Charles Addams<\/strong> was born, and in 1929 both Buck Rogers<\/strong> by Dick Calkins <\/strong>and Hal Foster<\/strong>\u2019s Tarzan<\/strong> strips debuted. In 1934 Alex Raymond <\/strong>& Don Moore<\/strong> launched Jungle Jim<\/strong> and a year later combined it with new idea Flash Gordon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Underground and Mad<\/strong> magazine artist Jay Lynch<\/strong> was born in 1945 and two years later Milton Caniff<\/strong> premiered his other masterpiece with the launch of Steve Canyon<\/strong>. That ran until 1988.<\/p>\n

In 1953, Bob Wiacek<\/strong> joined the party as did Karl Kesel<\/strong> in 1959, and publisher Fabrice Giger<\/strong> (Les Humano\u00efdes Associ\u00e9s<\/em><\/strong>) arrived in 1965. Surely by coincidence, two years after, that nativity was followed by the launch of Greg & Eddie Paape<\/strong>\u2019s Luc Orient<\/em> in Le Journal de Tintin<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Bill Mantlo, Gerry Conway, Herb Trimpe, Roger Stern, George Tuska, Keith Pollard, Keith Giffen, Carmine Infantino, Jeff Aclin, Mike Esposito, Don Perlin, Jack Abel, Fred Kida, Alfredo Alcala, Rudy Nebres, Bruce Patterson, Josef Rubinstein, Bob Wiacek, Pablo Marcos, Don Newton & various (MARVEL) ISBN: 978-1-3029-6059-9 (TPB\/Digital edition) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Invincible Iron Man Epic Collection volume 7 (1976-1978): Ten Rings to Rule the World”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[191,222,94,237,383,381,359,159,332,288,120,117,326,248,79,174,242,219,107,169],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-ant-man","category-avengers","category-black-widow","category-carmine-infantino","category-champions","category-frankenstein","category-ghost-rider","category-gil-kane","category-hercules","category-iron-man","category-jack-kirby","category-kung-fu","category-martial-arts","category-marvel-superheroes","category-nick-fury","category-pirates","category-s-h-i-e-l-d","category-science-fiction","category-spy-stories"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-91z","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34693"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34699,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34693\/revisions\/34699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}