Tuesday, February 6, 2007

The Stronghold Of Doctor Strange!

(No, not that Doctor Strange!)

Tales of Suspense 041

Super-villain dad Doctor Strange threatens the world with extinction in a stunt to win back the love of his daughter, Carla. Only Iron Man can penetrate Strange's titular stronghold and save us from his arsenal of 200-megaton "S-Bombs".

Notes:
  • Apparently no longer terrifying to small children, Iron Man entertains the patients in an orphan's hospital by juggling cars in mid-air with magnetic fields. He also demonstrates the armor's ability to withstand cannon fire.
  • Disgusted by her father's villainy, Carla betrays him by tossing Tony some flashlight batteries to recharge his armor at a critical moment. The armor still seems dangerously unreliable.
  • The story presents Doctor Strange as an established villain, prompting the reader to wonder "Do I know this guy?" Strange is an accomplished nobody, however, with his own private island protected by an army of seedy types and a force field that can withstand an atom bomb. He also posseses hypnotic ability as a result of being struck by lightning. He escapes capture while Tony fiddles with the Energizers.
  • A silly, slapdash story plotted by Stan Lee and scripted by somebody called "R. Berns". A slightly better showing from Kirby, with Heck inks.

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