Sidebar
 
Character Search
 
SuperMegaMonkey's Marvel Comics Chronology
Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
  Secret: Click here to toggle sidebar

 Search issues only
Advanced Search

SuperMegaMonkey
Godzilla Timeline

The Rules
Q&As
Quality Rating
Acknowledgements
Recent Updates
What's Missing?
General Comments
Forum

Comments page

1981-05-01 00:09:10
Previous:
Hulk #261
Up:
Main

1981 / Box 16 / EiC: Jim Shooter

Next:
Hulk #262

Iron Man #146-147

Issue(s): Iron Man #146, Iron Man #147
Cover Date: May-Jun 81
Title: "Blacklash ...and the burning!" / "Holocaust at high noon!"
Credits:
David Michelinie & Bob Layton - Plot
David Michelinie - Script
John Romita Jr. - Penciler
Bob Layton - Inker

Review/plot:
Whiplash must think he has a branding problem, because he tries to get people to call him Backlash Blacklash...

...during this arc, and he has a new costume as well. Apparently. Without going back and comparing, the costume looks just about the same to me with a different color scheme.

(Whoops. Why Blacklash? His costume is blue and purple. OK, i guess the middle section is actually black and not just covered in shadow. When i thought it was Backlash, i figured that made sense, although i don't know why he'd change it from Whiplash. Blacklash, i don't even really understand.)

The nun-chucks, on the other hand, are definitely new.

Beyond that, I don't know why he feels the need to re-name himself. This is a guy that goes up against one of the Marvel Universe's most powerful, heavily armored super-heroes with nothing more than a tricked-out whip...

...and generally has a good showing. This arc, he pretty much destroys Stark Industries' main compound. That's not bad!

I suppose we can look to Blacklash's home life for reasons for his lack of self-confidence.

Yvette Avril, from Stark's French office, is made vice president of SE.

Bethany Cabe is heading out for Germany as a result of her visit to the West German Embassy last issue, and she's not telling Tony about it.

Michelinie and Layton do a great job using the staff of Stark Industries to deliver layered plots and good character moments.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

  • Stark tries to have some photographs made that prove that Roxxon was behind the 'anthrax' deaths shown in Iron Man #142-144, but they don't come out very well.
  • Bethany visited the German embassy in Iron Man #143.
  • Whiplash was actually after Vic Martinelli because of some trouble he's had with organized crime in the past. He briefly worked at Williams Innovation before it was taken over by the Maggia as shown in Marvel Premiere #55.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Inbound References (6): show

  • Iron Man #149-150
  • Iron Man #151
  • Iron Man #154
  • Iron Man #155
  • Iron Man #171-175
  • Marvel Team-Up #145

Characters Appearing: Artemus Pithins, Bethany Cabe, Iron Man, Ling McPherson, Mrs. Arbogast, Vic Martinelli, War Machine, Whiplash (Blacklash), Yvette Avril

Previous:
Hulk #261
Up:
Main

1981 / Box 16 / EiC: Jim Shooter

Next:
Hulk #262

Comments

It's kinda cute that there are super-villain "molls" like Marlene here. Makes sense in the MU. And we learn that the Melter was a better date than Blacklash.

Posted by: kveto from prague | December 15, 2013 5:54 PM

The new costume is definitely an upgrade for Blacklash. Not sure why the name change was done - but he certainly looks a lot better.

I agree that any villain willing to go up against Iron Man with a "whip" and more than holding his own, is sign of a good character. Unfortunately, outside the hands of Michelenie/Layton, writers did not treat him well.

Posted by: Chris | June 6, 2015 10:16 PM

Blacklash's accidental killing of Vic Martinelli's cute little dog provoked some angry responses on the letters page a few issues later.

Posted by: Omar Karindu | April 14, 2017 9:39 PM




Post a comment

(Required & displayed)
(Required but not displayed)
(Not required)

Note: Please report typos and other obvious mistakes in the forum. Not here! :-)



Comments are now closed.

UPC Spider-Man
SuperMegaMonkey home | Comics Chronology home