Issue(s): Iron Man #177
Cover Date: Dec 83
Title: "Have armor will travel"
Credits:
Denny O'Neil - Writer
Luke McDonnell - Penciler
Steven Mitchell - Inker
Mike Carlin - Assistant Editor
Mark Gruenwald - Editor

Review/plot:
James Rhodes has decided to try to start a business with the Erwin siblings, Morley and Cly. But they don't have any capital to get started. Rhodey comes up with the innovative solution of going to the Heroes for Hire...

...and taking a job protecting a man named Regis Fuskey, who has to travel to South America.

Turns out that Fuskey's job is to find out if a group of rebels have any outside contacts. And he's attacked by the Flying Tiger, who Iron Man is able to repel (after a tough fight complicated by the fact that the Tiger initially takes Rhodes' suitcase with his armor in it).

And the Tiger is working for General Coy, the uncle of the New Mutant Karma...

...which proves that the rebels do indeed have outside support. Iron Man gets $20,000 for the job...

...enough to start the business with the Erwins. But he starts getting the headaches that will plague him throughout his time as Iron Man.

Meanwhile, Tony Stark is brought into the hospital and detoxed. The doctor says it's up to him whether or not he goes back to drinking, and then kicks him out.

Not exactly demonstrating a good understanding of alcoholism there, doc.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• There's an obscure reference to the fact that the Tiger can't take any action in the United States, due to an agreement the General has with the Kingpin, which may be the result of the way things went down in Spider-Woman #46. Or i may be reading too much into things.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The title refers to the late 1950s TV Western "Have Gun, Will Travel".