Issue(s): Iron Man #195
Cover Date: Jun 85
Title: "The thing most precious"
Credits:
Denny O'Neil - Writer
Luke McDonnell - Penciler
Ian Akin & Brian Garvey - Inker
Howard Mackie - Assistant Editor
Mark Gruenwald - Editor

Review/plot:
Henry Pym having failed him, James Rhodes tries Shaman from Alpha Flight for help with his headaches.

Shaman was given a heads-up by Pym's assistant Alice Nugent (which i still say is the greatest rock star parody name since Cheech & Chong's Alice Bowie).

Shaman plays a more traditional "wise mystic" role here than he does in Alpha Flight. Writer Denny O'Neil was also the Alpha Flight editor at this time so he'd be familiar enough with the character that i guess i shouldn't be concerned that Shaman is reduced to an ethnic stereotype, and i guess Shaman's a good character to go for this sort of plot, which has Rhodey going on a spiritual journey to find the cause of his pain.

After his vision quest, Rhodes learns that guilt over taking the armor was the source of his headaches...

...and he gives up the armor.

Cool Ditko/Starlin stuff.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye convinces Tony Stark to tinker around in the West Coast Avengers' facilities, with the thought that it'll lead to Stark getting back in the armor.

So things are being set up to reverse course and set Stark back up as Iron Man by issue #200.

This is Luke McDonnell's last issue. I've enjoyed his art on this book. For what it's worth, the "Question of the Month" in this months' lettercol is "Of all the work you've done for Marvel, which is your favorite", and while most respondents snarkily list the current or upcoming issue they're working on, McDonnell says it was Iron Man #182.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - James Rhodes learns the source of his headaches

Chronological Placement Considerations: Shaman is at his medical office at the Sarcee Reservation at the start of this issue, and there's nothing here that dictates placement.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

When I borrowed this to read during lunch in fifth grade, I was captivated! I came to the Rhodes tenure very late, but found the idea fascinating. Any of us could imagine wearing that armor, but the series is about what it takes to be Iron Man. Tony and Rhodey both were at interesting points in that identity journey. Stories had a spell binding relevance from the new reader seeing changes. And speaking of spells, that day I really did not conceive of the possible stereotypical mystic depiction, since I had no real idea of literary stereotypes as being such. There is an innocence in a time when you do not yet know people actually pursue some of the mysterious paths hinted of in four color, to say nothing of identifying ethnic otherness with fantastical qualities and projections. I enjoyed the nimble erudition present in a lot of O{Neil I[ve read. Comics are mind expanding at their best!

"For what it's worth, the "Question of the Month" in this months' lettercol is "Of all the work you've done for Marvel, which is your favorite", and while most respondents snarkily list the current or upcoming issue they're working on, McDonnell says it was Iron Man #182."

This feels like a good place to mention I once asked Jim Lee who was his least favorite character in Marvel to draw. Without hesitation he said Spider-Man. He hates the webs. It's nice when the talent give genuine answers.