Issue(s): Iron Man #196
Cover Date: Jul 85
Title: N/A
Credits:
Denny O'Neil - Writer
Rich Buckler - Penciler
Ian Akin & Brian Garvey - Inker
Howard Mackie - Assistant Editor
Mark Gruenwald - Editor

Review/plot:
James Rhodes left the Iron Man armor in the mystical dimension Shaman brought him to last issue, and now he realizes that since the armor doesn't actually belong to him, that probably wasn't the right move. But Shaman says he can't go back for it.

Even if they could go back, it wouldn't matter, because the armor has been found by a being called the Omnos.

Meanwhile, poor enslaved Godzilla (who i've decided looks like Titanosaurus in his mutated-for-copyright-reasons form) has found the version of the Iron Man suit that Tony Stark lost during their previous battle, and brought it back to Dr. Demonicus.

Dr. Demonicus immediately demonstrates why he's not a top-tier super-villain. He's got a Godzilla at his command, and he's growing additional monsters in vats...

...but when he gets his hands on some second-rate, hastily-put-together Iron Man armor based on an outdated design, he drops everything to put on the suit and go out on a rampage.

Meanwhile, Tony Stark hears about the Iron Man suit worn by Omnos, which is now on Earth and flying with disregard to other objects in the sky (including some poor people on a balloon ride). He and Rhody are at the West Coast Avengers compound, but even though Hawkeye is around, Stark decides that he needs to go stop the runaway suit on his own. He's been working on a new suit of armor, but it's not finished, so he puts on just the gloves and power pack, and combines it with a deliberately ludicrous outfit that seems to be made out of an old Nomad costume, Hawkeye's boots, and maybe a Speed Racer helmet.

Hawkeye and Rhodey suggest that he call himself Spare Parts Man or Nothing-In-Particular Man. In the spirit of Major Mapleleaf, i'm surprised that characters with those names didn't eventually get introduced (it's never too late).

The two imposter Iron Men eventually get into it...

...and Tony Stark uses his gloves to stop their fighting.

Demonicus is apprehended, but when the other suit is opened, the Omnos spirit is released.

Obviously this issue is on the silly side, but it's fun. Rich Buckler's art isn't as great as Luke McDonnell's, but it's not bad.

One thing i really don't like is the way Cly Erwin is treated. We've seen her developing an attraction to Tony, but it's poorly handled in this issue, with her preventing her brother from telling Tony about Bethany Cabe's recent visit. Not how i'd expect Clytemnestra to behave.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Rhodey is still with Shaman at the beginning of this issue, so neither character should appear elsewhere in between. Rhodey's Iron Man suit was left behind in a mystical dimension last issue, and Rhodey gets it back towards the end of this issue. Tony Stark shaves his beard in this issue.

References:

• Tony Stark lost his grey Iron Man suit during the battle with Godzilla in Iron Man #193-194.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Tony's hood looks like it came from mid-1960s Giant-Man.

The helmet is probably that of Tales to Astonish #67-69 (a similar one with antennas was used in Avengers #14-15). The hood looks like one of Goliath's as well. Except for the color scheme, it may easily be the one used in Avengers #28-#46.