Issue(s): Iron Man #42, Iron Man #43
Cover Date: Oct-Nov 71
Title: "When demons wail!" / "Doomprayer!"
Credits:
Gerry Conway - Writer
George Tuska - Penciler
Frank Giacoia / Dick Ayers - Inker

Review/plot:
Iron Man is arrested by the Senate Investigatory Committee that was looking into Stark and the other CEO last issue (to "prove his innocence", the other CEO, Ben Crandal, agreed to lure Iron Man out into the open so that he could be arrested). Iron Man agrees to be arrested so that things can be sorted out.

Then we get the weirdest transitional panel i've ever seen.

The "poignant" scene that comes next involves Mr. Kline's latest custom-built super-villain, Mikas (aka "Soulfather") attacking Tony Stark's ESPer girlfriend, Marianne Rodgers.

Soulfather manipulates Marianne's paranormal abilities to create illusions that lure Iron Man into breaking out of his jail cell.

It turns out the Senator that's been persecuting Stark is "Operative 12", an agent of Mr. Kline.

With Stark missing, Kevin O'Brien, one of Stark's engineers, dons a suit of armor that he developed as an emergency measure with Stark.

Meanwhile, the fight with Soulfather drags on. There's a text-heavy pin-up as Iron Man recovers from one of Mikas' attacks.

Iron Man uses up every last bit of energy in his armor, disabling the pacemaker that keeps his heart going, but he buries Soulfather in rubble and passes out just as O'Brien arrives.

O'Brien will soon be given the name "Guardsman", and the armor he's wearing will be passed on to his brother after his death, and then later used by guards at the super-villain prison called the Vault.

When Soulfather is first introduced, Mr. Kline asks him if the "Mutant Sector" has been treating him well. We'll never learn what that means, although i guess it's just the division of Mr. Kline's organization that creates all these super-villains (except the Man-Bull, who was created in a much less high-tech establishment).

The Soulfather wasn't a very inspired villain, and there's a lot of standing around posturing and a lot of illusionary demons during the fight. Little is revealed regarding Mr. Kline's motivations; indeed, Iron Man isn't even aware that someone is behind the recent super-villain attacks or the Senate inquiry.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - first Guardsman armor

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place after Mr. Kline was revealed to be an android in Daredevil #81.

References:

• Jasper Sitwell is recovering from injuries sustained in Iron Man #34 (no footnote).
  
• The fact that Mr. Kline is an android was revealed in Daredevil #81.

Crossover: Mr. Kline

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

the soulfather is really groovy.
and kevin o'brian is one of the more annoying stereotypes this side o lucky charms. this was a real low point for IM after Archie Goodwins great politically/socially minded IM stories.

Soulfather's costume is way too much like Killraven's first outfit(and DC's Warlord's first outfit).

I may be in the minority here, but I found Mikas to be one of the better iron man villians from that period. Also, the Mr. Kline tie-in was intriguing, and coupled with George Tuska's solid artwork, issues #42 & 43 are much better than some of the previous offerings(ie. the lame white dragon storyline). Lastly, the transitional panel in issue #42 may be weird, but it stands out as being unique, as I've never seen anything like it before or since. All in all, issues #42 and #43 are above average efforts in my book.