Issue(s): Iron Man #6
Cover Date: Oct 68
Title: "Vengeance--- cries the Crusher!"
Credits:
Archie Goodwin - Writer
George Tuska - Penciler
Johnny T. Craig - Inker

Review/plot:
I mentioned previously my disappointment in Goodwin's plotting, e.g. bringing back the Freak. Here's another example: bringing back the Crusher, a random one-off with pretty generic powers.

And i mentioned that i think Goodwin's scripting is nice and natural, but that doesn't extend to his handling of Cuban characters.

One thing i do like is the explanation of how Crusher returns. We last saw him getting hit by a centrifugal force ray that pulled him to the center of the Earth. Fortunately, Marvel's Earth is hollow, so he wound up in the kingdom of Tyrannus.

The kingdom was abandoned thanks to the fact that Tyrannus lost his memories during his war with the Mole Man. But Crusher, who in his non-powered form is a brilliant professor, was able to use Tyrannus' technology to restore his powers and return to the surface.

From there it's a standard fight with Iron Man facing a stronger opponent.

Iron Man eventually drops the guy in the ocean where once again he's pulled to the center of the Earth, this time by his own increased weight (i guess those powerful muscles aren't enough to help him swim). It's the last we'll see of Crusher alive (but his body still has contributions to make to science).

In a subplot we see that Whitney Frost is having trouble keeping her Maggia underlings under control.

At one point Crusher threatens Frost and Jasper Sitwell tries to jump into the fight.

Iron Man knocks him out for his own safety, and boy does that not, haha, sit well with Jasper (i'm so sorry).

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Index and MCP place this before Iron Man's appearance in Avengers #58.

References:

• The Crusher previously appeared in Tales of Suspense #91.
  
• Even Janice says that Tony is indirectly responsible for her father's death in Iron Man #2. In the sense that he exists, maybe. Tony has been relentless sending her candy and flowers but she doesn't respond.
  
• Tyrannus' kingdom was empty thanks to the fact that Tyrannus lost his memory in Uncanny X-Men #34 (incorrectly footnoted as #35).

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man vol. 5

I enjoyed when Crusher referred to Iron Man as "the galvanized gringo." Somewhat unfortunate that nickname never stuck.

I think the only excuse that the Crusher had for returning is "he's the only villain we have for communist Cuba" considering what they had with Russia (Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man) and China (Radioactive Man, Mandarin). Tony really did fight a lot of Commies back then, huh? (but then again his origin did involve the Vietnam war...)

Hey fnord, I noticed Stan the Man got his reference mixed up when he mentioned X-Men #35. That one had Spidey and not Tyrannus (which was issue 34). Figured you might want to correct it here.

Thanks, Mernyferny.

At least Iron Man had the courtesy to hit Sitwell when his glasses were off!