Iron Man #1
Alone Against A.I.M. (Or, What a Way to Star Out in Your Own Mag!!)
This story continues from Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner #1…
Iron Man finds himself in a clash between Advanced Idea Mechanics and the Maggia in the high seas. Trying to escape the Maggia’s submarine the Golden Avenger is captured by AIM. Before Iron Man can get free, the rogue scientists gas him and leave the Maggia with their sinking gambling ship.
Aboard the vessel is SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell who tries to take command of the situation. Unfortunately, the rising water knocks his glasses off his face. They are recovered by a beautiful woman who is asking for help. With is glasses on, Jasper recognizes her as one of the women waiting outside Stark Industries looking for Tony Stark.[1] Grabbing the woman, Jasper leaps overboard, assuring her that his SHIELD training will keep her safe.
Meanwhile, down below, Whiplash and the other Maggia mobsters try to flee through an escape hatch below deck. Unfortunately, they can’t get the hatch open because the mechanism has been jammed by Whiplash’s trademark weapon. By this time, a SHIELD helicopter has arrived and pulls Jasper and the woman he rescued out of the water. There, she introduces herself as Whitney Frost. Nick Fury and the others are surprised when Whitney thanks Jasper by kissing him on the lips, never figuring that Sitwell could win the affections of such a beautiful woman. Whitney soon returns home and it turns out that she is actually Maggia’s mysterious leader the Big M. While she intended to get close to Tony Stark in order to steal the secrets of his technology, she figures seducing Jasper Sitwell — SHIELD’s liaison to Stark Industries — will be equally as lucrative.[2]
Meanwhile, AIM returns to their island hideout with Iron Man as their prisoner. The capture of Iron Man is a boon to Mordius, one scientist who is vying for the leadership of AIM.[3] Mordius orders his minions to place Iron Man inside his x-ray photo chamber. With this device, Mordius is able to scan and duplicate Iron Man’s armor down to the finest detail. As three AIM scientists being putting on the duplicate armor, Iron Man breaks free from the device holding him. Mordius believes that his three armored minions will trump Iron Man due to sheer numbers. However, as the battle begins, the AIM operatives discover that their weapon systems and rocket boots do not function properly.
Furious over this bungling, Mordius tries to blast Iron Man with a mortar cannon. This plays into the Iron Man’s plans as he positioned himself in front of the doorway into the generator room. Fleeing inside, Iron Man seals himself inside and sabotages the generators. When AIM forces their way in, Iron Man flees out a window. The overloading generators then explode, destroying the island, ending the reign of Mordius before it could truly begin.
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, AIM, Maggia (Big M, Whiplash)
Continuity Notes
Whitney Frost was seen hanging out around Stark Industries in Tales of Suspense #98.
Jasper was assigned to keep an eye on things at Stark Industries in Tales of Suspense #93.
Mordius is never referred to by his full name here. His first named is revealed as Maxwell in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition #3.
The Origin of Iron Man!
Not long ago, in the nation of Vietnam, Tony Stark had come to oversee how the weapons created by Stark Industries worked in the field.[1] This was against the advice of the military brass who warn him that the notorious Wong-Chu operates in the area. Stark dismisses this risk as his work is more important.
While out on the field, Stark triggers a trip wire explosive. When he wakes up, he is a prisoner of Wong-Chu. A doctor informs him that he has a piece of shrapnel in his heart that will kill him in about a week. Wong-Chu decides to put Tony Stark to work to create weapons for his army before he dies. Tony is paired with Ho Yinsen, another scientist who is a prisoner of Wong-Chu.
Instead of developing weapons for their captor, the pair work on a suit of iron armor that will not only keep Tony alive, but allow him to fight back against Wong-Chu.[2] As the armor is being charged, Ho Yinsen creates a distraction, sacrificing his life in the process. With his armor fully charge, Iron Man is born and after defeating Wong-Chu and his army, Tony Stark has used his alter-ego to fight for justice ever since.
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, Wong-Chu, Ho Yinsen
Continuity Notes
This story retells Iron Man’s origins nearly identical to the original tale told in Tales of Suspense #39. Iron Man’s origins have undergone a number of changes over the years. For more on how to reconcile all of these differences click here.
A footnote states that Iron Man’s armor was later painted gold in Tales of Suspense #40.
Topical References
This story is stated as happening in March of 1963 during the Vietnam War. These should be considered topical references. For an explanation for Modern Age references to Vietnam go here.
All Cold War references such as referring to communists as “Reds” should be also be considered topical.