Tales of Suspense #81
The Return of Titanium Man!
This story continues from Tales to Astonish #82…
Tony Stark has decided that it is time to face the music and appear before a senate committee, even if that means revealing to them that he is really Iron Man.[1] He changed out of his Iron Man armor and conceals it in his specially made attaché case. As he heads to the lobby of his building, Tony recalls how the only person who has figured out that he and Iron Man were the same person was Happy Hogan. However, Hogan was injured not long after this revelation and now appears to have forgotten due to amnesia.[2] Thinking about how everyone has been getting by without him, Iron Man wonders if the world can get along even if his secret identity is revealed to the public.[3] Once outside, Tony is escorted to the airport by the police. However, Stark has no intention of taking a commercial airliner to Washington. Instead, he changes into Iron Man and flies there under his own power.
As Iron Man flies to Washington, Senator Harrington Byrd informs his colleagues that Tony Stark is on his way. As the news about the Senate committee reaches the media, word eventually reaches military officials in Russia. Still sore after the Titanium Man’s earlier defeat, scientists have been working tirelessly to upgrade and strengthen the armor. Satisfied that the new Titanium Man can defeat Iron Man, they begin planning to deploy him. Soon, the Air Force is scrambled to intercept an intercontinental missile that is speeding toward Washington, DC. As it enters the air space, it suddenly explodes revealing the Titanium Man inside. Spotting Iron Man nearby, the Russian operative charges for the attack.
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, Titanium Man, Harrington Byrd
Continuity Notes
Senator Harrington Byrd has been trying to force Tony Stark to reveal Iron Man’s identity to the government since Tales of Suspense #72. Because of his double life, Tony hasn’t been able to meet with them, and in issue #76 Byrd had Stark Industries shut down, Stark’s finances frozen and put out a warrant for Tony’s arrest.
Happy was injured during Iron Man’s first battle with Titanium Man in Tales of Suspense #69-71. In a coma until issue #74, Happy was transformed into the Freak by an experimental procedure meant to save his life. While Iron Man restored Happy to normal in issue #76, Happy was stricken with amnesia.
Tony specifically mentions two organizations that have been getting by without him.
The first being the Avengers. Tony was a founding member of the group in Avengers #1 but took a leave of absence in issue #16 with the rest of the original team so they could all focus on their personal affairs. Captain America was left in charge and recruited a new group of heroes that have been acting independently of the founding members since.
The second is SHIELD, Tony Stark was involved in the creation of the new public version of SHIELD that appeared in Strange Tales #135.
Topical References
A lot of dated Cold War references are made in this story such as Russia being referred to as the Iron Curtain, and Russians being referred to as Reds or commies, etc.
The Red Skull Supreme!
The Red Skull has obtained the Cosmic Cube, a powerful device that can alter reality to the whims of the user. The only thing standing in his way is Captain America, who refuses to give up even in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Even though Captain America attacks the Skull from behind, the former Nazi uses the power of the Cube to repel his foe.
The Red Skull then lays out his plans for the Cosmic Cube: He intends to use it to make himself the ruler of the planet Earth. Then, after forcing the population to eliminate all those he deems undesirable, he will form the remaining people into a fierce fighting force. Next, he intends to construct massive weapons that the human race will take with them into the stars to conquer the universe.
Next, the Red Skull creates an artificial being to battle Captain America. Although the creature is much more powerful than he is, Captain America manages to pin it to the ground using his superior fighting skills. Seeing that his creation is losing the fight, the Red Skull destroys it and decides to get rid of his old enemy by banishing him to another dimension. Before this process can complete itself, Captain America decides to use some reverse psychology to bide him some time. Pretending to plead for mercy, Captain America points out that a much more rewarding defeat would be to force him to live to see the Red Skull’s vision of the future.
The Red Skull likes the idea and begins fantasizing the idea of creating a modern-day Knights of the Round Table with Captain America as one of his knights and himself in the place of King Arthur. To this end, the Red Skull uses the Cosmic Cube to create a suit of armor out of solid gold for him to wear. When Captain America bows to be “knighted” by the Skull, he uses his opportunity to rush his foe and try to wrest the Cosmic Cube from his hands. As they struggle over control of the Cube, the Red Skull commands it to start ripping the ground under them apart.
As part of the island begins falling into the ocean, Captain America knocks the Cosmic Cube out of the Red Skull’s hand. Desperate to maintain his power, the Red Skull dives in after it. This proves to be his undoing as his gold armor acts as an anchor and he sinks to the ocean’s floor. Captain America manages to hold onto the last piece of the island and after climbing to safety, waits for eventual rescue. He hopes that the power of the Cosmic Cube is lost for all time. Underwater, the Cosmic Cube finally sinks to the ocean floor where it is swiftly lost in the shifting flotsam and jetsam.[1]
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Red Skull
Continuity Notes
This is obviously not the end of the Red Skull or the Cosmic Cube. The Red Skull will resurface alive and well again in Tales of Suspense #88-90. The Cosmic Cube has a more detailed journey. It was plucked out of time by Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Comics Magazine #4. It returned to its proper place in time and space in issue #12 of that series. It is later recovered from the ocean floor by the Sub-Mariner in Avengers #40.
