Invincible Iron Man #54: Review

Jan 1973

Mike Friedrich, George Tuska

Story Name:

Sub-Mariner: Target For Death!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Invincible Iron Man #54 Review by T Vernon (September 3, 2013)

Review: Yet another Shellhead/Subby battle? Okay, if you insist. The most interesting part of the tale is the introduction of the character who would evolve into Moondragon, here yet a bald woman in high-collared fetish gear pursuing a rather vague “experiment.” It takes a turn for the bizarre—and what makes the whole story more fun than your usual “two heroes fight” tale is her constant bickering with her sentient computer sidekick—even machines need a word of encouragement from time to time. This neurotic unappreciated little machine is the real star of the show. And sorry, I don’t know when the next rematch takes place so I can’t say if Subby remembers his grudge.

Comments: Bill Everett, creator of the Sub-Mariner, devised the story idea and inked Subby’s face throughout the issue. First appearance of Madame MacEvil, who returns in DAREDEVIL #105-107 before adopting her more familiar identity as Moondragon in CAPTAIN MARVEL #31 for the rest of her long Avengers/Defenders career.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Invincible Iron Man #54 Synopsis by T Vernon

From her underwater ship, mad scientist Madame MacEvil is about to conduct her latest experiment. First she explodes an iceberg threatening a nearby fishing boat; the Sub-Mariner races to the rescue, saves the crew, and traces the missile track back to Madame MacEvil’s ship. Then she uses her sentient computer sidekick to seize control of Iron Man’s armor and bring him to her. When the two heroes arrive, she has Shellhead attack Subby against his will and the battle occupies the rest of the issue in and around a sunken ship. Eventually, her computer is fed up with her constant verbal abuse and frees Iron Man. Knowing he won’t be able to explain this, Shellhead socks Subby and dashes off. Subby vows revenge against Iron Man. Madame MacEvil vows revenge against Subby and Iron Man.