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Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man
Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 3
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #66-83, Tales to Astonish (1959) #82. Tony Stark is pitted against the undersea menace Attuma, the Dream-Maker and the Titanium Man in classics without compare! Then, it's straight into a who's who of villains when the Mandarin returns, Ultimo attacks and Iron Man goes toe-to-toe with Namor the Sub-Mariner in one of Marveldom's earliest crossover epics!
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
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123 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,565 books2,335 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 6, 2018
This is pretty much on par with the last one. Unfortunately, some of Cap’s stories really waned on me.
What I enjoyed most about this volume, aside from Iron Man v Namor, was Tony’s introspection. There’s a lot of introspection as Tony deals with what he thinks is a death sentence. He’s trapped inside the chestplate and he’s constantly finding himself trapped with a low charge. It’s interesting to think about how many times writers over the decades have removed/tweaked/re-added this plight to Tony’s life. He’s gone from chestplate to armor to artificial heart to having to shock himself to stay alive to an arc reactor to extremis. I think the films made the right choice in just keeping it to the arc reactor although, it would have been interesting if Tony ever experienced the part of 616 Tony’s life where he was afraid to take off the armor for fear that his heart would give out.
So, the most moving part was Iron Man. That’s about it.
Still not Happy’s biggest fan. I hate that Pepper started out as the secretary scorned and she stays that way. A lot of Happy and Tony wondering which of them Pepper’s in love with that week. Surprisingly, if you only pay attention to Pepper’s thoughts, she doesn’t just go back and forth so easily but the men make it sound like they’re one comment away from Pepper hating them or loving them forever. I wish she was more of a character in this older comics but it was the 1960’s *sigh*.
What I enjoyed most about this volume, aside from Iron Man v Namor, was Tony’s introspection. There’s a lot of introspection as Tony deals with what he thinks is a death sentence. He’s trapped inside the chestplate and he’s constantly finding himself trapped with a low charge. It’s interesting to think about how many times writers over the decades have removed/tweaked/re-added this plight to Tony’s life. He’s gone from chestplate to armor to artificial heart to having to shock himself to stay alive to an arc reactor to extremis. I think the films made the right choice in just keeping it to the arc reactor although, it would have been interesting if Tony ever experienced the part of 616 Tony’s life where he was afraid to take off the armor for fear that his heart would give out.
So, the most moving part was Iron Man. That’s about it.
Still not Happy’s biggest fan. I hate that Pepper started out as the secretary scorned and she stays that way. A lot of Happy and Tony wondering which of them Pepper’s in love with that week. Surprisingly, if you only pay attention to Pepper’s thoughts, she doesn’t just go back and forth so easily but the men make it sound like they’re one comment away from Pepper hating them or loving them forever. I wish she was more of a character in this older comics but it was the 1960’s *sigh*.
December 9, 2014
This is a huge leap in terms of storytelling and art from the previous two volumes, which I found rather cheesy and disappointing. It's getting up there with the better Marvel titles after two disappointing volumes. Although I find Don Heck an underrated artist, the fine detail of Gene Colan's work is excellent. The stories are still pretty ludicrous--Happy Hogan turned into a freak for two issues, but there is quite a bit of mature writing to be found here, such as half an issue of Tony Stark pondering through the streets handled in a dramatic and serious fashion. I didn't really like the first volume of Captain America, and since the covers here are familiar from those issues, I hope checking out volume 2 of that series will show a significant improvement as well. The stories aren't at the point where I'd recommend them to a non-comics reader, but they're getting there.
June 12, 2025
The Kindle edition of this book which I purchased on sale a few years back turns out to not only have all the Iron Man stories from Tales of Suspense 66-83, but it includes all the Captain America stories, as well. So that was an unexpected bonus trip down memory lane.
I think this book stops right before the first issue of Suspense I ever owned, number 84. So reading all these in order was a fun first for me, even though I'd read all of them out of order when I was furiously collecting back issues in my late teens.
Iron Man was floating along aimlessly for a bit until they came up with the Titanium Man story - you know him from the Paul McCartney song. In the process of fighting him, Happy Hogan gets injured which leads a couple months later to him becoming the Freak. Then Iron Man gets captured by the Mandarin in order to fight his gigantic creation Ultimo. (Which reminded me that when I was about 9 years old, I bought a Captain America board game that came complete with Suspense no. 77, included here.) Meanwhile, Senator Byrd is trying to get Tony Stark to appear at a Senate hearing to give up all the secrets of Iron Man's armor, and he eventually gets Stark's factories shut down until that happens. (This sort of governmental overreach was not common in 1966.) Once Iron Man starts flying to Washington, DC, the Titanium Man is back, and he's replaced by Sub-Mariner in a fun cross-over with his strip over in Tales to Astonish.
Captain America picked up in number 66 in the middle of some WWII stories that were not too exciting, but then they flash forwareded to 1966 and things got more interesting. The Sleepers were weird-ass machines left over from Nazi Germany (and were featured in a Captain America coloring book I had as a kid.) Sharon Carter was introduced, though it would be years before she was given a name - here she wasn't even known as Agent 13 yet. Her sister Peggy was introduced in a flashback - that character you may remember from movies and television. Them and AIM were introduced as Captain America became involved with Nick Fury and SHIELD for the first time. The Red Skull survived WWII and caused modern-day trouble. The first appearance of the Cosmic Cube - the thing which in the movies had a different name and which enabled Thanos to snap his fingers and eliminate half the universe - happens in here. The Red Skull had it, and couldn't think of enough to do with it more than creating a gold suit of armor which weighed him down and apparently killed him when he couldn't swim with it on. (Spoiler alert - a villain this famous never died.)
A lot of great Don Heck and even greater Gene Colan artwork on the Iron Man stories, and some highly enjoyable action-packed Jack Kirby art on the Captain America stories make this book fun. Now I'm sorry I didn't pick up the next volume in the series when these were all on sale.
I think this book stops right before the first issue of Suspense I ever owned, number 84. So reading all these in order was a fun first for me, even though I'd read all of them out of order when I was furiously collecting back issues in my late teens.
Iron Man was floating along aimlessly for a bit until they came up with the Titanium Man story - you know him from the Paul McCartney song. In the process of fighting him, Happy Hogan gets injured which leads a couple months later to him becoming the Freak. Then Iron Man gets captured by the Mandarin in order to fight his gigantic creation Ultimo. (Which reminded me that when I was about 9 years old, I bought a Captain America board game that came complete with Suspense no. 77, included here.) Meanwhile, Senator Byrd is trying to get Tony Stark to appear at a Senate hearing to give up all the secrets of Iron Man's armor, and he eventually gets Stark's factories shut down until that happens. (This sort of governmental overreach was not common in 1966.) Once Iron Man starts flying to Washington, DC, the Titanium Man is back, and he's replaced by Sub-Mariner in a fun cross-over with his strip over in Tales to Astonish.
Captain America picked up in number 66 in the middle of some WWII stories that were not too exciting, but then they flash forwareded to 1966 and things got more interesting. The Sleepers were weird-ass machines left over from Nazi Germany (and were featured in a Captain America coloring book I had as a kid.) Sharon Carter was introduced, though it would be years before she was given a name - here she wasn't even known as Agent 13 yet. Her sister Peggy was introduced in a flashback - that character you may remember from movies and television. Them and AIM were introduced as Captain America became involved with Nick Fury and SHIELD for the first time. The Red Skull survived WWII and caused modern-day trouble. The first appearance of the Cosmic Cube - the thing which in the movies had a different name and which enabled Thanos to snap his fingers and eliminate half the universe - happens in here. The Red Skull had it, and couldn't think of enough to do with it more than creating a gold suit of armor which weighed him down and apparently killed him when he couldn't swim with it on. (Spoiler alert - a villain this famous never died.)
A lot of great Don Heck and even greater Gene Colan artwork on the Iron Man stories, and some highly enjoyable action-packed Jack Kirby art on the Captain America stories make this book fun. Now I'm sorry I didn't pick up the next volume in the series when these were all on sale.
December 23, 2021
Technically this isn't an Iron Man Greatest Hits as Captain America gets an equal share of the spotlight, with the Hulk squeezing in an adventure there at the end.
Poor Tony Stark/Iron Man just can't catch a break. Whether he's pushing away the woman he loves for her own good, battling his best friend who has become a freak, or constantly worrying about recharging his heart, not to mention all those Commies. Ugh, those Commies.
Meanwhile, Cap is either battling the Axis powers in WWII or he's trying to find his place in the Sixties. He's no better off. Must our heroes suffer so?!
Poor Tony Stark/Iron Man just can't catch a break. Whether he's pushing away the woman he loves for her own good, battling his best friend who has become a freak, or constantly worrying about recharging his heart, not to mention all those Commies. Ugh, those Commies.
Meanwhile, Cap is either battling the Axis powers in WWII or he's trying to find his place in the Sixties. He's no better off. Must our heroes suffer so?!
May 26, 2017
It helped me understand why Stan Lee is so revered. The way Iron Man starts to be a flawed character and how every success for the superhero is a defeat for Tony Stark. It really shows how much today's comic book fans owe to that generation of artists and writers. It makes want to buy the whole collection.
March 7, 2021
I really like these stories [which I originally read when they were first published]. Because, back in the day, these stories were monthly I never realized how the Iron Man stories just repeated over and over. Giant man/robot attacks and IM has to fight them [Gargantua, Ultimo, Happy Hogan, Titanium Man, and others]. I still enjoyed them but who knew? Kept it from being 4 stars.
August 9, 2024
Senator Byrd forces Tony Stark to come to Washington to testify on what makes Iron Man tick. Happy calls Iron Man "boss" just before losing his memory but retrieves it right before Stark testifies. There's an issue crossover story involving Sub Mariner.
October 17, 2025
“He dares to be flippant in the face of certain doom!”
First appearance of Happy’s alter ego the Freak. Look for the unwieldy adjective Atlantisan (#80), and Gene Colan really opening up the art of the series with bigger, cartoonier panels.
First appearance of Happy’s alter ego the Freak. Look for the unwieldy adjective Atlantisan (#80), and Gene Colan really opening up the art of the series with bigger, cartoonier panels.
October 21, 2017
This book is becoming more modern,as the panel layouts open up. But its still very much a soap opera, and that's threatening to overwhelm any action in a given issue.
April 24, 2020
Tony Stark makes incredible armour, but shitty batteries.
January 1, 2022
Shallow and dated storyline. Gene Colan art work is good.
July 14, 2015
Challenge Completed: A book you can finish in a day (or 2, OOPS)
The third installment in this Marvel Masterworks series is definitely not as exciting as its predecessors, but still, in my view provides valuable contributions to the Iron Man mythos. In particular, the character of Happy Hogan sees a large amount of character development. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Pepper, who still remains disappointingly one-dimensional. (Poor Pepper, always getting the short end of the characterization stick.)
Even though the storytelling and art are slightly more sophisticated, much has remained the same. The book is easy to read and understand; Stan Lee's writing is still enthusiastic and hyperbolic. The heavy anti-communist Cold War sentiment remains. [In no place is this more plain than in the main arc of this book: the return of the Titanium Man. In this story, the Soviets have recovered the failed Titanium Man armor. Then they used prisoners of war to reconstruct and improve it. These Soviet leaders then challenge Iron Man to a fight to the death, that will be broadcast to the entire world. (Predicting satellite television before it was a thing. It's interesting to see the excitement over things that are so commonplace now.)]
I can't really elaborate on Happy's character development without more spoilers, but suffice it to say, that he learns something important and then is involved in a horrific accident. Spoilery pic below:
Tony Stark's character is also at a cross-roads. Should he cave to the demands of angry senators and reveal the secret of the Iron Man armor and its pilot (endangering the lives of his-self and his loved ones)? Or should he keep his secret and risk losing his factories and defense contracts, the fortune and respect that's he's spent years amassing?
The third installment in this Marvel Masterworks series is definitely not as exciting as its predecessors, but still, in my view provides valuable contributions to the Iron Man mythos. In particular, the character of Happy Hogan sees a large amount of character development. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Pepper, who still remains disappointingly one-dimensional. (Poor Pepper, always getting the short end of the characterization stick.)
Even though the storytelling and art are slightly more sophisticated, much has remained the same. The book is easy to read and understand; Stan Lee's writing is still enthusiastic and hyperbolic. The heavy anti-communist Cold War sentiment remains. [In no place is this more plain than in the main arc of this book: the return of the Titanium Man. In this story, the Soviets have recovered the failed Titanium Man armor. Then they used prisoners of war to reconstruct and improve it. These Soviet leaders then challenge Iron Man to a fight to the death, that will be broadcast to the entire world. (Predicting satellite television before it was a thing. It's interesting to see the excitement over things that are so commonplace now.)]
I can't really elaborate on Happy's character development without more spoilers, but suffice it to say, that he learns something important and then is involved in a horrific accident. Spoilery pic below:
Tony Stark's character is also at a cross-roads. Should he cave to the demands of angry senators and reveal the secret of the Iron Man armor and its pilot (endangering the lives of his-self and his loved ones)? Or should he keep his secret and risk losing his factories and defense contracts, the fortune and respect that's he's spent years amassing?
April 17, 2016
I actually really enjoyed this volume of Invincible Iron Man, it worked so well as a graphic novel. I can't imagine having to wait a month for each twelve page story back in the late sixties as the entire volume concentrates on Tony Stark being faced with having to reveal his secret identity or lose his government contracts. Plus there's lots of love-triangle romance between Tony, Pepper and Happy which slowly turns into a love square when Pepper turns her affections to Iron Man himself! Great fun and a worthy read.
February 14, 2016
The Marvel Masterworks volumes are fantastic reprints of the early years of Marvel comics. A fantastic resource to allow these hard to find issues to be read by everyone. Very recommended to everyone and Highly recommended to any comic fan.
April 5, 2018
I enjoyed these stories and adventures! Some were weird and interesting and others were a classic Marvel tale. Overall, a really good collection of classic issues, featuring stories from the earlier days of the Invincible Iron Man!
July 6, 2014
The thing that gets this from 3 to 4 stars is the Titanium Man arc. The other stuff is ok (although I am getting tired of Namor always flying off the handle).
April 17, 2016
This was awesome!! I love classic Iron Man. Gene Colan maked his Iron Man debut in this volume and someone close to Tony learns his secret...
April 24, 2015
I AM IRONMAN!!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews