Tales of Suspense #40 – Iron Man versus Gargantus

This second outing for Iron Man does little for the character but underscore what has just been established in the issue before. Here the art was done by Jack Kirby and only inked by Don Heck and the overall tone shows this broad approach that would by the hallmark of Kirby story style.  No new characters are introduced though some might argue that the Marion in the story is Marianne Rodgers I would say not as a matter of gilding the continuity lily which is exactly her idea in the story. It is she who suggests in-story to Tony that Iron Man could do with a less grim visage than grey.  Gilding his armor to a yellow/gold he begins the main portion of the story in seeking out Marion in the mysteriously cut-off town of Granville.

http://en.marveldatabase.com/Tales_of_Suspense_40 - plot details

One could argue with the fact that the whole purpose of these 13 pages was to establish the character’s abilities in his armor against various threats like a runaway circus to an alien android in the form of savage barbarian. The text also points up the three lives of Tony Stark is leading atop his feats as Iron Man which are all shown in paneled vignettes as scientist, military inventor, and wealthy playboy. Lest we forget he is also shown to need re-charge not only for Iron Man but for his life.

Although communism is not mentioned, Kirby’s experience in the comic book versions of alien invasion from the 50’s SF movies serves well here in the horrors of the threat facing America of the time.  I’m referring to the Red Scare effect on thrillers and science fiction movies of the period that used a theme of a sinister, inhuman enemy that was planning to infiltrate society and destroy the American way of life. (I’m not saying that it wasn’t)  In this story anytown Granville is walled off and under a form of hypnosis which induces both fear and worship of the master Neanderthal, Gargantus, to the point of mobs forming to drive off Iron Man.  Whatever the politics here though Kirby makes it all a good bit of fun while still laying down some themes and structure to an Iron Man story.  These would be to describe the hero’s facets in all guises, falter and then face down with equal or greater cunning the backward brutes who use force and deception to undo society.