IRON MAN #109-112 (1978): 1st Vanguard

Tony Stark appears alongside Iron Man, and we see that a Life Model Decoy has been used by Tony to protect his secret identity.  There’s no explanation for this, but I would think SHIELD might have some issues with this appropriation of their tech.  Even if Stark created it for them (and I’m not sure that’s true), I wouldn’t think they’d appreciate his using it as well.

Madame Masque is still romancing the Iron, and Jack of Hearts now treats Iron Man as his “teacher.”

First, they meet up with the Soviet Super Soldiers, and we get the first appearance of Vanguard…

…and yet another new Crimson Dynamo.

Then, they go to the moon’s blue area and discover a portal to the High Evolutionary’s Counter Earth, and get involved with a big Rigellan space battle, which means we get to see The Recorder again.

I’m not sure why I have such a soft spot for that thing. They also fight a Punisher Robot.

The Rigellans offer an analysis of Iron Man.

And finally, cartoonist Fred Hembeck has been getting letters printed, and in this issue Marvel allows him to take over the letter column with a full page cartoon.

I think it’s safe to say that Marvel would never do this today–and it’s a shame.

Leave a Comment