Tales of Suspense #41

May 1963
Writers: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein
Artist: Jack Kirby

"The Stronghold of Dr. Strange"

Yes, the villain of this piece is a man named Dr. Strange.  No, it's not the Dr. Strange of modern Marvel comics.

Jack is inked by Dick Ayers on this issue.  As a result, it looks like much more traditional Kirby art than last issue.  And I loved it.

This issue begins with Anthony Stark on a date.  While on the date, Stark reflects on the recent adventures of Iron Man, which gives us the readers a nice montage.  Scenes include: stopping safe-crackers, stopping a communist plane, halting two steamliners from crashing, scaring off aliens, and finally charging his chest-plate (via wall outlet).

The following day, Iron Man appears at a national orphanage and gives the kids a show by juggling automobiles and catching a cannonball shot at him from close range.  Meanwhile, in a prison radio repair lab, a convict listens to Iron Man's exploits at the orphanage.  This man is known as Dr. Strange.  He devises a plan to have Iron Man bust him out of prison...

Alone in his cell later, Dr. Strange reflects on his recent past, in which he was struck by lightning which increased the "electrical energy" of his mind.  Dr. Strange turns on a small device which emits ultra-frequency waves which hit our hero, Iron Man.  These waves affect the electricity of Stark's brain and cause him to fall under hypnosis (somehow).  The hypnotized Iron Man breaks into the prison, grabs Dr. Strange, and quickly escapes with the convict in tow.  Hours later, Iron Man regains his senses, with no idea how he came to be on a country road outside of the city.  The state police fill him in on what happened at the prison. 

Weeks pass by with no sign of our villain.  We readers are granted a view of the mad Dr. Strange on a private island base with his accomplices (powerful men from around the world).  The man is now wearing an outfit eerily similar to that worn by the modern-day Dr. Strange.  The villain reveals his plan to rule the world.  He delivers an ultimatum to the nations of the planet, demanding surrender within 24 hours or he will destroy the Earth.  Following his broadcasted ultimatum, the location of his base is no longer a secret.  While bombs are dropped on the base from above, Iron Man digs underground/underwater and appears within the stronghold.  Iron Man promptly begins to destroy electrical equipment and various devices, much to the woe of Dr. Strange.  Finally, with an assist from Dr. Strange's daughter (who did not agree with his world-ruling plans), Iron Man defeats the would-be despot.  Unfortunately, he makes his escape.


Next issue: it's Iron Man's turn to fight communism!