Tales of Suspense #44

August 1963
Writers: Stan Lee and R. Berns
Artist: Don Heck

Last month: the Queen of the Underworld.  This month: the Queen of the Nile.  Tony might have a type...

Our story this month begins with Tony arriving at an excavation site in Egypt.  The site has called for Tony's help with locating King Hatap's tomb; he could save them a year by using his genius to locate the tomb.  Tony tells them that he'll bring on his own expert, Iron Man, who can use his proving devices to quickly find Hatap's resting place.

That evening at a cairo club, Tony suddenly grows very weak and realizes he hasn't charged his chest-plate in far too long.  He is helped to his room (turning down the offers of a doctor) and barely plugs into the wall in time.  Tony once again reflects that he can never have a normal life and settle down.  No one may ever know his terrible secret.

The following day, Iron Man arrives at the excavation site.  In no time at all, they locate the tomb and dig their way in.  They marvel at the treasures in the tomb of the man known as the "Mad Pharaoh".  Later that day, in a tent on the site, Tony is approached by a strange man in ancient garb and wearing strange jewelry.  The man claims to be Hatap himself having walked out of his sarcophagus.  He tells Tony the story of how he faked his death, entering a chemically induced 2000-year coma.  Now he needs Tony's help to return the past and defeat Cleopatra.

(I really can't wrap my head around Hatap's plan.  It's pure crazy)

Stark grabs his briefcase and Hatap grabs a strange object which summons the "Chariot of Time", whisking them 2000 years into the past.  Stark manages to slip away from the Mad Pharaoh and changes into Iron Man.  He flies off and stumbles across a Roman siege.  He picks a side and defeats the Romans.  Afterwards, he is granted audience with the Queen... Cleopatra.  He tells her of Hatap's crazy plan.

Together, Cleopatra's forces and Iron Man find and defeat the Mad Pharaoh - the final blow is delivered with the help of a horizontal Iron Man with wheels on his back, hurtling across the desert. Hatap perishes by falling on his own weapon and Iron Man reclaims the strange time-warping object.  Iron Man says goodbye to the Queen and returns to the present.

Next: Iron Man vs. Jack Frost!