Art by John Romita Jr. (Pencils), Bob Layton (Inks) & Bob Sharon (Colors)
Story by David Michelinie (Co-Plotter & Script) & Bob Layton (Co-Plotter)
Perhaps the most famous Iron Man story, certainly the best known during Michelinie & Layton's run, is the Demon In A Bottle story arc. I agree that story further defined Tony Stark and solidified him as a major comic book character, but it's still not my favorite IM story. I much prefer Doomquest. Which was basically a time travel story, an action-adventure story and a battle of good and evil story all in one. Doom & Iron Man are sent to medieval times to do battle. But that all happens in Iron Man #150. This issue is the catalyst to that. Let's get started.
(WARNING: Contains Language Not Approved By The Comics Code Authority!)
We begin our story on the open seas where a ship full of Stark International parts is being hijacked by pirates who moonlight as outlaws in the old west.
When suddenly Iron Man man shows up (how'd he know about a hijacked shipment of Stark Int. parts--? Oh, right!) He says: "fuck your helicopter! I'm Iron Man!" and frees the hostages and rounds up the pirates.
Iron Man has the captain turn the ship around and head to the nearest port. Clearly there's something up with this ship and it's cargo. Iron Man flies off to his next battle: being Tony Stark and and recapping what happened in previous issues.
Okay, back to this issue. Tony's most pressing problem at the moment is a meeting with the board of directors.
Topic of the day quickly becomes what was with that shipment of potentially dangerous Stark Ind. parts on it's way to Latveria? And the ethics of a Stark Industries employee, Rodney Dangerfield's doppelganger.
Tony is not happy and promptly let's Dangerfield go with a nice severance package.
Meanwhile...Doctor Doom is visiting his old pal, Cagliostro, who's been teaching the "Mad Monarch" the ways of Dark Magik. Eventually the matter of payment comes up and old Cagliostro learns a lesson of his own: Don't fuck with Doom.
But, as Luke Cage knows, Doom is a man of his word and a carrier of mini treasure chests. 'Cagllio get's paid and Doom returns to his own time in Latveria, several centuries in the future.
Upon his return home, Doom learns about his cancelled order of Stark Ind. parts from his chief scientist, Dr. Hauptmann. Doom should have ordered through Amazon.com.
Back in New York, Iron Man is waiting at the evacuated Stark Ind. docks on Long Island Sound. Knowing Doom or his Doombots will show up for the package Doom ordered, Iron man is on the lookout for an attack. Unfortunately he was looking in the wrong direction.
Instead of politely asking if Doom's package might have gotten lost in a warehouse, the Doombots decide to play hardball, to Iron Man's dismay.
Needless to say, Iron Man lost that round and Doom's parts are on their way to Latveria. So what can a Genius-Billionaire-Philanthropist do but take a "business trip" to Latveria himself. Thanks to Rhodey, Tony gets into the country and prepares to crack some heads with the help of Iron Man.
Iron Man finds the secret entrance to Doom's castle and eventually confronts Doom himself. Doom isn't too happy Iron Showed up unannounced. But Iron Man isn't taking "no" for an answer.
This causes Doom to throw up some next level gang signs and soon an avalanche is coming out of his metal fingers.
Iron Man breaks free from his rocky tomb and Doom and Iron man take their fight to Doom's laboratory. The two pound on each other while scientists scatter.
The fight continues as they land on Doom's time cube which suddenly turns on. Obviously this causes Doom and IM some concern.
Little did they know Dr. Hauptmann was at the controls. A little back story on Dr. Hauptmann, you see Doom killed his brother in Fantastic Four #85 and has been grudgingly serving Doom until he could find a way to get his revenge. He's also not too fond of Iron Man for some reason.
So that's it. The set-up for my favorite Iron Man story. Hopefully I'll find a copy of #150 of my own and review it as well. As for this issue, it's pretty good. I mean it's no Doom and Iron man leading armies in the time of King Arthur, but it's got plenty of good action and great dialogue. It also sets up the rivalry between Doom and the Iron Avenger that would be re-visited in stories to come. 8/10
