Truth to be told, Iron Man was among my least favorite Marvel superheroes. He always felt gimmicky to me, with some new device or gadget in his iron armor that served as a deus ex machine to whatever latest foe had to throw at him, kind of like Batman’s utility belt of never-ending Bat-Devices. The only storyline I remember liking was a mid-80s section where Tony Stark fell into alcoholism and that ruined his life both as a billionaire industrialist and superhero. Reading these early issues of Iron Man didn’t dispel that impression. Most of these stories are forgettable, even as they establish the character and his world. The things that stand out are why Stark switches from his initial grey armor into a golden suit, the introduction of the very important supporting characters of Happy and Pepper, and the introduction of the Crimson Dynamo and Black Widow. Still, though, likely of interest only to the completist.

This collection contains the first few appearances of billionaire genius Tony Stark and his alter ego, the invincible Iron Man. It's a lot of fun to see the origins of the character, but it sure hasn't stood the test of time, because, oh dear grief, it's racist. If you enjoy clunky anti-Communist propaganda, though, this'll be right up your alley. ( )