RETRO REVIEW: Thanos Unveiled in Iron Man (1973) #55
In Iron Man (1973) by Jim Starlin, Mike Friedrich, Mike Esposito, and John Costanza, we get a story that introduces one of the most important Marvel super villains of all time: Thanos, the Mad Titan!
The Invincible Iron Man (1973) #55 feat. Thanos
Photo: Marvel Unlimited.
This issue opens with Drax the Destroyer sending Tony Stark a warning about the impending arrival of the Blood Brothers… but the Blood Brothers are already beating Tony up! Honestly, get ready for an issue where Tony really gets the crud kicked out of him, because this is just the beginning.
Thanos is ALWAYS monitoring comms. Photo: Marvel Unlimited.
But it turns out the Blood Brothers are just lackeys, who bring an unconscious Iron Man to the planet where Thanos has captured Drax.
Photo: Marvel Comics.
One of my favorite things about this issue is the first meeting between Thanos and Tony. Thanos just walks up and steps on Tony’s fingers! This is a total jerk move that is right in line with the characterization of Thanos we’ve come to expect.
Hey, Matt Donnelly – it’s Eros! Shouldn’t you be Tweeting about this? Photo: Marvel Unlimited.
And this issue also features a cameo appearance by Eros, brother of Thanos, who will be familiar to those who have had the chance to stream Eternals on Disney+!
Want a Copy of this Seminal Issue?
Photo: Marvel Unlimited.
If you’re interested in reading Iron Man (1973) #55 right now, you can do so on the Marvel Unlimited app (which is what I did, Marvel Blog True Believers)! However, if you want to get your hands on a physical copy of this watershed issue for your own personal collection, well, you may be in luck (so long as you’re reading this before Monday, January 24th, 2022, anyway)!
First appearance of “Thanos.” Photo: Marvel Unlimited.
Iron Man (1973) #55 is one of several essential Marvel Comics issues that you can bid on in the CCS BIPOC Cartoonist Fund auction on eBay! If you want to bid on this issue (or one of the other exciting titles being offered for auction for a very good cause), then click this link now!
