Even from the cover, our second iron man story seems to feature our hero, now gold-colored facing off what seems to be some ancient monster of a brute. But what the real question comes down too, is does this story build upon what we were given as an origin the month before?

Also what of Tony Stark, does Iron Man live a double life?  does he keep his identity secret? all kinds of question’s to be responded to that the origin story did not have a need to address.

Story

In short

We learn in the story, that Tony Stark, indeed lives more than one life,  in fact the story describes it as three. He is a scientist, playboy, and Iron Man!.  And the Iron Man one is indeed a secret one.

Not only does he keep his identity as Iron Man secret, but his need to were the chest peace at all times.  For without it his heart would stop and he would die.  But the need for it seems to do little to deter his other two lives.

The story starts out, instead of recapping the origin, showing him leading both of these lives, and even showing him keeping his secret as doing so. For example he won’t go swimming with his girl in Monte Carlo for his inability to show his open chest.

double the Action

This Iron Man comic, despite being only 12 pages long, features two sets of action, one with Iron – Man facing off against some animals at the circus after they escape, the second one being the feature foretold on the cover.

While the first was short and to the point, I feel it was a useful tool for the iron man story, and helped build us up to the climatic battle against Gargantus.

Art

I feel Jack Kirby and Don Heck did a great job on this Comic Book.  the drawing was of a superb top-notch, and it was only made better by the inking, shadowing and coloring.

The issue did not feel still or flat, instead filled with the movement that Kirby does so well, and the coloring and lines cave it extra dimension’s beyond my expectations.

The design of Gargantus was amusing if not comical; and his masters just added to it. Not only by being an interesting twist, but by being comical in appearance themselves.

Originality & Continuity

We have seen many, many alien invasions up until this issue; it is hard for any to feel original any more.  While this one too borrowed about everything from all that came before, I find it quite interesting for a few reason’s. Far from the least interesting reason being the one I opt to talk about now, the fact that we didn’t know.

It is not until the last page of the story, that we know the aliens exist, that Gargsantus was a tool for their conquest.  This, this is one of the things I enjoy the most;  unlike how the alien invasions so far have been filled with them convinced on overtaking earth, this time there unseen until the last moment after there already defeated.

Further more, the fact that there not given a name, or any real unneeded explanation is just a huge plus for these conquers from the stars.

As for Continuity, I feel this issue, picks up and builds upon what the first story laid out, as aways I feel there was plenty of room for what was in-between, but all that had happened from the Jungle until now was at least hinted upon.

Characters & Development

Both Tony Stark, and Iron Man developed in this issue,  independently and together.  we learned more about our wealthy playboy in his personal life then we did in the first issue. although not much, but growth in small doses was common in that era.

Iron Man also grew, but a bit quicker, I am not sure if there was a real reason the creators decided to make him gold, or even if it just relates to what happened in the story. But the events of this issue do a good job of leading to his golden debut, and explaining why he had a change of colors.