When the very first comic book convention was held in New York City in 1964, Iron Man was too busy fighting the Mandarin, Black Widow and Unicorn to notice. The initial Detroit Triple Fan Fair was launched the following year, but Iron Man was now off battling the likes of Weasel Wills, the Phantom and Count Nefaria, and again missed the event. By 1975, however, comic book conventions had grown in such popularity that not even a millionaire industrialist superhero could ignore them, resulting in Tony Stark attending the San Diego Comic-Con in issue 72 of The Invincible Iron Man.
Co-founded in 1970 by Shel Dorf – who was also behind the Detroit Triple Fan Fair and had recently moved to California – San Diego Comic-Con attracted 300 fans that year but steadily increased in popularity to reach 2,500 by 1975. That growth would continue over the ensuing decades as the event expanded its scope from comic books and science fiction to a host of other popular culture genres, becoming arguably the premier gathering of Geek Culture fans anywhere in the world.
Such a transformation was still far in the future, however, when Tony Stark decided to put on his Iron Man costume and attend the 1975 event – which was then called the Golden State Comic-Con – in a narrative entitled “Convention of Fear.” Iron Man had spent the previous issues in Asia, where he had encountered Ultimo, the Mandarin, Yellow Claw and Sunfire. Although still needed in that section of the world, Tony Stark made a quick trip to the United States when the San Diego branch of Stark Industries was suddenly short on the raw materials needed for its rapid transit machinery factory.
By the time Stark arrived in California, a new supply had already been found. With the emergency that brought him to San Diego averted, Tony Stark decided to visit his employees and get their feedback regarding his company. This too is cut short when a pair of factory workers hear a commanding voice in their heads ordering them to kill Stark. Even without his Iron Man suit, the millionaire industrialist is able to thwart their attack.
After checking into a local hotel for the night, Tony Stark’s mind is too preoccupied with the attack on his life despite an inability to make sense of it. Deciding that he needed a distraction, he dismisses the usual nightclub scene as “strictly old hat” and while he does enjoy visiting the famed San Diego Zoo, he had already been there three times in the previous two years. Desperate for something different, Stark begins to flip through the local newspaper until an advertisement for a Comics Fan Convention – featuring such luminaries as Milton Caniff and Charles Schultz – catches his eye.
“‘Super-hero fans,’” he reads aloud. “Hmmm… I tend to forget we Avengers are kinda like rock stars these days. You know, this may be just the kind of craziness I’m looking for! That’s it, we’ve got ourselves a date tonight, Shellhead. And just in case these emergencies reappear, I’ll be in perfect ‘costume’ – my own uniform!”
Tony Stark indeed arrives at the El Cortez Hotel – the site of the actual 1975 San Diego Comic-Con – dressed as Iron Man and finds an array of fans mingling about, including one excited about having scored the first issue of Star-Studded Comics. When he finally makes his way to the head of the line, the woman in charge mentions that the red of his costume seems a little too bright, but Tony Stark shrugs it off, saying that he was in a hurry when he built the outfit. He also insists that his name tag read “Iron Man,” which gets a puzzled reaction from the woman.
As he wanders through the maze of fans, he overhears Marvel editor Roy Thomas telling Mike Friedrich – the actual writer of The Invincible Iron Man #72 – “don’t worry about this pink slip, it’s only a formality,” and is confronted by a group of Star Trek fans who ask if he would sign their petition to bring the classic science fiction television show back from cancelation. Unfortunately, Iron Man doesn’t have a pen, a fact that may have saved him from the Trekkies but is little help when he next bumps into a comic book fan.
“So you’re an Iron Man fan, huh?” Tony Stark is rhetorically asked. “I don’t know… I like the guy but the stories they tell about him are dull. And how anyone can run around with that ugly nose he’s adopted – sheesh!” The last remark was in reference to a nose-feature that had recently been added to the Iron Man mask.
Next up is the dealers’ room, where Iron Man attempts to purchase the latest issue of the Iron Man comic book but has no cash on him and the seller refuses to accept his Avengers credit card. The film room, meanwhile, is the site of a masquerade party, and Tony Stark finds himself face-to-face with Spider-Man, Thor, the Scarlet Witch and numerous Captain Americas. Another Iron Man is also in attendance, and he likewise makes a disparaging remark about the new nose addition to the Iron Man mask.
“Didn’t realize so much attention would be paid to a simple costume change,” the real Iron Man reflects to himself. “I may have to think about this facial protrusion.”
Such thoughts will have to wait, however, as Iron Man spots the Melter, Whiplash and Man-Bull in the crowd. The trio turn out to be genuine and are soon joined by the Black Lama. Iron Man had recently encountered the supervillain – who uses hypnotic suggestions to get both heroes and villains alike to fight one another – in Asia. Once the new arrival reveals that the guy wearing an Iron Man nametag is the actual Iron Man, the Melter, Whiplash and Man-Bull immediately attack.
The Black Lama then uses his powers to turn the crowd of comic book fans against Iron Man as well. Recognizing the blank look in their eyes as similar to the two Stark Industry workers who had earlier tried to kill him, Iron Man fires off a bright blast with his chest beam in the hopes it will snap them out of their hypnotized state.
The battle against the actual villains quickly turns to the superhero’s advantage. Once Whiplash and Man-Bull have been rendered unconscious, Iron Man turns his attention to the Melter and barely reflects a laser beam shot at him. The blast causes a fire, however, and Iron Man has to pause his battle to convince a vendor to flee from the flames instead of rescuing his comic book collection. A security guard with a fire extinguisher jumps in at that point, but the diversion allows the Melter to again shoot his laser gun, this time hitting Iron Man in the back.
Before he can fire a kill shot, the Melter is tackled by a fan wearing an Iron Man costume, giving the real Iron Man the time needed to get back on his feet and incapacitate the Melter. With the bad guys caught and Iron Man revealed to be the real deal, the fans shout their congratulations and slap the back of their hero, who is quickly named guest of honor at the convention. As he later continues to wander the con, Iron Man is stopped by one of the security guards. During his battle with the supervillains, Iron Man’s nametag fell off and the guard is under strict orders to escort anyone not wearing a badge from the premises.
Iron Man begins to protest, but then realizes a good night’s sleep may be a better option after all. As the guard shows him the exit, issue #72 of The Invincible Iron Man comes to an end – as well as the Marvel superhero’s first visit to San Diego Comic-Con.
Anthony Letizia