American Update: First Appearances of Iron Man’s Fearsome Foes! Mandarin! Melter! Crimson Dynamo! Scarecrow!….Mr. Doll?
*Marvel: From the dawning days of the Marvel Universe, issues of Tales of Suspense featuring the premier appearances of some of Shell-Head’s vilest villains: in Tales of Suspense #46, he met the armoured might of the Crimson Dynamo; #47 featured his first encounter with the Melter; #50 presented the menace of the Mandarin, Iron man’s greatest foe; #51 brought us the sinister Scarecrow, and in #48, there was the debut of Mr. Doll. Yeah, we know, “Mr. Doll?” But the Poundland Puppet Master, though he did re-appear in the Marvel Universe (I think he split into two, became the Brothers Grimm, something of that ilk), he wasn’t the unique selling point of ToS #48; rather it was the debut in that same issue of Iron Man’s red & gold armour, which (with variations on a theme) has been the consistent look of Tony Stark’s armoured alter-ego ever since. Our newly-acquired #46 is VG+ p £80; #48 VG p £90 and #50 GD/VG p £60. Details of the others in our online catalogue.