In this episode:
Mike and Ed discuss how everyone (other countries, aliens, other dimensional entities) seems to be kidnapping scientists. Has the United States started down this path as well? Did Professor Vanko defect voluntarily, or as a result of duress? Was his alternative a jail cell? Also, is Vanko going to mass produce armor that compares to Iron Man’s armor? If so, will Stark technology soon make the Avengers obsolete?
In this issue:
The Soviet leader visits top scientist Ivan Vanko, who has created a body armor similar to that of Iron Man. Vanko demonstrates the armor’s awesome capabilities. Vanko takes on the name Crimson Dynamo, and travels to the US and uses his armor to scramble the circuits of an experimental rocket. Iron Man springs into action and saves the pilots of the rocket just in time. Thereafter, Vanko starts attacking Stark production plants. The US government responds by cancelling their contracts with Stark, fearing over-reliance on the military contractor. Company president Tony Stark, who is secretly Iron Man, investigates and ultimately confronts the Crimson Dynamo. They do battle and, after Iron Man comes out on top, Iron Man plays a radio message that he had intercepted of the Soviet leader planning to assassinate the Crimson Dynamo. This causes the Crimson Dynamo to defect and then work for Tony Stark in his research division.
Assumed before the next episode:
People are wondering when they might get a super-powered battle suit of their own.
This episode takes place:
After Ivan Vanko, the Crimson Dynamo, defects to the US.
Episode 81: Cold War scientists (Tales of Suspense #46) -- October 1963