Iron Man Vol 1 121

Iron Man #121
Previous Issue	Iron Man #120
Next Issue	Iron Man #122
Cover Date	April, 1979
Issue Details
Editor-in-Chief	Jim Shooter

1. "A Ruse By Any Other Name"
Appearances · Synopsis
Writer(s)	David Michelinie
Penciler(s)	John Romita Jr.
Inker(s)	Bob Layton
Letterer(s)	John Costanza
Editor(s)	Roger Stern

 You may have joined your fellow surface-men in attacking Hiram Dobbs, Iron Man, but you've e'er been a noble foe in the past. And you deserve a noble death! 

—Sub-Mariner

Appearing in "A Ruse By Any Other Name"

Featured Characters:

• Iron Man (Tony Stark)

Supporting Characters:

• Bethany Cabe
• James "Rhodey" Rhodes
• Sub-Mariner (Namor) (Main story and flashback)

Antagonists:

• Roxxon Oil
  • Jonas Hale

Other Characters:

• Hiram Dobbs (Main story and flashback)
• Mary Dobbs (Only in flashback)
• Godzilla (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

• Humans (Main story and flashback)
• Atlantean-Human Hybrids (Main story and flashback)

Locations:

• Island in the South Atlantic
• United States of America (Only in flashback)
  • Indiana (Only in flashback)

Items:

• Iron Man Armor MK V
• Vibranium

Vehicles:

• Various U.S. Navy battleships

Synopsis for "A Ruse By Any Other Name"

Tony Stark's Iron Man armor malfunctions and he begins drowning beneath the waves of the South Atlantic. The Sub-Mariner, who had been fighting Iron Man only moments before, brings him ashore and places him inside the cottage of islander Hiram Dodds.

Meanwhile, Jim Rhodes and Bethany Cabe approach the island via helicopter. Military ships surrounding the island warn them to turn back, but Rhodey presses forward. The soldiers open fire and Rhodey takes a bullet to the shoulder. The Helicopter crashes into the sea, and the soldiers bring Rhodey and Bethany on board one of their ships.

At Hiram's cottage, Iron Man recharges his armor on a car battery while he explains to Namor and Hiram Dodds about the dangers they face if they remain on the island. He notes that the U.S. military has maintained a base here for several years and has been using the island as a dumping ground for toxic chemicals. Hiram responds and tells Iron Man that the military has never set foot on the island until that very morning. Realizing that they have both been duped, Iron Man and Sub-Mariner agree to cease hostilities until they can get to the bottom of this mystery.

Meanwhile, Rhodes and Cabe are brought before Jonas Hale, the ringleader of this operation. He reveals that he works for the Roxxon Oil Company, the true presence behind this island's occupation. Hale knows that the island is rich in Vibranium, so he fabricated a military presence in order to scare off competitors. As this is the only known Vibranium deposit outside the sovereign nation of Wakanda, anyone who claims the rights to it, will hold a major stake in the global economy.

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner, now realizing that this is not the true United States military, attack the battleship. The soldiers open fire against them, but the heroes easily deflect the attacks. Jonas Hale refuses to surrender. He decides that if Roxxon cannot stake a claim on the Vibranium, then nobody should. He sets off a series of timed explosions which threaten to destroy the entire island. Iron Man pulls all of the battleships away to safety, while the Sub-Mariner grabs Hiram Dodds. The explosives detonate and the island, and all its Vibranium, are destroyed.

Notes

• The Sub-Mariner appears next in Defenders v.1 #74.

• Jonas Hale appears next in Iron Man v.1 #143.

• It is revealed in this issue that Bethany Cabe has ties to the U.S. government. Previously, it was assumed that she was merely a wealthy socialite.

• This issue reveals that the Sub-Mariner forged his friendship with Hiram Dodds when the latter nursed him back to health after falling ill from breathing in water poisoned by toxic chemicals.

• The origin of Hiram Dodds is revealed in this issue.

• The explosives on the island were originally intended for excavation purposes.

Trivia

• The tagline to this issue is "The Prince and the Power!"

• The title to this issue is taken from the phrase "A rose by any other name [is still a rose]".

• As seen on page one, this issue is Story# LG 193.

See Also

• 3 image(s) from Iron Man Vol 1 121
• 6 reprint(s) of Iron Man Vol 1 121

Recommended Reading

• Iron Man (Volume 1)
• Iron Man (Volume 2)
• Iron Man (Volume 3)
• Iron Man (Volume 4)

Links and References

• Iron Man #121 - Comic Book Database
• Iron Man (Volume 1) series index at the Grand Comics Database Project