IRON MAN (1968) 121 122 123 124 & 125 LOT JRJR AVENGERS ANT-MAN & SUB-MARINER

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Up for sale are five issues in the series Iron Man (1968) Issues #121-125.

Iron Man is a superhero appearing in comics published by Marvel Comics.  He was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby.  Iron Man made his first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39 (1963), and received his own title in Iron Man #1 in 1968.

A wealthy American business magnate, playboy, and ingenious scientist, Anthony "Tony" Stark suffers a severe chest injury during a kidnapping. When his captors attempt to force him to build a weapon of mass destruction, he instead creates a mechanized suit of armor to save his life and escape captivity. Later, Stark develops his suit, adding weapons and other technological devices he designed through his company, Stark Industries. He uses the suit and successive versions to protect the world as Iron Man.

Iron Man is one of the founding members of the Avengers and has appeared in the Avengers movies.  In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man was portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.  in the films Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008) in a cameo, Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and will reprise his role in Black Widow (2020).

Iron Man was ranked 12th on IGN's "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes" in 2011 and third in their list of "The Top 50 Avengers."

As mentioned above, this listing is for Iron Man (1968) Issues #121-125.  Highlights include:

Issue #121, published in April 1979, was written by Bob Layton and David Michelinie, with art by superstar artist John Romita, Jr., and a cover by the great Bob Layton   This issue concludes the storyline involving Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner, which began last issue.  Also featuring a very early appearance of Rhodey (Jim Rhodes) who made his first appearance in Issue #118.    I would place this issue in the Good to Very Good range of condition. 

Dave Cockrum, iconic artist of the X-Men, provides the cover to Issue #122, while the interior art is drawn by Carmine Infantino, the legendary artist of the Flash. This issue re-tells the origin story of Iron Man.  This issue also has the first mention of Rhodey's first name.   I would place this issue in the Fine to Very Fine range of condition.    

Iron Man faces an army of supervillains in Issue #123, including the Melter, Whiplash, and Blizzard. John Romita Jr. provides the art, while Bob Layton does the cover.   I would place this issue in the Fine to Very Fine range. 

Iron Man learns that Justin Hammer sent the army of villains against him in Issue #124.  With art and cover by John Romita, Jr.   This issue is in the Fine to Very Fine range of condition.

Finally, Issue #125 has appearances by both the Avengers (Captain America, Vision, Falcon, Beast, Ms. Marvel, and the Wasp) and Ant-Man (Scott Lang).  In this issue, Tony Stark turns the Iron Man armor over to the authorities and goes on an alcohol bender. Without the armor, Tony Stark asks Captain America for a crash course in self-defense. Stark later asks Scott Lang, working at the Stark International research annex, for info on Rykers Island. Scott offers instead to personally help, and secretly as Ant-Man, infiltrates Whiplash's cell and gets information on Justin Hammer. Using the info, Stark and Rhodey find Hammer and are quickly attacked by Hammer's forces (Whiplash, and Grenouille).   I would place this issue in the Fine to Very Fine range of condition. 

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