Tales of Suspense #90
The Golden Ghost!
Tony Stark is being forced to build a miniaturized version of the Melter’s melting gun. Since the villain now has a weapon that can melt more than just metal, Tony Stark is forced to comply. As Start works away, the Melter notices mocks it for being an obsolete relic.[1] When Stark finishes the upgraded melting gun, the Melter is not happy because it is still too big and demands Stark make one small enough to fit in his pocket.
Outside, the police have become aware that the Melter is holding Tony Stark hostage and have arrived on the scene. After getting through a throng of the women Tony has been dating recently, the lead detective uses a bullhorn to order the Melter to surrender. The Melter realizes that he has to make due with what he has and leave. Turning his new melting gun to the flesh setting, he blasts Tony Stark in the chest and leaves him for dead. Little does he know is that Tony Stark survived thanks to the metal chest plate he wears under his clothing at all times in order to keep his heart beating.[2]
While the Melter goes outside to deal with the police, Tony is forced to put on the only suit of armor he has within reach: His original suit of golden armor. He then goes out and faces the Melter one-on-one. A difficult task because Tony has forgotten how heavy and cumbersome his original armor is. However, he forces the Melter to keep on using his new melting gun until it becomes too hot to hold. As it turns out, Tony Stark constructed the melting ray so that it would easily overheat. Without his trademark weapon, the Melter is quickly knocked out by Iron Man and turned over to the authorities.
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, Melter
Continuity Notes
The Melter first fought Iron Man when he was wearing this armor back in Tales of Suspense #47, an issue before Tony built the first version of his trademark red and gold armor. The last time Tony was forced to wear this older model was in issue #65 against Weasle Wills, when Wills stole his current suit of armor.
Which has been the status quo since Stark got shrapnel in his heart in Tales of Suspense #39. This will remain the case until he gets a heart transplant in Iron Man #19.
Topical References
The secret to Starktech in this story is… tansistors! The most common component in modern electronics these days.
… And Men Shall Call Him Traitor!
Having trapped Captain America in a room with the walls closing in, the Red Skull leaves his Seagull Island hideout to trap the city of New York in a massive plastic bubble. Captain America manages to break free from the trap. Tying a wire to his shield, he uses it as a crude grappling hook to hitch a ride on the Red Skull’s ship. Spotting the hero, the Red Skull tries drowning him by lowering his ship so Captain America is dunked into the ocean. The Avenger manages to climb up the wire out of the water and onto the ship.
When Captain America smashes his way into the ship he is too late to stop the Red Skull from sealing Manhattan in a plastic bubble. When he tries rushing his foe, Cap falls through a trap floor and ends up having to fight an insectoid robot. He easily destroys this robot and climbs back up to the control room. There the Red Skull threatens to kill everyone in Manhattan unless Captain America pledges loyalty to him for the next 24 hours. With no other choice, Captain America complies.
To cinch this victory, the Red Skull then interrupts all television broadcasts and forces Captain America to pledge allegiance to him to the entire world. As the people of America reel to the news that Captain America has turned traitor, the Red Skull pilots his ship away from New York for the next part of his scheme.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Red Skull
Topical References
The Red Skull states here that there are about a million lives living in New York City. This is topical because the population of New York has continued to grow over the years. at the time of this writing (February 2021) the city is home to 8.4 million people.
