Tales of Suspense #75, March 1966: ‘The Fury of the Freak!’

Happy Hogan lets his freak flag fly
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In Tales of Suspense #75, originally published in March, 1966, Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) has accidentally turned his sidekick/bodyguard Happy Hogan into a horrible gigantic freak who looks kinda like that guy who sings for Midnight Oil, and now the cops are shooting him and there’s a girl falling off a building too. This classic from the Lizard Collection has cover art by Gene Colan and story by (who else?) Stan Lee; our copy is in great condition with a few small cover flaws, white pages and bright inks, stored in a sealed wooden box for about 40 years.

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22 comments
1 Obdicut  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:29:34pm

Is the freak that one cop in the way back who's doing the monster mash or something?

2 Charles Johnson  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:34:31pm

re: #1 Obdicut

Is the freak that one cop in the way back who's doing the monster mash or something?

The cops look like they're doing some kind of crazy St. Vitus Dance. Waving their guns all over the place. The one in front is holding back the cop to his left. They're eager to get the freak.

3 Kragar  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:40:38pm

Meanwhile, Tony Stark is putting on a breakdance routine.

4 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:41:35pm

Yah, well, the fingers on his foot are freaky.

5 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:42:51pm

Why is Iron Man throwing that woman at The Freak, with one hand too?/

6 Charles Johnson  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:45:08pm

re: #5 The Nightmare of the five Orders of Beggars

I believe The Freak was carrying Ms Pepper Potts, as freaks are wont to do, when he was shot in the arm by that eager policeman in the front, causing him to involuntarily let go of Ms Potts.

7 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:46:27pm

re: #6 Charles Johnson

Yeah, I know, just kiddin' :P

8 Charles Johnson  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:51:40pm

This cover is like a zen koan. You can read many things into it.

Look at it backwards, and Iron Man is tossing Pepper Potts to The Freak, to save her from the clearly disturbed and out of control policemen waving their guns all over the place.

By 1966, Stan Lee was well aware of the social symbolism in the word "freak." So there's that, too.

9 Charles Johnson  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:53:17pm

Meanwhile, woo-hoo! 4001 Twitter followers. Another zero-milestone.

10 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 5:56:12pm

The policemen are clearly clones.

11 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:03:36pm

re: #8 Charles Johnson

Heh. Found this awesome cover, which is also quite topical:

Image: tos072cehk.jpg

12 Charles Johnson  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:08:54pm

re: #11 The Nightmare of the five Orders of Beggars

Heh. Found this awesome cover, which is also quite topical:

Image: tos072cehk.jpg

Cool! Our collection has more than 40 issues of Tales of Suspense, but I missed that one. Was probably surfing.

13 austin_blue  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:12:14pm

re: #11 The Nightmare of the five Orders of Beggars

Heh. Found this awesome cover, which is also quite topical:

Image: tos072cehk.jpg

Nazis. It's nothing but "Nazi, Nazi, Nazi" with Captain America.

Oh, wait...

Did I just Godwin the thread?

{pulls forelock}

15 EdDantes  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:22:11pm

I'm moving to Bakersfield, ca. God have mercy on my soul.

16 austin_blue  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:24:14pm

re: #15 EdDantes

I'm moving to Bakersfield, ca. God have mercy on my soul.

Sun! Fun! Play! Stay!

17 EdDantes  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:26:48pm

re: #16 austin_blue

Sun! Fun! Play! Stay!

Once I get there, there is no escape.

18 A Man for all Seasons  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:28:07pm

re: #17 EdDantes

Once I get there, there is no escape.

The Black Hole of California

19 TedStriker  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:38:20pm

re: #15 EdDantes

I'm moving to Bakersfield, ca. God have mercy on my soul.

Loves me some Buck Owens...

20 Kronocide  Sat, Apr 14, 2012 6:45:26pm

re: #14 The Nightmare of the five Orders of Beggars

Obama donates 100+K $$$ to an extremist socialist organization

I just emailed the manager of a Fischer House at Tripler in Oahu. They're building another one.

It would be cool if we could install a surround sound system or even dedicated theater in one of those homes. Manufacturers are sometimes keen to donating equipment for stuff like this.

Plus, socialists like Dolby, it's been proven.

21 Jeezaloo  Sun, Apr 15, 2012 6:57:12am

That guy who sings for Midnight Oil is now Minister for Education in Her Majesty's government of The Commonwealth of Australia.

22 Charles Johnson  Sun, Apr 15, 2012 9:41:54am

re: #21 Jeezaloo

That guy who sings for Midnight Oil is now Minister for Education in Her Majesty's government of The Commonwealth of Australia.

I know, but "that guy who's Australia's Minister of Education" just didn't sound very funny.


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