787 – Marvel Monsters: January 1961

Marvel monsters from comics on sale in January 1961
Marvel monsters from comics on sale in January 1961

Atlas/Marvel’s latest batch of wacko giant monsters in January 1961 features Gruto, Grogg, Gorgilla and Metallo. Someone needs to fix the ‘G’ key on Stan Lee’s typewriter, it seems to be sticking!

Metallo is a proto-Iron Man story. The army has produced an impenetrable metal suit about twice the size of a man. An escaped convict volunteers to test out the suit to evade the cops. I guess that wouldn’t involve a background check?!?

A panel featuring Metallo from Tales of Suspense #16, January 1961
A panel featuring Metallo from Tales of Suspense #16, January 1961

The criminal becomes proficient at the suit and undergoes a series of tests, including having an atomic bomb detonated on top of his noggin. BARROOMM!

A nuclear bomb goes off on Metallo in Tales of Suspense #16, January 1961
A nuclear bomb goes off on Metallo in Tales of Suspense #16, January 1961

In fact, the criminal likes the protection and power of the suit so much he refuses to leave and goes on a crime rampage. Alas, he discovers that he is terminally ill and his disease requires radiation treatment. So, oh the irony, he can either stay in the suit and die or leave the suit to get radiation treatment and be arrested…