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Cover: Marie Severin & Bill Everett

Iron Man #30

Name: Iron Man #30
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Oct 1970 · Marvel · 0.15 USD

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“The Menace of the Monster-Master!!”

About this Issue

Iron Man #30 serves as the debut chapter of a brief but distinct Japan-set storyline in the character's early Bronze Age solo series, introducing a self-contained cast of new characters against the backdrop of Cold War-inflected international politics. The issue marks the first and only appearance of the Monster Master (Toru Tarakato), a villain whose death within the same story renders him one of the few genuinely disposable antagonists of the era — an unusual creative choice for a Marvel book that typically recycled villains. Narratively, it pushed Tony Stark beyond the American settings that had defined most of his adventures to that point, briefly engaging the geopolitical anxieties of 1970 Japan. While not a landmark in the mold of first appearances that shaped the broader Marvel Universe, the issue represents the Allyn Brodsky scripting period's willingness to experiment with standalone, globe-trotting stories.

In "The Menace of the Monster-Master!!", Tony Stark finds himself in Japan on a business trip when he's suddenly confronted by the enigmatic and terrifying villain known as the Monster of Death! Written by Allyn Brodsky and brought to life by Don Heck’s dynamic art and Chic Stone’s bold inks, this issue blends high-stakes espionage with the ever-present danger of Stark’s own technological legacy. The cover by Marie Severin and Bill Everett captures the menace with striking flair, making it a standout in the early Iron Man run.

writer Allyn Brodsky · artist Don Heck · inker Chic Stone · letterer Jean Izzo · cover Marie Severin, Bill Everett

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (Fine) $18

CGC 9.8 · 7 in census $3,768

CGC 9.6 · 25 in census $275

CGC 9.4 · 28 in census $147*

CGC 9.2 · 17 in census $89

CGC 9.0 · 17 in census $86

CGC 8.5 · 17 in census $70*

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CGC 8.0 · 7 in census $62*

CGC 7.5 · 4 in census $55*

CGC 7.0 · 6 in census $47*

CGC 6.5 · 5 in census $40*

CGC 6.0 · 4 in census $38*

CGC 5.5 · 4 in census $32*

CGC 5.0 · 3 in census $32*

CGC 4.5 · 2 in census $29*

CGC 4.0 · 2 in census $28*

CGC 3.5 none in existence

CGC 3.0 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 2.5 none in existence

CGC 2.0 none in existence

CGC 1.5 none in existence

CGC 1.0 · 1 in census $20*

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Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

This exact issue on ebay

CGC 9.6 $264 1 listing CGC 9.2 $270 1 listing CBCS 9.4 $350 1 listing

Raw — VF ▾ $13.49–$45 4 listings

VF $13.49 VF $19.47 VF $40 VF $45

Raw — FN/VF $40 1 listing

Raw — FN ▾ $19.99–$28 3 listings

FN $19.99 FN $24.99 FN $28

Raw — VG $14.99 1 listing

Raw / ungraded ▾ $8–$35.99 4 listings

Raw / ungraded $8 Raw / ungraded $15 Raw / ungraded $25 Raw / ungraded $35.99

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History

By issue #30, the Iron Man solo title had moved through several creative teams since its 1968 launch; Allyn Brodsky had taken over scripting duties in a transitional period between Archie Goodwin's celebrated early run and the later Mike Friedrich era. Don Heck — one of Iron Man's original artistic architects, having co-designed the character in Tales of Suspense — returned to pencil this issue, giving it a visual continuity with the character's origins that the rotating scripters of the period could not always provide. Stan Lee was editor-in-chief and received an editorial credit. The issue went on sale July 7, 1970, carrying an October 1970 cover date, and notably contained a house advertisement for Conan the Barbarian #1, marking Marvel's expansion into sword-and-sorcery at almost the exact same moment this issue hit newsstands.

Trivia · 8 facts

Written by Allyn Brodsky, penciled by Don Heck, inked by Chic Stone, and edited by Stan Lee; cover date October 1970, on-sale July 7, 1970.
Story title: 'They Call Him — The Monster of Death!' — a self-contained adventure set entirely in Japan.
First appearance of the Monster Master (real name Toru Tarakato), a Japanese nationalist engineer who allies with foreign powers to build a weapon against his own government; he dies within this same issue, making him one of the rare one-and-done Marvel villains of the era.
First appearance of Zoga the Unthinkable, a massive laser-equipped piloted robot built and deployed by the Monster Master.
First appearances of supporting characters Professor Goro Watanabe and his daughter Fujiko 'Fuji' Watanabe, Japanese scientists who aid Tony Stark in combating the threat.
The issue includes a house advertisement for Conan the Barbarian (Marvel, 1970 series) #1, placing it as a historical snapshot of Marvel's line expansion into sword-and-sorcery.
Reprinted in Essential Iron Man Vol. 3 (April 2008) and Iron Man Epic Collection Vol. 4: The Fury of the Firebrand (2020), as well as in a 1978 Greek edition (Kabanas Hellas Classic Comics Black Panther #1).
Don Heck was one of the original co-creators of the Iron Man character, making his penciling of this issue a reunion of artist and character during the early Bronze Age transition.