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Cover: Gil Kane & John Romita

Iron Man #43

Name: Iron Man #43
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Nov 1971 · Marvel · 0.25 USD

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In "Doomprayer!", Iron Man #43 (1971) delivers a wild, pulpy twist as Professor Garrett, wrongfully accused of treason by Giant-Man, vanishes into Europe and unleashes a monstrous experiment—genetically altering horses and eagles into a winged steed. Armed with a fearsome lance and reborn as the Black Knight, he returns for vengeance, only to be bested by Giant-Man in a clash of titans—though not before escaping into the shadows. Written by Stan Lee and brought to life with dynamic art by Dick Ayers, with cover by Gil Kane and John Romita, this 25-cent classic blends sci-fi ambition with superhero spectacle.

Contains 2 stories

Doomprayer!

20 pp · Superhero

Iron Man [Tony Stark]Guardsman [Kevin O'Brien [as Kevin O'Brian] (introduction, origin)Demon-Queen [Marianne Rodgers]Ben CrandalSoulfather [Mikas] (death)Mister Kline

The Black Knight Strikes!

18 pp · Superhero

Giant-Man [Henry Pym]Wasp [Janet van Dyne]Black Knight [Nathan Garrett] (introduction, origin)

In "The Black Knight Strikes!" from Iron Man #43 (1971), Professor Garrett, exiled after being arrested for treason by Giant-Man, transforms himself in Europe by merging the genes of horses and eagles into a winged steed. Armed with a powerful lance and reborn as the Black Knight, he returns for vengeance—only to be defeated by Giant-Man, though he manages to escape.

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (Fine) $31

CGC 9.8 · 13 in census $1,864

CGC 9.6 · 29 in census $436

CGC 9.4 · 23 in census $206

CGC 9.2 · 16 in census $165

CGC 9.0 · 12 in census $102

CGC 8.5 · 11 in census $102

Show all 18 grades ▾

CGC 8.0 · 11 in census $92

CGC 7.5 · 6 in census $64

CGC 7.0 · 8 in census $64*

CGC 6.5 · 4 in census $64*

CGC 6.0 · 7 in census $64*

CGC 5.5 · 1 in census $52*

CGC 5.0 · 2 in census $49*

CGC 4.5 · 1 in census $44*

CGC 4.0 none in existence

CGC 3.5 · 1 in census $35*

CGC 3.0 none in existence

CGC 2.5 · 1 in census $21

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

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

This exact issue on ebay

CGC 9.6 $400 1 listing CGC 7.5 $120 1 listing Raw — NM $30 1 listing

Raw — VF+ ▾ $34.99–$53 2 listings

VF+ $34.99 VF+ $53

Raw — VERY FINE $44.99 1 listing Raw — FN/VF $42 1 listing

Raw — FN ▾ $36–$99.95 2 listings

FN $36 FN · Signed $99.95

Raw — VG ▾ $8.99–$43.99 6 listings

VG $8.99 VG $12 VG $27 VG $29.99 VG $30 VG $43.99

Raw — VERY GOOD ▾ $13–$17 2 listings

VERY GOOD $13 VERY GOOD $17

Raw — GD $18 1 listing

Raw / ungraded ▾ $1.49–$77.99 14 listings

Raw / ungraded $1.49 Raw / ungraded $5 Raw / ungraded $7.25 Raw / ungraded $9 Raw / ungraded $13 Raw / ungraded $14.99 Raw / ungraded $19 Raw / ungraded $21 Raw / ungraded $30.82 Raw / ungraded $45 Raw / ungraded $58.16 Raw / ungraded $59.99 Raw / ungraded $69.95 Raw / ungraded $77.99

Verified matches for Iron Man #43 · eBay asking prices, seen 26 days ago

More listings for this title

Vintage Marvel Comics Group The Invincible Iron Man 1971 Nov #43 $23

Related listings we couldn't confirm as this exact issue · 1 total · seen 26 days ago

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Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance and origin of the Guardsman (Kevin O'Brien), created by writer Gerry Conway and penciler George Tuska.
Kevin O'Brien dons the Guardsman Armor — a scaled-down, emergency backup suit Tony Stark designed based loosely on his then-current Model 4 Iron Man armor — for the very first time in this issue.
The Guardsman armor contained a cybernetic flaw that stimulated the brain's centers of rage and jealousy, immediately corrupting O'Brien and setting up his arc as a tragic villain/antagonist across the following issues.
The issue is the concluding chapter of Conway's multi-title Mr. Kline storyline, which ran concurrently through Daredevil and Iron Man; Mr. Kline is revealed to be an android sent from an alternate future (circa 12,000–14,000 A.D.) to alter history.
Villain Mikas the Soulfather is killed in this issue, and his apparent 'demon realm' is unmasked as an elaborate constructed set populated by robotic adversaries.
The issue is a 48-page expanded edition containing the lead 20-page 'Doomprayer!' story plus a reprint of the Black Knight's first appearance and origin from Tales to Astonish #52 (with Stan Lee and Dick Ayers credits).
The story has been collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man Vol. 8 (2013), Essential Iron Man Vol. 4 (2010), the Iron Man Epic Collection Vol. 4: The Fury of the Firebrand (2020), and The Invincible Iron Man Omnibus Vol. 3 (2024).
The Guardsman identity has appeared in animated adaptations including the Iron Man animated series episode 'The Armor Wars, Part 2' and Iron Man: Armored Adventures, and the codename has been borne by multiple characters across Marvel continuity into the 2020s.