METAL MEN 25 (1967)
by Robert Kanigher & Ross Andru
Good news: Chemo is back!!!
Bad news: Doc Magnus is caught in an explosion!
I might mixed up which one is the good and which one is the bad news, though.
And that’s also the end of Sizzler! Yes, after being the main antagonist of two stories, she appeared in a couple of panels last issue and is killed IN THE VERY FIRST PANEL of this one.
She wasn’t a great character or anything, but I still feel ripped off!!!
The explosion drove a piece of metal into Doc’s chest (without any visible wounds, mind you!). We have already figured out that Doc is immortal, but the Metal Men still decide to operate him.
Yes Nameless, a tin surgeon is far less believable than a gold, platinum, mercury or lead surgeon (especially since two of those are toxic!!!). WTF!?
With Doc out of commission for a while, Gold is voted the new leader while Mercury only receives one vote… guess from who.
I’ve often criticized Gold for being unbearably boring… and he is… but he must be a better leader since the Metal Men are finally able to accomplish SOMETHING.
Could it be that they’re actually decent heroes and Doc is the only problem?
Well there’s no time to think about it because CHEMO!!!
Then SOMEHOW Gold figures out that Chemo is now in love with Tina!
Unless Gold is suddenly telepathic, could it be that Chemo’s words gave him some vital clue?
Sounds legit.
Also Lead is the first one to kick the bucket this time. Well at least for once it’s not Tin.
I wonder if Kanigher was growing bored of Doc Magnus and was thinking about completely replacing him with Gold, because this time he’s the one to revive Lead.
Because apparently it’s the same thing as operating on a human. (????)
Round two: Chemo versus Iron!
You’ll never guess what happens.
With Tina refusing to leave Doc’s side, Chemo has to settle for another iron lady.
Then Tin and Nameless shred themselves into powder (!!!!) in an attempt to stop Chemo.
What is it with those two and suicide attacks!?
The tin powder irritates Chemo’s eyes (WHICH HE DOESN’T HAVE), making him fall into the water as Gold recovers the remains of his fellow robots.
Your regular reminder that Chemo is, in fact, freaking awesome.
It’s been 25 issues and I still don’t understand what it takes to kill one of the Metal Men, but Mercury is by far the most confusing.
The fact that he’s liquid is practically his catchphrase (although he hasn’t said it in ages), so what if he’s turned into “globules”!?
I’m not counting that as a Mercury death because he’s still talking, by the way.
Told you Gold is boring. Even Chemo isn’t interested.
Then Gold defeats Chemo by locking his mouth. Wait, that was an option THE WHOLE TIME!?
You could’ve done THAT at any point during this story or in any previous encounter!?
I take back anything nice I ever said about the Metal Men’s abilities.
You guys suck.
Since he’s the only saving grace of this issue, I’ll leave the comments to Chemo.
Metal Men significance: 0/10
Silver Age-ness: 1,000/10
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
Wise words indeed.
Times Nameless has died: 5
Times Platinum has died: 13
Times Mercury has died: 15
Times Gold has died: 17
Times Lead has died: 18
Times Tin has died: 18
Times Iron has died: 18
Interesting letters: I swear I didn’t travel back in time to write this one.
