R Shur
Member Since January 2004
385 Artworks | Watched by 57

Iron Man 120 Cover (1978) vs Namor the Sub-Mariner [THE Holy Grail!]

Location: Marvel - Covers
Artist: Bob Layton (All)

Location: Marvel - Covers
Title: Iron Man 120 Cover (1978) vs Namor the Sub-Mariner [THE Holy Grail!]*
Artist: Bob Layton (All)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Cover
For Sale Status: Not For Sale, Not For Trade
Views: 3025
Likes on CAF: 9
Comments: 35
Added to Site: 11/30/2012

Iron Man vs. Namor!

Cover dated March 1978, on sale December 1978. My definitive comic art and overall comic book related holy grail.

Iron Man #120 was the first comic book I ever purchased. Everytime I see the cover of this issue it transports me back to the late December 1978 day when I bought it from the ol' corner candy/cigar store in my old home town as a grade-schooler. Still remember the exact details including, appropriately enough, Al Stewart's Time Passages playing on the stores radio and how I passed over Avengers #181 and Brave and The Bold #148 [cool Aparo Batman and Plastic Man X-Mas cover] as I marveled - pun intended - at Iron Man fighting the Namor the Sub-Mariner on the #120 cover. A game changing day of my childhood. The next day I did pick up Avengers #181, but never had the extra nickel to get the Brave and the Bold. DC's were 40¢ and Marvel would remain at 35¢ until Feb 1979 [cover dated May 1979].

Iron Man #120 is now known as as the first part of the groundbreaking Michelinie/Layton/Romita Jr "Demon In A Bottle" story line. Arguably the most important story line in the characters history and the beginning of the now modern day Tony Stark and Iron Man. Stark went from being a typical one note generic character to one that was very human with a sickness [alcoholism] no suit of armor could remedy.

As you may have guessed not for trade, as all other comic art is at best of secondary interest to me, and not for sale - at least not for any realistic amount.

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Member Since: January 2004
Last Login: July 2026
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E DLS Member Since 2005

Posted On 11/30/2012

Congratulations on your grail cover!

Roy Johnson Member Since 2010

Posted On 11/30/2012

Hmm, I knew about the love for Steel and All-Star Squadron, but not this Marvel item. Congratulations on getting this. First issue purchase, eh? Hmmm.

Peter S Member Since 2006

Posted On 11/30/2012

Congratulations Rick! Great cover!

frank x townsondecker Member Since 2006

Posted On 11/30/2012

congratulations on getting "the one"!!!

George H Member Since 2009

Posted On 11/30/2012

Major congrats on obtaining such a stunning cover!

Mark Levy Member Since 2004

Posted On 11/30/2012

Very memorable cover! Iron Man - Subby covers are rare and sweet - like the way the art extends into the corner box

Lloyd White Member Since 2007

Posted On 11/30/2012

Congratulations on acquiring this stunning piece---a grail indeed!

Alex B Member Since 2008

Posted On 11/30/2012

Congrats for getting your Grail ! A classic cover, an unforgettable image and the beginning of one of the best sagas in comics history !

LB Jefferies Member Since 2003

Posted On 11/30/2012

Great! I love it when the cover to a first ever issue is obtained. Well done.

. BRAUNY Member Since 2007

Posted On 11/30/2012

What a fantastic cover. One of my favorites from the Romita Jr/Layton run on IM! Super congrats!

Brent Keane Member Since 2011

Posted On 12/1/2012

Kudos, it's an excellent piece from one of the latter-day greats.

matthew reed Member Since 2006

Posted On 12/1/2012

HA! just terrific. thanks for the story. it really is something special no doubt.

bob fish Member Since 2011

Posted On 12/1/2012

thank's for sharing this amazing cover...a museum cover ! congrats

Dimitrios Z Member Since 2011

Posted On 12/1/2012

Amazing Layton Cover, one of my favorites from the Iron Man run. Great find!!!

Raymond Bryan Member Since 2011

Posted On 12/1/2012

Thank you for sharing and I hope you will share more!! Just an amazing piece and Congrats on this!!!

Fred's CAF Gallery Member Since 2003

Posted On 12/1/2012

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ron S Member Since 2007

Posted On 12/1/2012

Great cover, better story. Congratulations!

J L Member Since 2005

Posted On 12/2/2012

Awesome cover!!!! Congrats on finding that first comic.

DW A Member Since 2005

Posted On 12/3/2012

Incredible cover, love the nostalgia behind it for you also. Thanks for sharing both the cover and this nostalgia

Daren Domina Member Since 2006

Posted On 12/5/2012

Man oh man! Just great!!! Congrats! Happy to hear also that it has such strong memories for you.

Dan M Member Since 2007

Posted On 4/20/2013

this was one of my favorite IM issues. Congrats!

Tom Coker Member Since 2005

Posted On 4/28/2013

Congrats on this outstanding cover and all your cool Iron Man art!

Jason Versaggi Member Since 2005

Posted On 2/6/2015

Wow. Classic! A Layton Iron Man cover right up there with Miller DD, Byrne FF covers in my opinion.

Michael Kenyon Member Since 2008

Posted On 2/20/2015

You weren't searching for accolades but here they come.One thing that jumps out is just how exciting it always is to see Subby stand up against ol Shell head.The oncoming battle is the stuff of legend.This issue as you stay is the jump off for Demon in the Bottle (an all time great story line).Your childhood recollections and love of the story will for now keep me from making you an offer.Finally thanks a lot as I cannot get Time Passages out of my head..great song!!!!!

Thomas Vanderstappen Member Since 2005

Posted On 4/5/2015

Stunning piece!

Gene Park Member Since 2004

Posted On 9/20/2015

Awesome cover, Rick!! Great meeting you at the NJ show today.

Dave W Member Since 2006

Posted On 11/23/2015

Congratulations! The first comic I remember pulling off the spinner rack was IM 116 and it evokes the same feelings as you have described. Congrats on owning a personal grail – nice to see it home.

Joe Shaffer Member Since 2010

Posted On 12/28/2015

Spectacular, always a dream to land a Grail!

Xavier . Member Since 2010

Posted On 3/28/2016

Congrats on getting your Grail! It's a spectacular piece.

Bill J Member Since 2009

Posted On 10/18/2018

Splendid! Layton rally put this one out of the park!

J. Sid Member Since 2004

Posted On 12/7/2020

Great story. Textbook definition of "grail" in this hobby IMO (and the cover doesn't stink either)

Kirk Dilbeck (3-Wishes and Patron-of-art) Member Since 2006

Posted On 4/3/2022

Congrats on a cool and oh so special cover!

CJ Design Member Since 2018

Posted On 12/9/2023

A terrific Cover by Bob, but the story of buying the book is priceless...it's much how my mind works

Steven Dilworth Member Since 2012

Posted On 2/17/2025

It is a glorious example of Bob Layton's work. Sub-Mariner is flat-out awesome! It's so exciting that it is also your grail, the very first book you ever purchased. What a wonderful story. Congratulations.

As to the sincerity of your unwillingness to sell or trade this masterpiece, who can doubt it? After all, you R Shur.

Mike (aka Off White) White Member Since 2008

Posted On 2/20/2025

Such an Iconic cover from Layton during his Iron Man run

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Iron Man 120 Cover (1978) vs Namor the Sub-Mariner [THE Holy Grail!]

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