Textual identity is not textual authority. “Catalogue primary/default” selects the default catalogue representation; it does not mean that this wording is automatically Howard’s most authoritative text.
Introduction
Howard completed the first version of Iron Men (draft a) in March or April 1929 and sent it to Fight Stories, where it was apparently considered too long. He then produced two successively condensed drafts, b and c. Draft c was submitted to the magazine; the published version was heavily edited.
Summary spoilers
"Iron Men" tells the story of Mike Brennon, a remarkably durable heavyweight boxer, whose physical resilience and fighting spirit define his boxing career. Despite a lack of finesse and boxing technique, Mike's ability to absorb punishment and deliver devastating punches earns him fame as one of the ring's toughest fighters. The story spans over several years, highlighting key fights that showcase his iron will and draw significant attention from boxing enthusiasts and promoters. However, Mike's unyielding pursuit of money, driven by undisclosed personal motives, leads him to take on increasingly dangerous matches. His manager, Steve Amber, and friend, Spike Ganlon, worry about the toll these fights take on him, fearing for both his physical well-being and mental health. As Mike continues to face and sometimes defeat stronger opponents, his legend grows, yet so does the concern that his career, driven by an insatiable need for wealth and recognition, might end in tragedy.
This is a tale of physical endurance, the pursuit of fame and money, and the human cost of such pursuits. It portrays the boxing world with a critical eye, showcasing both the glory and the grim reality faced by those who enter the ring.
Characters in this exact text
Ace BranniganAce Brannigan — boxer who loses to Brennon on a foul in the first Iron Men versionMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Bat MulcahyBat Mulcahy — boxer Brennon defeats before Steve Amber takes him overOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 337Battling NelsonBattling Nelson — historical boxer; source sometimes shortens this to Bat NelsonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 351Bob FitzsimmonsBob Fitzsimmons — historical heavyweight champion; source also uses Robert Fitzsimmons/FitzMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 349Flash SullivanFlash Sullivan — light-heavyweight champion who outpoints/fights BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Frankie GroganFrankie Grogan — fighter who outpoints BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364TunneyGene Tunney — historical heavyweight champion; source also gives James J. TunneyMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 373Gunboat SloanGunboat Sloan — boxer who faces BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Harry GrebHarry Greb — historical boxerMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 340HerreraHerrera — historical boxer referenced by surname in Iron MenMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 333DempseyJack Dempsey — historical heavyweight champion; the modern Dempsey distinguished from the NonpareilMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 341Jack JohnsonJack Johnson — historical heavyweight championMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 366Jack MaloneyJack Maloney — recurring boxer who fights Brennon and later stars in The Mark of a Bloody Hand and They Always Come BackOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 353Jack SlatteryJack Slattery — dangerous boxer Brennon wants to faceMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 369Jackie FinneganJackie Finnegan — fighter who outpoints BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Jacques DescampoJacques Descampo — foreign boxer outpointed by Brennon in the first Iron Men versionMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365CorbettJames J. Corbett — historical heavyweight champion; source also uses Jim Corbett/Gentleman JimMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 358JeffriesJames J. Jeffries — historical heavyweight champion; source also uses Jim Jeffries/Big Jeff/The Big FellowMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 350Joe ChoynskiJoe Choynski — historical boxer; Howard’s text also spells the name ChoynskyMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 358GansJoe Gans — historical lightweight championMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 358Joe GoddardJoe Goddard — historical boxer referenced among the ring’s “iron men”Mentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 337Joe GrimJoe Grim — historical boxer famed in the source for extreme durabilityMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 350Joe NogalesJoe Nogales — Mexican heavyweight used to test Brennon in the first version of Iron MenOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 340Johnny DundeeJohnny Dundee — historical boxerMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 350Johnny RiskoJohnny Risko — historical boxerMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 334Johnny ThomasJohnny Thomas — fighter who outpoints Brennon in the first Iron Men versionMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Johnny VarellaJohnny Varella — boxer who previously defeated Costigan/Brennon in related boxing talesMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 338Jose GonzalesJose Gonzales — South American boxer who faces BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Kid AllisonKid Allison — recurring boxer/seaman identity appearing in The Voice of Doom and Lobo Volante and mentioned in Iron MenMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Kid McCoyKid McCoy — historical boxerMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 358Marjory WalshireMarjory Walshire — young woman Brennon supports under his Mike Flynn aliasOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 370Mike BodenMike Boden — historical boxer referenced among the ring’s “iron men”Mentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 366Mike BrennonMike Brennon — Iron Mike Brennon, central boxer of both Iron Men versions and important in They Always Come BackOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 333Iron Mike CostiganMike Costigan — Iron Mike Costigan, final opponent of Mike Brennon in Iron MenOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 381Monk BarotaMonk Barota — established fighter used as Brennon’s breakthrough opponentOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 344Ricardo DiazRicardo Diaz — the Spanish Giant, opponent of BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Sailor SladeSailor Slade — boxer who previously beat Brennon and later fights himOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 338Snake CulbersonSnake Culberson — opponent of Brennon; called the Brown PhantomMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Soldier HandlerSoldier Handler — hard-hitting boxer who faces Brennon and MaloneyMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Spike GanlonSpike Ganlon — Brennon’s close boxing companion/secondOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 339Steve AmberSteve Amber — manager/narrator of Iron Men; They Always Come Back calls Brennon’s manager Steve HarmerOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 337Sailor Steve CostiganSteve Costigan — sailor-boxer brought in to face Snake Wamberson in The Trail of the SnakeMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Tom BergTom Berg — iron-man boxer whose death Spike Ganlon recallsMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 379Tom FlynnTom Flynn — boxer who defeats Brennon on a foul in the first Iron Men versionMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Tom SharkeyTom Sharkey — historical boxer repeatedly referenced in Howard’s boxing comparisonsMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 337Tommy FeltzTommy Feltz — fighter who outpoints Brennon in the first Iron Men versionMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Undelo BoriottaUndelo Boriotta — fighter who outpoints Brennon in the first Iron Men versionMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 364Whitey BroadWhitey Broad — boxer who faces BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 365Yon Van HeerenYon Van Heeren — the Durable Dutchman, famous for extreme toughnessOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 361Young CorbettYoung Corbett — historical boxer named separately from James J. CorbettMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 358Young FirpoYoung Firpo — carnival boxer in Iron Men; not merged with the Crowd-Horror Young Firpo on name aloneOn Pagefirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 334Young HansenYoung Hansen — boxer who faces BrennonMentionedfirst: Fists of Iron Round One UE p. 360
Textual witnesses & editorial mediation
These records describe how this textual state is known or represented. A witness may be authorial, editorially mediated, restored, transcribed or otherwise derived without becoming a new Howard-authored textual state.
Fists of Iron Round 1 - UERestored reading editionAuthority basis: Restoration toward authorial text · Treatment: Restored toward authorial wording
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