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 produced two progressively condensed drafts, b and c; draft c was submitted, but the version eventually published as Iron Man in Fight Stories, volume 3, number 1 (June 1930), was heavily edited and about 10,000 words shorter than Howard’s text.

Fiction House initially had difficulty locating the manuscript, but eventually found and accepted it for $200. In a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith circa February 1930, Howard called it “by far the best fight story I ever wrote” and noted that, although Steve Costigan and his brother Iron Mike appear, the central figure is heavyweight Mike Brennon and the story is “harsh and brutal” rather than humorous.

After publication, Howard complained in a May 1930 letter that the magazine had changed the title, chapter headings and many passages, in some places distorting his original meaning.

When Howard sent his story to Fiction House there seems to have been problems finding the story. In a letter to his friend Tevis Clyde Smith circa January 1930 Howard wrote:

Got a letter from Fiction House. I’d written about “Iron Men.” He said they hadn’t seen it but would try to trace it. I’d told him I’d rewrite from the copy and send it to him, if he hadn’t gotten it. He said to hold everything till he heard from me again. I hope he’ll find it and take. I don’t see how in Hell a carefully addressed letter gets lost in the mail. He also said — in response to my remark that I was preparing more Steve Costigan stories — “I am glad to hear that Steve Costigan is going to swashbuckle his way across more pages of Fight Stories. All of us here are for him.” Now watch me get the next seventeen back. I’m not blaming the editors as much as I used to do. I write a good story, they enthuse about it, next time I fall so much below standard — whatever that is — they get discouraged about me and forget all about me. Oh well —

Fiction House, fortunately, found the story and Howard received $200. In another letter, circa Ferbruary, 1930 to Tevis he wrote:

Well, here is the letter. I haven’t much to add. Fiction House — Fight Stories — took another Steve Costigan story for $100. Also they finally located “Iron Men” and accepted it for $200. This is by far the best fight story I ever wrote. In many ways the best story of any kind I ever wrote. I guess my destiny is tied up with the Costigan family. I’ve never sold Fight Stories a story that didn’t deal with them. The central figure of “Iron Men” isn’t a Costigan but both Steve and his brother Iron Mike figure in the story. This tale isn’t humorous like the others. It’s harsh and brutal; I don’t know whether the readers will like it or not.

And in a letter to Tevis circa May 1930 he wrote:

Fight Stories was kind enough to give me the cover design this month but they changed the title and the chapter headings and made quite a number of changes throughout the story which seemed not only needless to me, but in some places entirely distorted the original meaning. I think some of the changes must surely have been mistakes in printing.