The Iron Man
Introduction
The magazine version published as The Iron Man in Fight Stories in June 1930 is substantially shorter than Howard’s longer text Iron Men, by about 10,000 words. Howard received $200 for the story.
The story follows heavyweight boxer Mike Brennon through the pressures and reversals of his fighting career.
Summary spoilers
Chapter 1 : We're introduced to Mike Brennon, a formidable figure in the boxing ring with a reputation for his "cannon-ball" left, "thunderbolt" right, and an unmatched fighting heart. His journey begins in a small Nevada town, where, amidst a carnival, he volunteers to fight "Young Firpo," revealing his exceptional resilience and fighting spirit.
Chapter 2 - Scenting The Kill: Mike's relentless ambition and raw talent catch the eye of Steve Amber, who sees potential in Mike despite his lack of finesse and technical skill. Despite initial reluctance, Mike agrees to be managed by Steve, driven by a mysterious, urgent need for money.
Chapter 3 - White-Hot Fighting Fury: Mike's career, fueled by his incredible stamina and power, begins to take off. However, his lack of boxing technique and reliance on sheer force are highlighted as potential flaws. Despite this, Mike's determination to fight and win for the sake of a mysterious personal goal remains undeterred.
Chapter 4 - Iron Mike's Dread: The narrative delves deeper into Mike's personal life, revealing his love for Marjory Walshire and his motivation to fight: to provide for her and lift her out of poverty. This chapter exposes the emotional depth and complexity of Mike's character, showcasing his vulnerability and the sacrifices he's willing to make for love.
Chapter 5 - The Roll Of The Iron Men: Mike's fights become more brutal and his fame grows, yet so does the toll on his body. His relationship with Marjory becomes strained as his physical condition worsens, and his resolve to continue fighting for financial security begins to impact his health and future prospects.
Chapter 6 - A Cinch To Win!: Despite warnings from those closest to him, Mike's obsession with fighting and winning for Marjory's sake leads him to a pivotal match against Iron Mike Costigan. His unwavering commitment to his cause and the lure of the ring push him to risk everything.
Chapter 7 - Framed: In a shocking turn of events, Mike is drugged before his fight with Costigan, leading to his first and only knockout. It's revealed that Marjory, desperate to save Mike from further harm, was behind the act. The story concludes with Mike acknowledging the true cost of his ambitions and choosing love and life with Marjory over the destructive path of his boxing career.
Textual states
Shown in a practical developmental order where possible: synopsis/outline, numbered drafts, submission states, then published or posthumous states. This display order does not itself assert exact chronology or textual authority.
Publication appearances
Fight Stories - June 1930Fight Stories, Inc. (Fiction House)June 1930↗
Fight Stories - Fall 1938Fight Stories, Inc. (Fiction House)Fall 1938↗
The Iron ManDonald M. Grant1976↗
The Iron ManZebraMarch 1976↗
The Iron ManAceOctober 1983↗
Poings d'acier (Fists of Steel)NeOJune 1989↗
Железный кулак (Zheleznyj kulak) (Iron Fist) P ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Северо-Запад (Severo-Zapad) (North-West)1998↗
Cобрания Cочинений Том 3. Честь корабля (Cobraniia Cochinenii Tom 3. Chest- korablia) (Collected Works Volume 3. Honor of the Ship) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Терра — Книжный клуб (Terra - Book Club) Северо-Запад (Severo-Zapad) (North-West)2003↗
Waterfront Fists and OthersWildside PressMay 2003 (hardcover); December 2004 (trade paperback)↗
Boxing StoriesUniversity of Nebraska Press - Bison BooksApril 2005↗
The Iron ManDodo PressFebruary 2008↗
The Collected Boxing Stories of Robert E. HowardHalcyon Press, Ltd.December 2009↗
The Robert E. Howard Omnibus: 99 Collected StoriesHalcyon Press, Ltd.May 2010↗
Hombres de hierro y otros relatos del cuadrilátero ( Iron Men and Other Stories from the Ring )La Biblioteca del Laberinto (Spain)May 2011↗
Отлитые из железа. Боксёрские рассказы (Otlitye iz zheleza. Bokserskie rasskazy) (Cast from Iron. Boxing Stories) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .1С-Паблишинг (1C-Publishing )November 2016↗
Стальной к улак (Stal-noi kulak) (Iron Fist) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Подсолнухи (Sunflowers)2020↗
L'Uomo di Ferro (Racconti di Boxe)Borè / You Can PrintJuly 2020 (eBook) March 2021 (Paperback)↗