Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Tony Stark and Splitlip the Dark Elf drop in on Stark Resilient late in the evening of the last issue, and everyone's still there. Tony catches up with the latest developments in their repulsor-powered products. He introduces Splitlip around and explains some of last issue's events:- He denies the report that he was drunk when he crashed the Iron Man suit, but admits drinking during Fear Itself. And that someone has subpoena'd the suit's recent biometric data log, to prove he was drunk. Security Chief Bethany Cabe is not happy.
Iron Man flies off to New York to visit the Avengers and Henry Hellrung.
Paris is still recovering from having its populace temporarily turned to stone by the Worthy Mokk (Grey Gargoyle) during Fear Itself. On of those recovering is the Doug Johnson, who has forgotten his name and only remembers himself as (the original) Detroit Steel.
Meanwhile at Hammer Industries Justine Hammer is introducing her daughter Sasha as the new leader of the Detroit Steel Corps.
And at Stark Resilient Pepper Potts faces down criticism from the board of investors for putting her responsibilities as CEO at risk by using her Rescue identity during Fear Itself. A video has been released showing her crying in the Rescue armour. Bethany tells her she released the video as payback for the hassle Pepper has been giving her.
They agree a grudging truce, and discuss a suspected mole. We see that it is Spymaster. We can't tell who his female handler is.
Mandarin and Ezekiel Stane review footage from the battle in Paris showing that Iron Man's chest repulsor unit got damaged. This is what keeps him alive, and Stane thinks Stark can't repair it. They send an upgraded Living Laser to find out more. He causes Iron Man to have a heart attack and crash Times Square.
Returning to Mandarin City with data on Stark's live-in armour, Laser learns from Stane that he has a bomb implanted in him, like Blizzard last issue. And Stane himself has such a bomb too.