Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Tony Stark watches news reports about events in Civil War II including some since last issue:- The death of Bruce Banner and the trial and acquittal of Hawkeye who has since gone into hiding.
He tells Mary Jane Watson that he needs to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He's not started drinking again, but needs support to keep him sober. But he wants to avoid Carol Danvers who attends his usual place since he sponsored her. MJ continues to fend off phone calls, but Tony is glad that Riri Williams tried to contact him. (MJ doesn't yet know who she is.)
So Stark drops in on a random AA place. We hear a man say how the need to keep his family safe in these troubled times keeps him sober. And the fact that there are also good things in the world helps too.
But the next person to speak is Carol Danvers! Tony hears her say that her particular law enforcement job means that she has to stay sober to keep the world safe. And then he walks out. She recognises him and follows.
Stark accuses Danvers of following him, but they soon convince each other that they both had the same idea to avoid each other. They share their grief over James Rhodes, but Carol suggests Tony's against Ulysses' predictions because 1 of them killed his friend. Tony denies this - he's anti because he's cleverer than everybody else and can see it's wrong. And he brings up Bruce Banner as well, but Carol reminds him that it was Bruce who arranged for Clint Barton to kill him.
But eventually they calm down and chat. Tony reminds her of when they used to flirt. He claims he knows now that was his standard response to women who overawed him. Carol says she responded because his charm offensive was very good, until she detected the broken boy inside. Tony claims that's what makes him most attractive - Carol disagrees.
They end up saying how they respect each other but are still fundamentally on opposite sides re Ulysses. They both also say they've been holding back, but if necessary they'll each go all the way in defence of what they believe is right.
Captain Marvel flies away. But Tony stops his Iron Man armour from returning to him, and re-enters the AA meeting. A woman is just finishing explaining how her parents blame her lifestyle choices on her drinking, even though she's sober now. Tony is crying, but we don't see if he takes a turn to speak.
2 weeks later Stark International shares are still falling when Amanda Armstrong comes to see her son. Instead she's met by the AI Friday who says there's a problem with the arranged meeting, and asks Amanda if she's seen the news today.