Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Storm has been hearing voices from her past in her mind. Now she's letting the winds guide her to the source in the Giant Crystal Cave in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. But when she gets to the entrance to the site she's joined by Iron Man who's also been hearing voices and got his suit to track the source through more 'scientific' means.
Tony Stark knows that Ororo Munro is claustrophobic and shares that he too has issues with caves, but she spurns his sympathy or help. She comments on his battle-scarred armour, and the editor reminds us that Tony now has limited repair facilities. They descend to the Cave Of The Crystals where they both seem to hear Black Panther's voice. Tony claims to be on good terms with T'Challa but Ororo counterclaims that BP hasn't forgiven him for his Thor clone destroying the Wakandan Embassy in New York during the 1st superhero Civil War (BP(2005)#25). Tony hits back by mentioning her divorce from T'Challa (Avengers Vs X-Men #9), and her stealing the sacred sword Skybreaker from Wakanda during the X Of Swords event (Marauders #13). Storm says those things have been settled amicably.
While Ororo tries to sense what the crystals want from her Iron Man tries to contact the Avengers but is blocked by interference. They get separated and the crystals start undermining them each separately, starting by making it seem that the other is continuing to make remarks about them and their team. When Iron Man angrily fires a repulsor blast it almost hits Storm who responds with a lightning strike. Ororo tries to convince Tony that the crystals are making them irrational, but they continue to fight as the crystals now show their teammates belittling them until Storm suffers a flesh wound. Then she produces a blast which literally knocks his helmet off (and it bounces away through the crystal maze). And then martial arts moves taught her by T'Challa and the Wakandan Dora Milaje bring the Avenger down. But a blast from IM brings the roof down and separates them.
Tony Stark is now faced with a vision of Prof Ho Yinsen who helped him build the 1st Iron Man suit to escape from captivity at the cost of his own life (need I say Tales Of Suspense #39?). The 'ghost' accuses Stark of sacrificing him for his own benefit, but Tony responds that he's tried to use the armour for good. He fires a repulsor at his tormentor ...
... and hits Ororo who faces her own 'ghost' of Amahl Farouk who rescued the orphan from the Cairo gutter and taught her to be a thief. He speaks to the little girl within her and tells her to forget such a 'fantasy' of growing up to be the wind-riding goddess. She drop kicks him ...
... and bounces off IM's armour. Tony is then assaulted by 'Patsy Walker' who accuses him of not saving her from Blackheart (even though she beat him herself in the Iron Man/Hellcat Annual). Visions of Happy Hogan and Rescue (Pepper Potts) join in. IM shoots wildly all around ...
... and comes to his senses to see Ororo lying in front of him. She convinces him she's real but he still doesn't trust her. He whistles for his helmet but it doesn't return to him and she takes the opportunity to fire lightning again. And Tony shoots too.
Next thing we see is blast and lightning emerging from a hole in the ground followed by Storm carrying Iron Man, and many crystals coming after to float in the air. They both grudgingly admit that they were worthy opponents even though neither of them was trying to do their worst. Ororo asks the crystals what this was all about. They don't answer but a purple mist draws her elsewhere. Iron Man contacts Captain Marvel (head of the current Avengers team) and asks for a lift home.
Story 2:- Contest of chaos part 2
Script Stephanie Phillips. Pencils/inks Alberto Foche, Colours Raul Angulo
Spider-Man and Jessica Jones are in her PI office investigating who compelled him and Wolverine to compete for a mystic object in Spidey's Annual. (Logan won and was spirited away with the orb.) Spidey figures it's a magic-user and rambles on about all the possible suspects. Then he wonders why. Meanwhile Jessica has been on the internet and asks him if Storm and Iron Man get on. SM thinks they're friendly but not buddies, so Jess says they've been fighting each other in Mexico and it might be related to what happened to him. He's amazed at her sophisticated software that can locate superheroes worldwide, but she says she just Googled "heroes fighting".
But his list of magic-users prompts her to take him to see Clea Strange, Sorceress Supreme of the Dark Dimension (with the ghost-dog Bats and probably in Dr Strange's house). Clea tells them they need to look into the past to a time when chaos reigned supreme.