Iron Man (1998 series) #10

Winter Guard, Russia’s superhero team, consisting of Steel Guardian (formerly Red Guardian), Vanguard, Sibercat, Darkstar, Vostok, Fantasma, and Powersurge (formerly Surge) are battling the Mandarin’s invading army of mercenaries when Black Widow joins them, followed shortly by the Avengers (Captain America, Scarlet Witch conjuring up Wonder Man, plus Justice and Firestar). Mandarin’s dragon ship bombards the Russians on the ground while several of the heroes set out to break into the giant ship….

A bloody and bound Iron Man is awakened by the Mandarin who feels obligated to explain how he survived the last time they met: seconds before the implosion of the Heart of Darkness, Mandy managed to teleport out and become a janitor working for Stark Enterprises. He thanks Tony for showing him that feudalism isn’t dead, merely transformed for the modern era and reveals that his servitors have been prodding Tony toward this meeting. Mandy then explains that he is planning to conquer Russia as a secure power base from which to conquer the world but Tony senses that this isn’t Mandy’s real plan….

In a secret base below the Potomac River, Madame Masque is murdered by her double who then takes her mask and her place….

As many of the heroes continue on the battlefield, in the sky above, the flying heroes attempt to breach the hull of the dragon ship but the ship responds with attacks and any damage repairs itself immediately. Inside, Mandarin is still monologuing about superiority and power and his slaves and vassals; Tony tries to explain the democratic nature of power and the economic system but realizes that his armor is being flooded with warm air to render him stupid. Shellhead breaks loose and immediately Mandarin unleashes all the weapons on the inside of the ship. Iron Man dodges and dives and breaks through into an equipment conduit and makes his way to the power-core and blows it up in an explosion so powerful it is seen by the heroes outside. Mandarin is pleased with Tony’s performance and IM heads to the control room to save his enemy but instead Mandy drops IM out through a portal and the last thing the hero sees is Mandy falling into flames before the Dragon of Heaven explodes. Later, Iron Man crawls out of the wreckage of the ship in time for the Avengers to see him collapse from the sustained activity and injuries of the last 24 hours….