Once More… The Mandarin!

With his Hulk robot, the Mandarin has finally learned that Iron Man is actually Tony Stark. From his new hideout in a Chinese antique shop, he and his assistant Mei Ling plan to ruin Stark’s life.[1] Using his computers, the Mandarin doctors photos to make it look as though Tony Stark has been meeting with the leaders of communist states that are considered enemies of the United States.

Unaware of the Mandarin’s latest scheme against him, Tony Stark goes out for dinner and dancing with Janice Cord. The pair really hit it off and Janice is able to forgive Tony for running off on her when they were prisoners of the Maggia. Although they should be discussing the sale of her late father’s company, the two decide to enjoy their evening out together instead.[2] However, their night on the town comes to an abrupt end when reporters barge into the nightclub to question Tony about the photos of him that were leaked to the media. Shocked that the press is accusing him of betraying his country, Tony takes Janice home without answering any questions. Stark’s refusal to answer to the allegations puts his credibility further into question. When word reaches Senator Harrington Byrd, he is disappointed that Tony won’t answer to the charges. Without a reasonable explanation, Byrde orders all government contracts with Stark Industries cancelled, forcing the business to close.[3]

However, the reason why Tony Stark isn’t making a public statement is that the date of these alleged meetings coincided with the times he was on missions as Iron Man. In order to clear his name, Tony will need to reveal his double identity, something he is not willing to compromise. As Iron Man, Tony tries calling Senator Byrd to convince him that Tony Stark is innocent, unfortunately, Byrd’s hands are tied without any evidence. He next gets a call from Mei Ling, who tells Iron Man that he can find proof to clear Tony Stark’s name at her antique shop. After she hangs up the phone, the Mandarin boasts over his enemy’s impending doom. Mei Ling, on the other hand, can’t wait for Iron Man’s death because it means that the Mandarin will finally allow them to get married as she had been betrothed to him since she was a trial.

Iron Man also knows he is probably walking into a trap but has no other choice. However, when he arrives outside the antique shop he is approached by both Nick Fury and Jasper Sitwell. They want Iron Man to tell them what’s going on his with “employer” but he refuses to talk. When the Golden Avenger tries to escape, Fury blasts him out of the sky with a vacuum blaster. This temporarily grounds Iron Man, but after using a nearby lamp post for a quick charge he manages to blast off again. This time, Nick Fury has the SHIELD Helicarrier pursue Iron Man. Unable to evade the massive ship, Iron Man finds cover on the side of a building. Realizing he can’t get anywhere as Iron Man, he steals a suit from a dry cleaning truck to change out of his armor.

Tony then heads to the Drexel Chrod’s abandoned laboratory where he can work on a solution to his problem uninterrupted. He is found there by Janice, who decides to trust Tony enough to use her father’s lab and clear his name. After working for a few hours working in the lab, Tony changes back into Iron Man and confronts Mei Ling in her shop. There, the Mandarin makes his involvement known, and that he knows the Avenger is also Tony Stark. Using his power rings, the Mandarin activates a trio of robots disguised as stone sumo wrestlers.

Iron Man easily smashes the stone robots and follows after the Mandarin. This plays into his foe’s plans as he has set up a trap. Immobilized by a power-draining ray, Iron Man is now helpless as the Mandarin prepares to unmask him.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Mandarin, Janice Cord, Nick Fury, Jasper Sitwell, Mei Ling, Harrington Byrd

Continuity Notes

1. The Mandarin explains here that his motivation for creating the Hulk robot was due to the fact that the monster had recently destroyed his castle back in China. That happened in Incredible Hulk #108.

2. Lots going on here between Tony and Janice:

   • Janice’s father was the owner of Cord Manufacturing, a rival to Stark Industries. His obsession with destroying Iron Man and Tony Stark ended in his own death in Iron Man #2.

   • Janice’s lawyer, Vincent Sandhurst, has been pressuring her to sell the company to Tony since issue #7.

   • Tony, Janice, and Vincent were captured by the Gladiator and the Maggia as part of a raid on Stark Industries. Tony ran off to change into Iron Man, leaving Janice to wonder if he was a coward. See Iron Man #7-8.

3. Mention is made how Senator Byrd previously investigated Stark Industries. This was over the true identity of Iron Man. Byrd pressed the issue from Tales of Suspense #72 through 89. He dropped the investigation because he realized the importance of Iron Man’s secret identity.

Topical References

• Dated Cold War references: Red, Commie

• The news photographers are all using old-fashioned cameras that have telescoping lenses and flashbulbs.

• Everyone in this story is depicted using rotary phones.