Captives of the Controller!

In a small New England town, Iron Man and Janice Cord have been captured the Controller. The Controller is Basil Sandhust, the disabled brother of Janice’s lawyer Vincent. Creating a device that siphons the mental energy of others to become mobile and enhance his strength, Basil intends to eventually take over the world. He has already succeeded in taking control of everyone in town. However, the control disc on Iron Man’s head didn’t actually work thanks to his helmet and he has been playing possum this whole time to learn the Controller’s plans. Although he has the element of surprise, Iron Man finds himself on the defensive due to the various weapons in the Controller’s automated lab. Eventually, the Controller grows tired of his foe and ejects Iron Man out of the house in a buzz-saw-filled vacuum disposal tube. Assuming Iron Man destroyed, the Controller moves onto the next phase of his plan. However, Iron Man survived and pulls himself to shore.

Soon, the Controller stops a train that is bound for New York City. He quickly enslaves the engineers and passengers before loading his Absorbotron so that he will remain in the range of the cybernetic-receivers. As his slaves load the train with supplies. Tipped off by SHIELD’s Esper unit, Jasper Sitwell arrives on the scene and reports back to Nick Fury. He is found by Iron Man who warns them that using the Esper unit to fire a mental attack on the Controller as it will harm those under his control. Nick Fury empathizes with Iron Man’s concern, but he has to think about the greater good and tells Iron Man that he has to stop the Controller before he reaches New York, otherwise he will have to act.

When the Controller starts up the train, Iron Man tries to slop it by causing an avalanche. Unfortunately, the Controller is able to easily shove the fallen boulders off the track. When the train continues on its course, Iron Man boards the train and engages in battle with the Controller. Once again, the Controller has all manner of weapons to keep Iron Man at bay. However, as begins to see the New York City skyline, the Controller begins to feel weak. Eventually, Iron Man begins wearing him down and easily defeats his foe. Having no idea why his powers are failing him, the Controller is told that Jasper Sitwell unhooked the car carrying his Absorbatron. Iron Man then kept him busy so he wouldn’t notice until he was well out of range. When word gets back to Nick Fury that Iron Man won, he is relieved that the Avenger was able to stop the Controller.

Later, after Janice Cord has been freed from her control disc, she goes on a walk with Tony Stark. Tony has convinced her not to sell Cord Manufacturing. Thinking about how Janice has constantly been in danger since his association with her, Tony wonders if he has a right to have a relationship with her. Suddenly emotionally distant, Tony tells Janice that he needs some time alone to think.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, the Controller, Janice Cord, SHIELD (Nick Fury, Jasper Sitwell, Gabe Jones), Vincent Sandhurst