Even Heroes Die!

Captain America and Nick Fury are taking down a Hydra cell with the assistance of a man they think is Iron Man.[1] However, neither man suspects that “Iron Man” is actually a rogue Life Model Decoy that has taken over Tony Stark’s life. The LMD is pleased that he was able to fool both Fury and Cap, convincing him that the take over of Tony Stark’s life is complete. Returning to Tony Stark’s home, the LMD impostor decides that he made a mistake by allowing the real Tony to live and begins planning to correct that error.

Little does he know that the real Tony Stark has been captured by Madame Masque and brought to the island hideout of Midas out on the Aegean Sea. The LMD’s efforts to paint the real Tony as an impostor has taken a strange turn of events. Having heard about the “impostor”, Midas has decided to hire Tony to take control of Stark Industries so he can sign off his fortune and assets to Midas. With the “impostor”, Midas has decided that Morgan Stark has outlived his usefulness and stuns him with a device and has him carried away before Tony wakes up from the knock-out gas used to kidnap him.

Back in the States, Janic Cord is going over the designs for a new rocket system with her lead scientist, Alex Nevin. When Alex brings up their kiss earlier, Janice admits that she liked it but she still has unresolved feelings for Tony Stark. This upsets Alex, who tells her that Tony Stark is nothing but a self-centered playboy, pointing out that he hasn’t called since the recent explosion at his facility. Returning to his lab, Alex is pleased that his emotional manipulation is succeeding and soon Janice will fall in love with him. He then gets back to work on a project that will help him deal with Iron Man.[2]

Meanwhile, Tony Stark wakes up to find out what sort of predicament he has found himself in. Since Midas thinks he is nothing more than an impostor, he agrees to help take back his company as it seems like the only option to oust the LMD. Masque is touched that Tony treats her like a woman, ignoring the fact that she wears a mask to cover her disfigured face.[3] After undergoing training from Madame Masque, they soon leave for Stark Industries in New York. With their combined intel on the facility, Tony and Madame Masque are able to get inside. However, they are soon found by the LMD wearing Iron Man’s armor. Tony tells Madame Masque to run for cover while he deals with “Iron Man”. The din of battle draws security who overhear the LMD refer to the “impostor” as Tony Stark, blowing his cover. While the android is busy incapacitating the guards, Tony slips into another room where his original Iron Man armor is being stored.[4]

As the two battle it out, security calls in the Avengers for help. Tony holds his own against the LMD, but his injured heart can’t handle the outdated armor. As the Avengers arrive on the scene, the LMD is about to toss Tony into a smelting vat. This distraction allows the real Iron Man to knock the LMD into the smelter below, destroying it. As the Avengers rush to his side, Tony pulls off his helmet and explains that what he destroyed was an LMD and that the real Iron Man is “away on a mission”. Tony then collapses to the ground making the Avengers realize he needs immediate medical attention. Carrying Stark onto their ship, they keep Tony alive with their ultra-rejuvenator but this is only a temporary measure as he requires immediate medical attention.

The news soon reaches Midas as his hideout, leaving him wondering who was the real Tony Stark and who was the impostor. Still, he figures it will be a moot point because both men are as good as dead. Although Midas gloats over this victory, Madame Masque sheds a tear for the man who treated her as a normal human being.

… This story is continued in Avengers #68.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Tony Stark LMD, Mordecai Midas, Avengers (Captain America, Yelowjacket, Wasp, Goliath, Vision), Nick Fury, Hydra, Janice Cord, Alex Nevin

Continuity Notes

1. Captain America mentions that these are members of Madame Hydra’s Hydra division that was still on the loose. See Captain America #110-113.

2. It’s revealed in Iron Man #21 that Alex is working on a new suit of Crimson Dynamo armor.

3. It’s revealed next issue that Madame Masque is Whitney Frost, the former leader of the Maggia. Her face was scarred when she fled SHIELD in a ship that later crashed in the Florida Everglades. See Iron Man #11.

4. This was the original armor that was constructed back in Tales of Suspense #39. Tony wore this armor until issue #48 when he upgraded to the first version of his iconic red-and-gold armor. He has been wearing his third model of his armor since issue #66 which he will wear until his next upgrade in Iron Man #85.