Iron Man #103
Run for the Money!
In New York, Krissy Longfellow and Harry Key are on the run from SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell. Although Sitwell remains on their tail, Harry is able to cover their escape by activating a smokescreen. Their car is then pulled off the road by a massive golden ship with structures that are inspired by ancient Greek architecture. Due to a heavy artificial fog that is used to facilitate their escape, Jasper Sitwell is unable to find his quarry and wonders how they managed to escape.
Meanwhile, Iron Man has arrived in France where he uses his credentials to book a flight back home to the United States. On the flight back, Iron Man endures the excitement of the other passengers, gladly giving autographs and posing for pictures. The hero is just glad to be heading back home, particularly since his alter-ego Tony Stark has been cleared of any criminal charges in the aftermath of his battle with the Mandarin.[1]
Back in the United States, Krissy Longfellow is shocked to discover that she and Harry have been rescued by Mordecai Midas, whom she believed to be dead.[2] When Midas opens the briefcase brought to him by Harry Key, he quickly discovers that the Iron Man armor brought to him is not real.[3] Harry tries to explain that he was being forced into turning over a decoy by Krissy Longfellow. Unimpressed by this failure, Midas grabs Harry and tosses him over the side of the ship, sending Key falling to his death. Curious to know who Krissy Longfellow is, the woman decides that there is no sense in keeping her identity secret any longer. Removing a life-like mask, “Krissy Longfellow” reveals herself to be none other than Madame Masque. Masque claims that she was posing as Tony Stark’s secretary in order to sabotage his company, and was unprepared for the return of Midas. The villain brushes off their past differences and tell her that her plans are for naught as Stark International now belongs to him.
It’s around this time that Iron Man arrives at JFK International Airport where he suddenly remembers his missing armor and races back to Stark International to investigate the theft.[4] While at the same time, Jasper Sitwell continues his search for Harry Key and Krissy Longfellow. He comes across the Harry’s dying body but all he can say is that he was double crossed and that Tony Stark is next. That’s when Midas’ ship touches down on the Stark International property. There he announces to the staff that he has completed a hostile take over of the company. Midas then sends out one of his men to fire all of the security staff, telling them that Midas will pay them until they find jobs elsewhere.
Madame Masque is curious to know how Midas managed to buy out Stark’s company out from under him. Midas reveals that it was his corporate spies that were responsible for acts of sabotage and leaking Stark designs to the competition in order to undermine the company making it easier to buy out other shareholders.
When Iron Man finally arrives at his Long Island facility, Midas has already set up his own guards and defenses. This leads to a battle which is observed by the arriving Jack Hart. Thinking Iron Man has lost it and is attacking his own employer, Jack changes into Jack of Hearts and tries to stop Iron Man. He quickly realizes that he has stepped into a situation without properly evaluating it.[5] When Iron Man uses a built in buzz-saw to slice open Jack’s armor, it causes the Zero-Fluid energies in his body to release an explosive blast causing both men to start falling to the ground. The pair come crashing down in front of Midas. Seeing both Midas and Madame Masque alive, Iron Man is spoiling for a fight. However, Midas points out that he purchased Stark International legally and there is nothing the Avenger can do to stop him. Adding insult to injury, Midas then fires Iron Man on the spot.
When Iron Man tries to start a fight, Jack of Hearts convinces him that it’s not a good idea and that they’ll have to find another way to bring Midas down. Jack decides that he should find Tony Stark — unaware that Iron Man is Stark — and flies off to find him. As Iron Man tries to make sense of the situation, Madame Masque offers her aid and the pair fly off together. This is as Jasper Sitwell arrives on the scene and seeing that Stark International has been renamed Midas International, he blames himself for allowing this to happen on his watch.
While at the Milford Mental Health Facility, Marianne Rodgers is told that Tony Stark is no longer paying the bill for her stay. Convinced that Marianne is now sane again, the lead doctor then releases her back out in the world.[6]
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, Midas, Jack of Hearts, Madame Masque, Jasper Sitwell, Marianne Rodgers, Harry Key
Continuity Notes
Tony Stark was being accused of accepting bribes from foreign powers to undermine American defense systems powered by the Stark tech. This was all part of a scheme cooked up by the Mandarin to kick off a world war. Obviously, Iron Man foiled it. See Iron Man #95-100.
There are multiple references to Midas’ last appearance and how the fat fuck almost drowned. See Iron Man #17-19.
Harry Key has been stealing Stark secrets and suits of Iron Man armor since Iron Man #88.
Tony discovered that some of his suits of armor were missing when battling Sunfire in Iron Man #98.
Jack recounts how this is the exact sort of thing that lead to an unnecessary fight with the Hulk. That happened in Incredible Hulk #214.
Marianne Rodgers dated Tony from Iron Man #36 to 49. She lost her mind in issue #52 and had been institutionalized ever since.
Topical References
Iron Man is depicted as taking an Air France flight aboard a Caravelle jetliner. This is a two-fold topical reference: First, the reference to Air France should be considered a topical reference as it is a real world company. Second, the Caravelle jetliner should be considered topical. They stopped manufacturing these jets in 1972 and the fleet was retired in 2005.
The Milford mental health facility is called a sanitarium here. This is a dated term and its use here should be considered topical.