Iron Man #106
Then There Came a War!
Jasper Sitwell is heading a team of Iron Man allies to end Midas’ hostile take over of Stark International. As Iron Man appears to want nothing to do with this, Jasper has captured Madame Masque — aka Whitney Frost, Iron Man’s lover — and given the hero an ultimatum: Help them retake Stark International, or see Whitney go to prison for her past crimes.[1]
Jasper’s allies — Eddie March, Jack of Hearts, the Guardsman, Jean DeWolff, and the Wraith — however, don’t like this move and try to convince Iron Man to help by pointing out all the charitable work that Iron Man and Stark does stopping now that Midas controls the company. The Wraith, thanks to his telepathic powers, knows that Iron Man and Tony Stark are both the same man but decides to keep their secret. He watches as Iron Man struggles with the decision he must make a decision. Although he has found tranquility following the take over, Iron Man realizes that taking back control of his company is the right thing to do and blasts off to do just that. Seeing that the Avenger heading back to Stark International, Jack of Hearts and the Guardsman fly after him to lend a hand.
Jean DeWolff, unhappy with how Jasper took charge of the situation, pulls his gun away from Madame Masque’s temple and everyone leaves in Jean’s vintage automobile, leaving Sitwell to contemplate how badly he has screwed up this situation.
Soon, the newly built Midas International building is under attack from all sides. First, Iron Man, Jack of Hearts, and the Guardsman arrive from the air. They are joined by Jean DeWolff and the others who come crashing in through the front gate. The ground team also receives surprise air support from Jasper Sitwell who has arrived in on of SHIELD’s flying cars. Furious over this brazen attack, Midas activates his army of robots constructed out of spare suits of Iron Man armor. This turns the tide of battle and Iron Man loses his focus when Madame Masque is injured in the ensuing battle.
Watching from his control room, Midas gloats that victory is finally at hand. Watching with him is Abe Klein, who can’t do anything because Midas holds information about his long lost family.[2] As the battle rages on, Marianne Rodgers arrives outside the gates of the former Stark International. She is surprised to see how much the place has changed and wonders how happy Tony Stark will be to see her and if he will kiss her before she kills him.[3]
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, Midas, Jack of Hearts, Madame Masque, Jasper Sitwell, Guardsman, Eddie March, Jean DeWolff, Wraith, Abe Klein, Marianne Rodgers
Continuity Notes
As revealed back in Iron Man #1, Whitney Frost was one-time leader of the Maggia crime family known as the Big M. She has been on the run from the law since Iron Man #8, when her true identity was exposed while she was dating Jasper for the purposes of stealing Stark secrets.
As revealed last issue, Abe Klein was forced into helping Midas take over Stark International because Midas has information about his long lost family.
Marianne Rodgers is Tony’s old girlfriend who he dated from Iron Man #36 to 49. He broke things off when her ESP powers frightened her into abandoning him when he needed help as Iron Man. She later went insane and was institutionalized from Iron Man #52 through 103, when Midas cut off the funds to her treatment.
