Casino Fatale

Iron Man has just returned to New York City after his ordeal in the Atlantic. Suddenly, his jet boots malfunction sending him crashing through the offices of Marvel Comics before he can get things under control. Glad nobody got hurt, Tony wonders why his armor has been acting up recently.[1] Returning to Stark International, he runs a full diagnostic and runs through a battery of tests and discovers nothing wrong.

When he exists his office, he finds his secretary Ms. Arbogast dealing with Bethany Cabe, who is demanding to see him.[2] Bethany can’t make sense of Tony’s cavalier attitude after surviving a plane crash or that Jim Rhodes, his pilot, was shot during a rescue mission.[3] Not wanting to have this discussion in front of his employees, Tony brings Bethany into his office. As Tony pours himself a drink, Bethany expresses her concern that Iron Man isn’t doing his job as Stark’s bodyguard.[4] She then surprises him by revealing that she is part owner of McPhearson Security Specialists and is a bodyguard herself. This all amuses, Tony who invites Beth out to dinner with him.

Tony takes Beth out to a casino in Atlantic City where they have dinner together. When Stark goes for a second bottle of Champaign, Cabe is concerned that he has had a bit too much to drink already. Tony reluctantly agrees and the pair decide to go down to the casino floor to do some gambling instead. As Tony established some credit with the casino, the building is suddenly attacked by the Blizard, Whiplash and the Melter. Seeing the commotion, Tony abandons Bethony, telling her he has something to do. As he races off to find a place to change into Iron Man, he knocks down the same women he kicked out of an airplane bathroom days earlier.[5]

Iron Man soon arrives on the scene to stop the three crooks from robbing the casino. When Blizzard and Whiplash try attacking the hero independently, they quickly discover that Iron Man has long since upgraded his armor to withstand their attacks.[6] That’s when the three villains decide to work together. As the Melter and Blizzard bombard Iron Man with extreme heat and extreme cold, Whiplash prepares to crack open the Avenger’s armor with his electronic whip.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Blizzard, Melter, Whiplash, Bethany Cabe, Bambi Arbogast, Uranus Bliss (unidentified), Jim Shooter, Roger Stern, Al Milgrom

Continuity Notes

1. Iron Man’s armor has malfunctioned twice before in Iron Man #118 and 120. Little does he know that his armor is being remotely hacked by Justin Hammer, a rival businessman.

2. Arbogast’s full name is not given here. Her first name is Bambi, as we’ll learn in Iron Man #137.

3. The plane crash and Jim getting shot were all the result of the Roxxon plot to plunder a hidden Vibranium supply. See Iron Man #120-121.

4. Tony’s drinking here is hinting his growing alcoholism, which will consume his life in Iron Man #128.

5. This would have been in Iron Man #120. This woman is unidentified here, but she is revealed to be Uranus Bliss, Bambi Arbogast’s sister, as seen in Iron Man #137.

6. Iron Man makes passing reference to the last time he fought the Blizzard. This was in Iron Man #86-87.

Topical References

• The appearances of Marvel staffers Jim Shooter, Al Milgrom, and Roger Stern in this story should not be considered a topical reference. Unlike other real life people, the staff of Marvel Comics are exempt from the usual topical reference rules as they exist in the Marvel Universe in the relative prime of their lives, thus explaining their continued existence in the fiction when their real world counterparts pass away.

• The dress that Tony buys for Bethany is identified as a Dior original. This should be considered a topical reference as Dior is a real world fashion designer.

• Tony is depicted having an American Express credit card in his wallet. Another topical reference since AmEx is a real world business.