The Hammer Strikes!

After Iron Man was framed for murder, Tony Stark and Jim Rhodes have traveled to Monaco to find proof the killing was orchestrated by Justin Hammer, a rival business man.[1] During this trip, Tony was captured by Hammer’s private militia, leaving Jim to explain what happened to the police, who are none too happy that a gun battle was fought across the city.

Elsewhere, Tony Stark wakes up and finds himself a prisoner at Justin Hammer’s home. Here he is greeted by Hammer himself who gladly gives Tony a tour of his home and explain why he framed Iron Man for murder. As it turns out, Hammer owns a number of companies that were in competition with Stark International. Seeing the Carnillian contract as highly lucrative, Hammer used his resources to spoil the deal they were making with Stark International. His scheme to assassinate Ambassador Sergei Kotznin paid off as now his companies are in talks with the government of Carnilia. Justin also introduces Tony to Phillip Barnett, the scientist who found a way to remotely hack into Iron Man’s armor and cause it to malfunction and misfire. After learning the truth, Tony tries to make a break for it. However, when he attempts to climb the walls of Justin Hammer’s home, he discovers that the massive estate rests on a massive hydrofoil in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and that he’s trapped.

Back in New York City, Bethany Cabe is preparing for a new bodyguard gig. Her business partner, Ling McPhearson, notices that Beth is distracted and asks if it has to do with Tony Stark, or someone named Alex. McCabe says its kind of both and tells Ling that she is going through a similar ordeal with Tony as she did with Alex and isn’t sure if she can bring herself to go through with that again.[2]

Meanwhile, Tony Stark has been locked in a room in Justin Hammer’s home. Finding that the liquor cabinet is empty, he asks the guard to get him some booze. His request is denied since they know Tony has been hitting the sauce pretty hard recently and is told to drink some water instead. This gives Tony inspiration on how to break free. Spilling the water on the floor he then smashes a lamp, which prompts the guard to come in and see what’s going on. Tony then throws the busted lamp onto the puddle of water, shocking the guard into unconsciousness. Running outside, Tony spots a helicopter landing on the property and hopes that it is his ticket out of there. However, he witnesses as Whiplash, Blizzard, and Whirlwind are the new arrivals after Hammer had them bailed out of Ryker’s Island.

Changing tactics, Tony uses a device built into his best to scale his way into Hammer’s lab. There he ambushed Barnett and some guards to get his briefcase which contains a spare suit of Iron Man armor. When the alarm goes off, Justin Hammer orders an army of super-villains to capture him. Whiplash, Blizzard, and Whirlwind are joined by the Beetle, Constrictor, Discus, Stilleto, Porcupine, Man-Killer, and Spymaster. However, instead of finding Tony Stark when they enter the lab, they discover Iron Man is there waiting for them and spoiling for a fight. The Avenger vows that after he defeats this army of super-villains he’ll be coming for Justin Hammer next.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Justin Hammer, Beetle, Blizzard, Constrictor, Discus, Leap-Frog, Melter, Porcupine, Spymaster, Stilleto, Whiplash, Jim Rhodes, Bethany Cabe, Ling McPhearson, Phillip Barnett

Continuity Notes

1. Justin Hammer’s long con started in Iron Man #118 by remotely hacking Iron Man’s armor and later using it to assassinate Ambassador Sergei Kotznin in Iron Man #124.

2. “Alex” is Alexander Van Tilburg, Bethany’s former husband. He was a German diplomat who abused drugs. All this is laid out on the table in Iron Man #128.

Topical References

• When one of the police take Jim Rhodes into custody he complains that his boss as been kidnapped. Unimpressed by the Tony Stark name-drop, one of the officers quips that his boss is Jaques Cousteau. This should be considered a topical reference as Cousteau died in 1997.