The Cutting Edge of Death

Iron Man has been tricked into depleting his power supply battling a construct created by Doctor Spectrum. Now completely vulnerable to the villain, the golden Avenger tries to buy his solar cells to recharge his power supplies before it is too late. Straining to stop a massive scimitar from falling on him Iron Man gets aid from an unlikely side, Roxanne Gilbert. Gilbert distracts Doctor Spectrum but is easily knocked aside. Realizing she is of no help, Roxanne runs to try and find a way to contact the Avengers and ends up running into Eddie March. March has been following Iron Man ever since Dr. Kenji Obatu came looking to hire him for help. Despite the blood clots in his brain that prevent him from fighting, Eddie is determined to find some way to help Iron Man.[1]

While back at Stark Industries’ Detroit branch, Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan continue to argue with each other over their marital problems. Happy has wanted Pepper to quit working for Tony Stark because he thinks she belongs at home. Pepper on the other hand wants more independence and intends to keep the job. Things have gotten worse after Happy walked in on Pepper kissing Tony Stark. Pepper defends Tony by saying that she instigated it because of how caring he is.[2] When she compares Tony’s compassion to Iron Man’s cold robotic nature, an annoyed Happy reveals that Tony is Iron Man.[3] Pepper doesn’t want to believe it until Happy starts showing her proof, such as the attaché case Tony uses to conceal his armor. Seeing the truth for the first time is almost too much for Pepper to take in all at once.

Meanwhile, back in New York City, Luke Cage the Hero for Hire, gets a message from Kenji Obatu seeking to hire him out as a bodyguard. The message has received him a week late and although Cage does not like the Obatu’s politics he could have used the money. Hearing that Iron Man is in Detroit, Luke incorrectly assumes that Obatu has hired him instead and decides that he needs to work on a new image.[4]

Back at the scene of the battle, Iron Man has recharged enough to fire his ultra-violet light beam to try and weaken his foe. However, Doctor Spectrum uses his Power Prism to create a massive drill to dig a massive hole in the street. He then lures Iron Man into it in the hopes of cutting the Avenger off from the suns rays he needs to continue operating his armor. Spectrum is still bickering with the Power Prism which is sentient and shares a symbiotic connection to the villain. With Iron Man weakened again, the Prism then convinces Doctor Spectrum to reveal its origins.

The Power Prism tells Iron Man that it was once a Skrull named Krimonn whose attempt to usurp the Skrull throne ended in failure. As punishment, the Skrull emperor decided to transform Krimonn into his crystaline form and shot into space to spend all eternity.[5] It was ub deep space that Krimonn was rescued by the Grandmaster who had a use for the Power Prism. Seeking out a host, the Grandmaster found Kenji Obatu, the finance minister of an African nation who was ruthlessly brutal and had aspirations of taking over as Prime Minister of his homeland. The Power Prism was left for Obatu to find it, he soon mastered its power and created the Doctor Spectrum identity. Under this new guise, Obatu was then recruited into the Grandmaster’s Squadron Sinister, leading to his first battle with Iron Man.[6]

After the Power Prism finishes explaining its origins both Krimonn and Obatu begin fighting with one another as Krimonn intends to leave Doctor Spectrum in favor of making Iron Man his new host. As they fight one another, Iron Man manages to recover enough to fly out of the pit and into the sunlight. Following after their foe, Doctor Spectrum confronts who he thinks is Iron Man.[6] However, the Power Prism suddenly leaves Obatu and imbeds itself in Iron Man’s chest plate. Taking possession of Iron Man’s form, Krimonn goes on a rampage. A call is quickly put in to Avengers Mansion to help. Answered by Jarvis, the team’s butler, he sends the only Avenger available to answer the distress call. Moments later, Iron Man is confronted by the mighty Thor. The thunder god vows to stop Iron Man’s rampage even if it means strike down his own friend.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Doctor Spectrum, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Eddie March, Roxanne Gilbert, Edwin Jarvis, Krimonn, Thor, (in flashback) Dorrek VII, Grandmaster

Continuity Notes

1. Eddie March was a former boxer who was forced to retire due to the blood clots in his brain. He briefly stood in as Iron Man when Tony tried quitting his double-life, but March’s medical condition forced Tony back into the role. See Iron Man #21-22.

2. The love triangle between Tony, Pepper, and Happy is a complex one. Tony and Happy had competed for Pepper’s affections dating back to Tales of Suspense #45, ultimately Happy won over Pepper and the pair got married in issue #89 of that series. Pepper just recently started working for Stark again. Pepper previously worked for Stark from Tales of Suspense #45 to 89 when she married Happy Hogan and quit. Tony hired her in issue #57. Happy has been upset that Pepper is working and trying to pressure her into quitting since issue #59. When Happy threatened to leave her in issue #61, Pepper became distraught and kissed Tony in Iron Man #63 mistaking his concern for her well being as romantic interest.

3. Happy learned that Tony was Iron Man back in Tales of Suspense #70.

4. This scene is inserted into the story as a lead up to Cage’s battle with Iron Man in Power Man #17.

5. The Skrull Emperor is not identified by name here. Fantastic Four #205 identifies him as Dorrek. Marvel: The Lost Generation #11 reveals that he is the 7th Skrull ruler by that name.

6. The Grandmaster formed the Squadron Sinister during the Game of Galaxies as seen in Avengers #69-71.

7. This is not Tony Stark, but Eddie March who just so happened to be carrying the spare suit of Iron Man armor he used to wear. This is revealed next issue.

Topical References

• Luke Cage receives Obatu’s message via a telegram. While telegrams are still available today, they are not as ubiquitous as they were when this story was published in 1973 thanks to the advent of digital communications such as e-mail. One could assume that Luke’s receipt of a telegram is a topical reference as it seems unlikely that a government official like Obatu would resort to communicating with such an outmoded form of communication.