Return of the Freak

Even though his friend Eddie March is clinging to life, Iron Man is forced to stop his trip to the hospital in order to prevent a group of workers for a rival company from being crushed by a falling air conditioning unit. As he is congratulated for the rescue, all he can think about is the aftermath of his battle with Doctor Spectrum. While Spectrum, aka Doctor Kenji Obatu, has diplomatic immunity he is being deported from the United States for his attacks on Iron Man. This does little to ease Iron Man’s conscience as Eddie March was seriously injured pinch-hitting for Iron Man in the battle.[1] Examined by Doctor Donald Blake, Thor’s alter-ego, it was determined that Eddie could survive as long as he undergoes immediate surgery.[2]

As Iron Man finally heads to the hospital, Roxanne Gilbert assesses the damage to her health food store caused by Doctor Spectrum’s attack. She figures her inheritance will pay for the damage and begins preparing for her trip to Southeast Asia. By this time, Tony Stark has changed out of his Iron Man armor and goes into the operating theater where Don Blake works to save Eddie March’s life.[3] However, Eddie isn’t strong enough to survive the intricate surgery that is needed. When Don asks if there is a way to boost his strength, Tony remembers his Enervator device. However, he warns Blake that the device could transform Eddie into the Freak, as it had done to Happy Hogan in the past.[4] They decide to take the risk, but when they start using the Enervator on Eddie, he transforms into the Freak. When they try to stop the Enervator, it blows the power in the hospital, plunging the operating theater into darkness until the emergency lights kick in.

As the new Freak goes on a rampage, toppled equipment lands on Don Blake’s walking stick, cutting him off from his ability to change into Thor. Tony Stark, meanwhile, slips away and changes into Iron Man. He then uses his repulsor rays to herd the Freak back into the hospital. However, this backfires when the monster breaks into the emergency generator. Not wanting to knock out all the power in the building and put lives at risk, Iron Man is forced to use hand-to-hand combat against the Freak. When he paralyzes the Freak’s arm with a nerve punch, Iron Man continues to make similar blows until the Freak is knocked out.

Once unconscious, the Freak reverts back to human form. Iron Man then carries Eddie March back into the operating room. After helping Blake recover his walking stick, Iron Man is told that the Enervator worked and Eddie is now strong enough to survive the operation. While the surgery is a success, Don Blake reports to Tony that Eddie March will never walk again.[5] As Tony heads for home he wonders if Happy and Pepper have sorted out their marital problems.[6] When he receives word that Roxanne Gilbert wants to see him, he goes to her apartment and discovers that she is not home. She has left Tony a letter stating that she is traveling to Vietnam to look for Eddie March’s brother who went missing in action and is presumed dead. Tony admires Roxanne’s bravery and decides to accompany her, and quickly arranges a flight to Vietnam.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, the Freak, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Don Blake

Continuity Notes

1. Eddie March has a re-existing health condition after a career in boxing left him with blood clots in his brain. This prevented him from replacing Tony Stark as Iron Man full time back in Iron Man #21-22. Despite this serious health condition, he stepped in to help Iron Man fight Doctor Spectrum in issues #64-66.

2. Iron Man and Thor are aware of each others secret identity since Avengers #113.

3. Here Tony states that he doesn’t have to wear his chest plate all the time anymore. Tony Stark has had a long history of problems with his heart starting in Tales of Suspense #39 when he took shrapnel in the heart. Later, Tony underwent surgery to repair the damage in Iron Man #19. However, any undue stress would cause his body to reject the synesthetic parts used to repair the damage. Tony was forced to start wearing a chest-piece to keep his heart beating in Iron Man #37. His heart has since begun to finally heal starting in issue #58, making him rely on the chest plate less and less.

4. Happy Hogan was transformed into the Freak on two occasions in the past in Tales of Suspense #75-76 and Iron Man #3-4. He was almost transformed a third time by the Collector in Iron Man #26.

5. Although Don Blake states that Eddie March will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he overcomes this disability when we see him again in Iron Man #105-109. Issue #109 explains that a new medical treatment developed by Stark restored his mobility.

6. 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.

Topical References

• This story states that Marty March fought in the Vietnam War, which is stated to have ended not long before this story. References to the Vietnam War that refer to the conflict as being recent or presently happening in Modern Age stories should be considered topical references. Per History of the Marvel Universe #2, instead of the Vietnam War, Marty would have fought in the Sin-Cong Conflict.