The MODOK Machine!

After his recent adventure with the Avengers, Iron Man departs for Stark International.[1] Using a secret tunnel back to his office, Tony changes out of his armor and lets Pepper Potts know that he is back in the building. After getting his daily business out of the way, Tony changes back into Iron Man to test out his new training facility, inspired by the X-Men’s own Danger Room. As he finishes his training session, he can’t help but wonder what happened to the Crimson Dynamo after their last battle.

In Vietnam, the Crimson Dynamo has returned and tells his comrades-in-exile, the Radioactive Man and Titanium Man, how he failed to destroy Iron Man. The discussion is interrupted when Colonel Sun-Li enters their home. Angry about the destruction of a secret underground city, the military official advises the Titanic Three that they are confined to house arrest for the remainder of their stay in the country.

Meanwhile, at AIM’s secret headquarters, MODOK asks for a status updated on the mysterious Black Lama. His operatives tell him how the Black Lama appeared out of nowhere. At first he opened a meditation school where he trained individuals and giving power to some, like the man known as Raga.[2] However, he abruptly closed up this school and began offering the Golden Sphere of Power to the super-villain who could prove himself superior to all others. Recently, both Yellow Claw and the Mandarin fought each other to claim the power of the Sphere.[3] Later, the Black Lama offered its power to the Melter, Whiplash, and Man-Bull in a failed attempt to eliminate Iron Man.[4] Others had also been approached such as Doctor Doom, the Red Skull,[5] and Fu Manchu. However, neither of these men were interested in playing the Black Lama’s game.

Considering other players who might get involved in this challenge, MODOK is visited by the Black Lama who teleports into the AIM facility.[6] After MODOK accepts the terms of the challenge, the Lama teleports away, leaving the cyborg to begin planning his victory. The Black Lama returns to his hideout where he is suddenly plagued with horrific visions again and wonders when the madness will end.

Later, at a nearby prison, the Mad Thinker’s latest attempt to escape from his cell — by constructing a blaster using utensils — fails.[7] As he ponders his next escape attempt the image of a woman appears on the wall of his cell. She tells him that a meteor will soon crash into the prison allowing him to escape. She is telling the truth as a meteor comes slamming into the wall of the prison. Joining the Mad Thinker in the jailbreak is Gary Gilbert, aka Firebrand. Gilbert suggests that they team-up and work together to destroy Iron Man. The Thinker rejects this offer and retreats to his hidden lab to work on securing the Golden Globe.

Gary Gilbert soon returns to his sister, Roxanne’s home to recover his Firebrand costume. Roxanne tries unsuccessfully to convince his brother to stop resorting to violence. Gary becomes angrier than ever when he discovers that Roxanne has been seeing Tony Stark, and that the industrialist appears to have feelings for her. After Firebrand leaves, Roxanne calls Tony to warn him that her brother is coming for him. Tony quickly changes into his Iron Man armor at the same time that the Mad Thinker activates a device that takes control of his armor through the suits new mental interface. The Thinker then remotely pilots Iron Man to AIM’s hideout to destroy MODOK. The Thinker releases Iron Man from his control so he can fight more effectively, but the villain becomes impatient and resumes control. This allows MODOK to gain the upper hand and learns that Iron Man is being controlled by the Mad Thinker by probing Iron Man’s mind.[8]

Flying to the Mad Thinker’s hideout with Iron Man as his prisoner, MODOK vows to destroy his opponent before going after Yellow Claw then conquering the world.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Black Lama, MODOK, Mad Thinker, Pepper Potts, Roxanne Gilbert, Avengers (Thor, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Vision), Firebrand, Titanic Three (Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, Radioactive Man), AIM,

Continuity Notes

1. Iron Man was involved in the final battle against Kang the Conqueror, preventing him from claiming his Avengers teammate Mantis, who was slated to become the Celestial Madonna. This was chronicled in Avengers #129-135 and Giant-Size Avengers #2-4.

2. Raga’s origins and subsequent battle with Iron Man were chronicled in Iron Man #52-53.

3. The clash between the Mandarin and Yellow Claw happened in Iron Man #68-71. It is stated here that the Mandarin died. While his physical form was slain, the Mandarin’s mind was transferred to his ten power rings allowing him to take control of a new host body, as we’ll see in Iron Man #98-100.

4. The Melter, Whiplash, and Man-Bull failed to destroy Iron Man in issue #72.

5. The Red Skull declines the Black Lama’s offer, stating that he has his own scheme in the works. This is a reference to the events of Captain America #184-186, where the Skull attempts to destabilize the US economy.

6. Other potential rivals that MODOK considers include:

   • Magneto, whom he says has totally vanished. Magneto was transformed into a child by Alpha the Ultimate Mutant following the events of Defenders #15-16 a state he will remain until he is restored to adulthood in X-Men #104.

   • The Leader, also considered to have disappeared was last seen in Marvel Feature #11. He will turn up again (chronologically) in Wolverine (vol. 2) #144 and later in Incredible Hulk #224.

   • MODOK dismisses the existence of the vampire lord Dracula. Dracula has been active in the Modern Age since Tomb of Dracula #1.

7. A footnote here states that the Mad Thinker was last seen in Avengers #135. That’s not entire accurate in that his appearance in that story was a flashback that took place prior to his reactivation of the android Human Torch circa Fantastic Four Annual #4. Chronologically, he was last seen in Marvel Team-Up #6, where he battled Spider-Man and the Thing with his long-time partner, the Puppet Master.

8. A footnote here reminds readers that MODOK last used this power in Tales of Suspense #94.

Topical References

• Firebrand states that Stark’s company created weapons that were used in the Vietnam War. All Modern Age stories that refer to the Vietnam Was as happening at the same time or had recently happened should be considered topical. Per History of the Marvel Universe #2, these references should be replaced with the Sin-Cong Conflict.

• That all said, it’s entirely possible that Stark Industries did provide munitions to the American military during the Vietnam War. I go into this possibility in more detail in my summary for Iron Man #60.