Frenzy at Fifty Fathoms

Abe Klein and Krissy Longfellow are prisoners of Commander Kraken, a modern day pirate, who is using them to force Iron Man into being his slave.[1] When Iron Man tries to break free, Kraken gets him to stop fighting by using a device to harm his prisoners with powerful electric shocks. With no other choice, Iron Man surrenders to Kraken. When asked what he wants, Kraken — who is clearly mad — decides to show Iron Man his plan.[2]

Kraken shows Iron Man a room where he keeps the sailors he captures. In this room he uses a Cerebro-Scan device to brainwash them into his loyal crew of pirates. The Commander is trying to amass an army to take over the world by triggering another world war. While Kraken is busy detailing his plan, Iron Man spots a small power cartridge and pockets it so he can recharge his armor’s power supply later.

However, Kraken next has Iron Man remove his armor and is surprised to discover that the hero is also Tony Stark. This works nicely for Kraken’s plans so Stark International can provide him with the technology and weapons needed to win his war. Tony is then knocked out with a tranquilizer dart and dumped on a country road on the English countryside. Deciding to try and find his way back to Kraken’s hideout, Tony wanders into the town of Golant and begins asking around about undersea caves that might be in the area. His inquiries leads him to the shop of a man named Martin Maroon, who is able to point Tony Petrie Point based entirely on the mud caked onto the boots he was forced to wear back to Kraken’s hideout.

Tony rushes to Petrie Point and finds the entrance to the underground cave. He stealthily locates his armor and after using the power cartridge to recharge his armor, he changes into Iron Man. After rescuing Krissy and Abe, Iron Man then confronts Commander Kraken and his men. As Iron Man battles Kraken, the underground cave is damaged and begins to flood. Kraken tries to flee, but his rocket-powered peg-leg gets caught in a crack. Pleading for his men to rescue, Kraken is abandoned by his men and left to drown.

Later, Tony Stark meets up with Abe and Krissy at a local pub, explaining that he just arrived at Heathrow Airport an hour earlier. He tells them that Iron Man filled him in on everything that happened. When they call it a night, Tony says goodnight to the bartender who, little do they realize, is none other than Commander Kraken himself, who not only managed to escape drowning but also managed to not get recognized by either Tony, Krissy, or Abe.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Commander Kraken, Abe Klein, Krissy Longfellow

Continuity Notes

1. Little does Tony know that “Krissy Longfellow” is actually Madame Masque in disguise, as we’ll learn in Iron Man #103.

2. Iron Man notes that Commander Kraken is behaving and looks vastly different from past reports about the villain. This is a reference to his last two appearances in Sub-Mariner #27 and The Cat #3. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #16 reveals that Kraken used Hydra technology to change his appearance and prosthetic limbs.