Iron Man #136
Beginning of Endotherm
Tony Stark has arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport. He has had an enjoyable flight thanks to the company of biographer Sybil Carmichal. He is intrigued by her offer to write his autobiography and tells her that they will talk soon.[1]
Arriving at the local Stark International office where he meats with Tom Wilkins, the head of security. Tom, acts strangely, telling Tony that he expects to be fired before his upcoming retirement due to the acts of sabotage that happened under his watch.
Going over the details alone, Tony notes that the reason he has come to investigate things personally was because the plans for a new fuel stabilizer was poached from his company. However, all the acts of sabotage that preceded that theft coincided with the theft of some temperature regulation components.
Noting that it has suddenly gotten cold, Tony goes to check the temperature and discovers that some external source has been causing the temperature in the building has started to plummet. As he tries to go and check with maintenance the door suddenly freeze shut and shatters from the extreme cold. On the other side is a new temperature controlling villain calling himself Endotherm. Thinking he trapped Tony Stark, Endotherm is surprised to find Iron Man waiting for him on the other side of the door. Although Iron Man is able to withstand the punishing cold due thanks to his internal environmental controls, he has a hard time keeping his balance on the frozen ground. Endotherm manages to defeat Iron Man by absorbing all the heat coming from his armor, freezing him in a block of ice.
Tony manages to free himself from his frozen armor, but Endotherm is long gone by the time he does so. Later, when he encounters Tom again, Wilkins is once again on the defensive over the attack on Iron Man. Thinking that Tony is going to fire him, Tom quits on the spot.
Later that evening, Endotherm calls his employer by phone and tells him that he will succeed in his mission by working at his own pace and vows to kill not only Tony Stark, but Iron Man as well.
By this time, a new temporary security chief has been put in place. As he begins running a security check, Endotherm attacks again. When Iron Man arrives to stop him, the Avenger is coated with ice to protect himself from Endotherm’s powers. Although this adds considerable bulk that slows him down, Iron Man is able to withstand Endotherm’s attacks and gets close enough to knock his foe out with a single punch. Unmasking Endotherm, Iron Man is shocked to discover that he is none other than Tom Wilkins.
Wilkins is quickly committed to a psychiatric hospital where experts diagnose him with paranoid schizophrenia. Treatment will be expensive and on going, but Tony assures them that Tom’s pension will be able to pay for it.[2]
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, Endotherm, Sybil Carmichal
Continuity Notes
Incidentally, Tony does work with Sybil again as seen in Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 3) #14 in a story that takes place between panel 3 and 4 of page 17 of this story, per the Marvel Chronology Project.
Although Tony pays for Tom’s treatment this doesn’t end his criminal career. Endotherm will turn up again in Iron Man: Fatal Frontier Infinity Comic #4.
Topical References
The aircraft Tony used to fly to London is identified as a Boeing 474. This should be considered topical as this model of aircraft ceased production in 2022 and fleets will ultimately be retired.
