The Resurrection Gambit

Iron Man has been up into Earth’s orbit on behalf of NASA to prevent an important satellite from being pulled through the atmosphere. Tony returns to Earth and meets up with his friend Jim Rhodes, who sees something is wrong with his best friend. Jim can’t understand what’s wrong after Iron Man’s recent win against AIM.[1] Stark explains that while he has become Iron Man again, he has no life to speak of and needs to rebuild. When Jim asks if he is going to restart Stark International, Tony is not interested in doing so, explaining that part of his life is over with.[2]

Meanwhile, beneath the California Coast, Advance Idea Mechanics have set up operations in a new submarine base. After their recent run in with Iron Man, the Scientist Supreme calls his brother, Yorgon Tykkio, in order to confront him over his attempts to usurp leadership of the organization. Yorgon believes that his brother is short sighted and warns him that he will succeed him eventually. Storming off, Yorgon decides to prove he is the rightful ruler of AIM. He enters the room where MODOK’s dead body is being stored as he intends to use it as his instrument of destruction.[3]

Later that day, Tony Stark takes a trip out to the Stane International headquarters in Los Angeles with Jim Rhodes and Bethany Cabe. However, he still isn’t interested in taking back his old company. Instead, he has decided to start a new one with a focus on space exploration. As they ride back home, Tony tells Jim that he has the need for an experienced pilot and the job is his if he wants it. Rhodes accepts the offer without question. Over the next few days, Tony and his friends begin having meetings with potential investors and business partners in order to get this new venture off the ground.

Little do they know that one of the men they meet with is a secret operative for Advanced Idea Mechanics and he reports things back to Yorgon Tykkio.

The following day, Tony and Bethany Cabe finally have some time alone to try and figure out where things are going between them. Beth had originally come down to sort out her feelings with Tony and now she finds herself even more confused than ever. She tells Tony that she is going to return to Germany and make a decision on her marriage once and for all, but can’t promise him that she’ll come back to him.[4]

Later that day, Iron Man is the guest of honor at the unveiling of a new space station that Tony Stark intends to build to monitor Earth’s satellites. It’s during this presentation that Yorgon Tykkio sends the automated corpse of MODOK to attack the Avenger. Although Yorgon has the element of surprise, Iron Man is able to evacuate the building so he can focus all of his attention to defeating MODOK. Yorgon unleashes all of MODOK’s weapons, but Iron Man’s new armor is able to stand up against them. Ultimately, Iron Man is able to overpower the remotely piloted MODOK, however the battle levels the hotel they are fighting in.

With MODOK defeated, Iron Man demands to know who is controlling him or why. Rather than answering his questions, Tykkio activates the self-destruct mechanism, choosing to destroy MODOK rather than reveal the truth.[5] Iron Man is left wondering what is AIM after and chastises himself being too worried about Bethany Cabe when he should have been focusing on the battle.

Yorgon Tykkio’s unauthorized attack on Iron Man has not gone unnoticed. The Scientist Supreme has punished his brother by locking him up in a cell. He is furious that Yorgon has wasted so many resources on a pointless battle with Iron Man. Although he is now imprisoned, Yorgon vows that he will eventually succeed in destroying Iron Man.

A month later, Iron Man is meeting with investors where he unveils the first completed component that will be the foundation of his new space station, the solar power unit that will give it power. After the unveiling, Iron Man then flies the component up into orbit. With the first stage of his ambitious plan complete, Tony looks at his latest creation and smiles.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, AIM, MODOK, Bethany Cabe, Cly Erwin,

Continuity Notes

1. Iron Man defeated AIM last issue.

2. Tony Stark lost his company to Obadiah Stane in Iron Man #173. After a bender that lasted from Iron Man #167 to 182, Tony helped Morley and Clytemnestra Erwin set up Circuits Maximus in issue #188. However, that company was later blown up by Stane in issue #199. Stane subsequently committed suicide in Iron Man #200 and Tony got his fortune back two issues ago.

3. Prior to this story, MODOK was assassinated by the Serpent Society. See Captain America #313 for all the gory details.

4. Tony’s relationship with Bethany is complicated. The two started dating shortly after they first met in Iron Man #117. At the time, Beth believed her husband — Alex Van Tillburg, a diplomat with a drug addiction — had died in a car accident, as explained in Iron Man #128. However, she discovered he was still alive and being held captive by Russian spies. After liberating him she decided to remain with Alex and sort out their marriage. See Iron Man #152-153.

5. Although he is seemingly destroyed here, MODOK’s body is recovered by AIM who manages to resurrect him in Avengers #386-388/Captain America #440-441.

Topical References

• Iron Man gives his demonstration at a Mariott hotel. This should be considered topical as this is a real world buisness.