Iron Man #207
Heat
High above the Earth, Iron Man is hard at work on the construction of Tony Stark’s new space station. From this high up, the Earth looks peaceful, but appearances are deceiving.
The island of Boca Caliente, for example, a bloody coup has just finished thanks to a wealthy American who funded a revolutionary army. However, now that the island has been secured, the man shoots the leader of the rebellion so he can claim the Central American island as his own.
Meanwhile, Advance Idea Mechanics has relocated their submarine base to the waters near the Arctic Circle. There, the Scientist Supreme checks on his brother, Yorgon Tykkio, who has been locked in a cell for attacking Iron Man without authorization.[1] The Scientist Supreme boasts that, through an AIM shell corporation, he has tricked Tony Stark into launching a satellite that uses a weaponized solar lens. He intends to use this weapon to overthrow Boca Caliente so that their organization can claim it as their own. Yorgon believes that this is a wasted opportunity and that the solar weapon could be better used attacking a major city instead of small island with no political power. The Scientist Supreme doesn’t care for his brother’s ideas and soon leaves. However, AIM operatives loyal to Yorgon sneak a device into his cell with his food so he can break out and follow his own agenda.
In Germany, Bethany Cabe has come looking for her husband, Alex Van Tilburg, who has been struggling with drug addiction.[2] The trail leads to a run down hotel where she finds Alex in a drug induced stupor. Seeing her husband ins such a sorry state suddenly makes her feel very, very tired.
Back in California, Iron Man and Jim Rhodes are making the final preparations to launch a satellite built by the Targo Corporation, unaware that this is a front for AIM. When Iron Man suggests that Jim bring his own suit of Iron Man armor, Jim decides against the idea now that Tony has gotten back in the saddle.[3] The pair are hoping that Clytemnestra Erwin will finally join their team. However, when she arrives to help with the launch, she tells them that she has been offered to join a team of international scientists who are trying to study Haley’s Comet and she isn’t certain if she wants to join them or not. Soon, the Stark space shuttle launches into space where Iron Man and Jim Rhodes set up the satellite.
With the satellite up and running, the Scientist Supreme activates its solar powered weapon and uses it to destroy the Boca Caliente air force and slay its new leader who is ironically tanning in the sun. Witnessing this from orbit, Iron Man is horrified and chastises himself for not examining the satellite more closely. Deducing that this is the work of AIM, the hero tries to disable the satellite, but its automated defenses kick in and start trying to kill him.
Meanwhile, aboard the AIM submarine, Yorgon breaks out of his cell and begins making his way to the satellite’s control room. He reluctantly takes out every operative in his way, not wanting to kill men who will be useful to him when he seizes control. As he prepares to storm the control room, he considers which city will fall first and decides that Washington, DC will be the ideal choice. As this is happening, AIM launches an airs trike of Boca Caliente and quickly seizes control of the island. When Yorgon takes control of the satellite, he targets Washington, however Iron Man is able to destroy the satellite before it can cause any real damage. By this time, AIM has taken complete control of Boca Caliente and the Supreme Scientist gathers all the surviving civilians into the center of town and informs them that they are under the rule of Advance Idea Mechanics.
Soon, Iron Man and Jim Rhodes return to California where Tony learns of the coup on the Central American island. Holding himself responsible, Iron Man vows to do whatever it takes to liberate Boca Caliente.
Recurring Characters
Iron Man, AIM, Jim Rhodes, Cly Erwin, Bethany Cabe, Alexander Van Tillburg
Continuity Notes
Yorgon has been plotting to seize control of AIM since Iron Man #201. He was locked up after the unauthorized use of MODOK’s corpse to attack Iron Man in issue #205.
As revealed in Iron Man #128, Alex has some serious addiction issues. Although Bethany left with her husband to try and work on their marriage in issue #153, it hasn’t worked out. From issue #193 to 205, she sought to reconnect with Tony Stark to see if she still loved him. Realizing she did she then left as she needed to resolve things with her husband.
The relationship between Tony and Jim are complicated at this point. The details:
After being sober for a while, Tony fell off the wagon in Iron Man #167. His drinking got so bad that Jim was forced to take over the mantle of Iron Man in issues #169-170.
Tony eventually got sober by issue #182 and was forced into becoming Iron Man again in issue #200.
Meanwhile, in Iron Man #195, Jim discovered that the guilt he felt over taking over Tony’s secret identity was affecting his mental health and willingly gave it up.
Topical References
Bethany Cabe is stated as being in East Germany. After World War II, Germany was divided up into two countries, East and West Germany. However, the country later reunified in 1989. As such, this distinction should be considered topical.
