Iron Man Annual #10 — Nick Peron

Jan 3

Jan 3 Iron Man Annual #10

Two if by Sea

This story continues from Silver Surfer Annual #2…

In the undersea kingdom of Atlantis, Warlord Attuma is visited by the Deviant Ghaur, Lemurian ruler Llyra, and Warlord Krang.[1] They have come to enlist him in their mission to take over the Earth from the surface dwellers. Interested in the potential bloodshed from such a war, Attuma asks Ghaur what his plan is. The Deviant priest explains how he was recently contacted by Set while in a discorporeal form.[2] The Elder God had offered to grant them his power if they reassembled the Serpent Crown.[3] Set would then use the Serpent Crown to cross back into Earth’s dimension and help them conquer the world, giving his loyal followers what remains of the planet.

Meanwhile, Iron Man is in Pacific chasing a pair of Maggia mini-subs to learn why the crime cartel has been warring with rival organizations.[4] As it turns out, they are going to attack a surface vessel that is carrying members of the terrorist organization known as Hydra. As fate would have it, the Sub-Mariner is happening by on his continued search for the children of his late wife, Marrina.[5] When he approaches the vessel, the Hydra agents believe it is an attack and begin opening fire upon him.[6] The sudden attack causes the Maggia subs to make a quick get away. Seeing that Namor needs help, Iron Man reluctantly gives up the chase to help. With the tide of battle turning, the leader of the Hydra ship activates an explosive to kill himself and his crew rather than face capture. Both Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner are curious as to why the Maggia were planning to attack the Hydra ship, so Iron Man invites Namor back to Stark Enterprises to find out.

At that moment, at the Miraflores Locks of the Panamal Canal, Attuma is gathering his forces in preparation for an attack on the surface ships that pass through the region.

While at Stark Enterprises, Namor is made to wait outside Tony Stark’s office while Iron Man changes out of his armor. The Sub-Mariner is shocked to discover that Tony Stark is now confined to a wheelchair.[7] Tony explains that it is a long story and gets down to the details he has learned about the Hydra ship Iron Man and Namor fought earlier. He managed to track the ship registry to a company down in Panama and suggests that they investigate it. When Jim Rhodes offers to fly Iron Man and Namor down south, Tony turns the offer down saying Iron Man can get there under his own steam. Jim doesn’t like this because Tony has been spending more and more of his time in his armor since it restores his lost mobility.

Soon, Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner arrive near the coast of Panama, When Namor dives into the water to restore his strength, he notices wheel tracks left by some undersea invasion force. Relaying this discovery back to Iron Man, they agree to split up. Iron Man soon arrives outside Las Culebras Shipping Center and discovers that it is a front for Hydra. When he comes crashing through the wall, he makes short work of the Hydra agents and confronts their leader. Their master reveals that they have been setting up the shipment of a highly addictive synthetic drug that they intend to proliferate all over California turning everyone into drug addicted slaves. After knocking the Hydra leader out, Iron Man then uses his repulsors to trash their operation to prevent this plan from coming to fruiton.

Catching up with the Sub-Mariner, Iron Man then discovers that Attuma’s armies are going to attack the Hydra vessel carrying another load of drugs. This leads to a three way battle between our two heroes and the two enemy armies. Realizing they need back-up, Iron Man contacts the nearby American Air Force base for help. When fighter planes are mobilized they arrive just in time to save Iron Man, who had been incapacitated by an Atlantean omega missile. With the battle turning again, the Hydra agents blow themselves up rather than face capture while Namor is still aboard their ship.[8] Iron Man vows that Namor’s sacrifice won’t be in vein.

… Atlantis Attacks continues in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Sub-Mariner, Maggia, Hydra, Attuma, Krang, Llyra, Ghaur, Jim Rhodes, Bambi Arbogast,

Continuity Notes

At the time of this story, the Sub-Mariner had been removed from the Atlantean throne due to his prolonged absences from the kingdom in Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #4. Attuma took advantage of Namor’s absence and took control of Atlantis in Avengers #272.
Ghaur was, for a time, a nebulious mass that was drifting in space following a failed attempt to steal the power of Tiamut, the Dreaming Celestial, as detailed in Eternals (vol. 2) #1-12. He was only just recently restored to normal in Silver Surfer Annual #2.
The Serpent Crown was destroyed during Set’s last attempt to cross back into Earth’s dimension in Marvel Team-Up Annual #5. Its reconstruction will begin in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23 and will be completed in Fantastic Four Annual #22.
Iron Man began his investigations after discovering Madame Masque has been ramping up hostilities in Iron Man #245.
The Sub-Mariner and Marrina were married in Alpha Flight #15. She eventually transformed into a giant monster called Leviathan and gave birth to children who hatched not longer after the Avengers were forced to kill her, as seen in Avengers #291-293. Namor will continue to search for Marrina’s children until he finally finds them in Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #4.
Here, the Hydra agents refer to Namor as an ex-Avenger. The Sub-Mariner joined the team in Avengers #262. He went on a leave of absence from the group after Marrina’s death in Avengers #293. He will rejoin Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Avengers #305.
Tony Stark suffered nerve damage after being shot by his stalker, Kathy Dare, in Iron Man #242. He has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. This will remain the status quo until Tony’s mobility is restored by an experimental bio-chip in Iron Man #248.
Namor doesn’t actually die here, but he is seriously injured. He will appear periodically throughout the Atlantis Attacks storyline his identity obscured in a suit of armor that is healing his body. His survival will be revealed in Fantastic Four Annual #22.

Can You Top This?

At a local bar, the patrons watch the news coverage of Iron Man’s battle with Attuma’s forces in Panama. Among the patrons are various foes that Iron Man have encountered Iron Man in the past and they share stories about their experiences. First is the criminal once known as Half-Face, who once pitted the Titanium Man against Iron Man only to meet defeat.[1] The Space Phantom recounts how he once stole Iron Man’s form in order to pit the Avengers against each other and how he almost succeeded in destroying them.[2] Businessam Inoshiro Kondo also explains how he ran afoul of Iron Man and was defeated.[3] Russian spy Irana Tarasova also recounts how she was recently bested by Iron Man while trying to secure a powerful bio-weapon from the ocean floor.[4] Blacklash recalls how Iron Man easily trounced him and his partners Blizzard and the Beetle.[5] While the Crimson Dynamo recollects how Iron Man’s crusade to shut down other armor users. Clashing with the hero, the Crimson Dynamo witnessed the Titanium Man seemingly die in combat.[6]

Not everyone has something bad to say about Iron Man, as a woman recounts how Iron Man saved her life when she was contemplating suicide.[9] Suddenly, Iron Man walks into the bar and all of his foes flee in terror. Seeing everyone clear our, Iron Man wonders if it was something he said.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Half-Face, Space Phantom, Inoshiro Kondo, Irana Tarasova, Blacklash, Crimson Dynamo, Rae LaCoste

Continuity Notes

Half-Face and Titanium Man’s battle with Iron Man happened way back in Tales of Suspense #92-94. This Titanium Man was Boris Bullski.
The Space Phantom almost defeated the Avengers back in Avengers #2. Here he states that his attack was part of a planned invasion of Earth. However, this is later revealed to be a lie. The Space Phantom is actually an agent of the time traveler known as Immortus who has been subtly manipulating the destiny of the Avengers. See Avengers Forever #8.
Interestingly the battle between Iron Man and Inoshiro Kondo had not been depicted prior to this story’s publication. Those events will be detailed in Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 3) #15.
Iron Man’s battle with Irana Tarasova happened in Iron Man #218.
Blacklash, the Beetle, and Blizzard were trashed by Iron Man in Iron Man #223-224.
The incident where Iron Man battled the Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man was during the Armor Wars event that ran from Iron Man #225-231. Tony was eliminating all unauthorized reproductions of his Iron Man technology, his clash with the Dynamo and Titanium Man happened in issue #229. This Titanium Man was Kondrati Topolov, aka the Gremlin. He didn’t actually die here and will turn up alive again (sans armor) in Savage Hulk #1.
Iron Man saved the suicidal woman back in Iron Man #237.

There Are No Wire Hangers Underwater!

Weary of war and having learned of the death of the Sub-Mariner, Andromeda decides to return to her homeland to confront her people over siding with Attuma.[1] When she arrives in Atlantean waters she is attacked by guards who try to arrest her for trespassing. She fights them off and is pulled aside by Colonel Dakkor. He tells her that he is secretly the head of an Atlantean resistance movement trying to overthrow Attuma’s rule and implores her to stand down so as not blow their plans. He asks Andromeda to join the rebellion, but she refuses saying that she needs to confront the one responsible for this insantiy.

She goes to the royal palace to confront Attuma and is captured by the guards. When Attuma appears before her, Andromdea reveals to him that she is his daughter. Despite their familial relation, Attuma still wants to kill her. Luckily, Andromeda manages to break free and swim to safety. She meets up with Colonel Dakkor and agrees to join his rebellion.

… This story is continued in X-Factor Annual #4.

Recurring Characters

Andromeda, Attuma, Dakkor

Continuity Notes

Andromeda appears here following her recent resurrection and battle with the Dragon of the Moon. See Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #3-4.

The Saga of the Serpent Crown: Blood Feud

This story continues from Silver Surfer Annual #2…

The Watcher continues telling the story of the Serpent Crown. Billions of years ago, as life began on Earth, the dinosaurs soon became the dominant species on the planet. This pleased Set who observed the Earth from his extra-dimensional domain and lent his power to ensure the giant lizards continued to remain dominant.[1]

However, by this time, Gaea had decided that mammals would become the next dominant species on Earth, replacing the dinosaurs. Furious to learn this, Set used his influence to make the reptiles try and wipe out early mammalian life. Eventually, Set consolidated his power and merged a number of dinosaurs into a new physical body for him to inhabit on Earth. Unable to match Set’s power, Gaea then summon her son Atum from the sun. Upon his arrival on Earth, he transformed into the Demogorg and attempted to slay Set. Each time he tries to destroy Set’s head, two more would grow in its place.

The cataclysmic battle ultimately ended the majority of the dinosaurs on Earth, with only pockets of their species surviving in places like the Savage Land.[2] Set — now seven heads — was banished by to his own dimension. With is mission complete, Demogorge reverted back to Atum and returned to the sun, leaving Gaea to begin nurturing mammals eventually nurturing them through the path of evolution that would bring about the human race.

… This story is continued in Uncanny X-Men Annual #13.

Recurring Characters

The Watcher, Gaea, Set, Atum/Demogorge

Continuity Notes

Set fled to another dimension when the Demogorge was consuming all of the Elder Gods, as detailed in Thor Annual #10, Silver Surfer Annual #2, and Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #9 and 11.
Although the Watcher states that the battle between Demogorge and Set was the reason for the extinction of the dinosaurs, it is not the only explanation as numerous events occurred in tandem. That Witch Endures, the embodiment of natural selection in the universe, has stated that it played a hand in the extinction as detailed in West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #44-49. In addition, Avengers (vol. 8) #26 reveals that a meteor that was used to try and created a White Event on Earth also contributed to the death of the dinosaurs.