Freedom Ring Conclusion

The Iron Maniac has just defeated Spider-Man and Wolverine and decides to turn his attention to the Reed Richards of this reality and begins making his way to the Baxter Building.[1] That’s when he is ambushed by Freedom Ring and his new partner, the Crusader. As they knock the Iron Maniac to the ground, Crusader flies ahead of the range of Freedom Ring’s powers causing his jetpack to start disappearing, forcing Freedom Ring to make a quick rescue. Crusader then lunges at the Iron Maniac but is quickly overpowered. The blows from his opponent cause Z’Reg to briefly return to his true form. Recognizing the Crusader is a Skrull, the Iron Maniac is about to land a killing blow when Freedom Ring ambushes him again. Taking control of the situation, the Iron Maniac uses his rocket boots to ram them into the side of a building, knocking Freedom Ring out. That’s when the rest of the New Avengers arrive in one of SHIELD’s flying cars.[2] When Captain America orders Stark to let the boy go, Tony obliges by dropping him to the ground. Quickly, Spider-Woman tries to glide down to save him, but unfortunately, Freedom Ring falls too quickly and hits the ground. Seriously injured, Freedom Ring has problems breathing and passes out. Without his concentration, the ring reverts him back to his civilian guise. Spider-Woman quickly picks up the novice hero and hands him over to some EMTs that have arrived on the scene.

Spider-Woman returns to the battle, but the Iron Maniac easily knocks down all three of the remaining New Avengers to the ground. Luckily for them, the Crusader sees them fall and turns his body into a giant cussion to break their fall. Furious that the Crusader prevented him from killing his foes, the Iron Maniac lands on the ground and rams his fist through his chest. This serious injury causes the Crusader to pass out and revert back to his true form again. By this time, Curtis Doyle has regained conciousness and used his Freedom Ring to revive his damaged body. He confronts the Iron Maniac, but the villain wills his maliable armor to attack the youth as deadly spikes. One of them severs Freedom Ring’s ring finger cutting him off from his powers. He is suddenly and fatally gored on the spikes. However, this stunt leaves Tony Stark’s head exposed and he is struck from behind by Captain America’s shield, knocking him out. With the battle over, the New Avengers — joined by Spider-Man and Wolverine — mourn the loss of the young man who saved them all.

Days later, Curtis Doyle’s body is laid to rest in Cypress Hills Cemetery, where his friends can hardly believe that Curtis was a superhero. When asked Troy, Doyle’s best friend and the only one who knew his secret, tells them that they were unable to find the ring that gave him his powers. At that moment, back at Doyle’s former apartment, Z’Reg is using the ring to pamper himself.

Recurring Characters

Freedom Ring, Crusader, New Avengers (Captain America, Spider-Man, “Spider-Woman”, Wolverine, Luke Cage), Iron Maniac

Continuity Notes

1. As explained in Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #2-6 and 22, the Iron Maniac is the Tony Stark of an alternate reality. He was a tyrant who was exiled to Earth-616 by the Reed Richards of his world. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #2, this reality is designated Earth-5012.

2. The woman who appears to be Spider-Woma here is actualy a Skrull spy as revealed in Secret Invasion #3. She took the real Spider-Woman’s place in Giant-Size Spider-Woman #1.

Titannus Lives! Part One

Revived by Japanese scientist and implanted with memory blockers, Titannus is unleashed on the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Watching from their lab in Tokyo, the scientists are impressed with the results of their work. They have unleashed Titannus on the United States as they blame the Americans for Titannus’s original attack that decimated Tokyo.[1] They vow to use Titannus to destroy the entire United States of America.

At that moment, at his Sanctum Sanctroum, Doctor Strange suddenly senses Titannus’ rampage a can’t believe it’s all happening again.

Recurring Characters

Doctor Strange, Titannus

Continuity Notes

1. Titannus is actually a Skrull invader who decimated Tokyo in Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #10 and was stopped thanks to a number of American heroes from issue #11-13.