If I Must Die, Let it Be With Honor!

Tony Stark is working on a new invention in his private lab, a reverser device. He is forced to stop when it comes time to recharge his chest plate. Outside his office, Tony overhears Happy and Pepper making plans to go out dancing. Tony decides to help the romance along by offering them his limo to go to the club in style. However, Happy is depressed when Pepper invites Tony to come along, luckily Stark declines the offer.

Meanwhile, at a communist work camp in Siberia, Boris Bullski — the commissar — begins coming up with a plan to destroy Iron Man. He enlists four workers to construct a suit of armor to rival the one worn by Iron Man. The scientists are given control of the Crimson Dynamo’s former lab. While the scientists get to work, Bullski begins studying footage of Iron Man’s previous battles.[1] As they don’t have access to any Starktech and are building the armor out of titanium, they construct a massive armor. Calling himself Titanium Man, Bullski tests out his weapons and is confident he is more powerful than Iron Man.

Later, Tony Stark receives a message from Russia. It is a challenge from the Titanium Man to Iron Man to a battle, a challenge that has also been issued to the media. This is the last thing Tony wants to deal with because his chestplate has been malfunctioning recently.[2] When news reaches Senator Harrington Byrd, he hopes that Iron Man will accept the challenge, even though he has a negative opinion of Tony Stark. Tony puzzles over the problem with his chest plate all night long until he comes up with a temporary solution so he can accept the Titanium Man’s challenge. When word gets back to the Titanium Man, he sends his men ahead to the chosen battle ground to plant a number of traps.

Preparing to leave, Tony invites both Pepper and Happy to join him as he will need trusted allies on the ground. They then take a flight to the nation of Alberia, a neutral party that will host the battle between Iron Man and Titanium Man in a long discarded battlefield left over from World War II. The battle is also scheduled to be broadcast live all over the world. When Tony and his entourage arrive, he is greeted by Countess Stephanie de la Spiroza. When Tony brushes off an invite from the countess, she vows to get even for the snub.

Soon, Iron Man and the Titanium Man are on the battle field where they agree to the terms and conditions of the battle. Soon the battle begins and although Iron Man rushes his opponent, he quickly pulls back when he discovers how strong the Titanium Man. Trying to get distance, Iron Man runs away and ends up stepping on a landmine that was planted on the battle field.

Watching the battle on television, both Pepper and Happy worry about Iron Man’s chances of victory. Happy also notices that Tony is nowhere to be see and wonders where his boss went.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Titanium Man, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Harrington Byrd, Stephanie de la Spiroza

Continuity Notes

1. One of the clips shows Iron Man battling the Black Knight and the Melter. This is from the Avenger’s battle with the Masters of Evil. See Avengers #6.

2. Tony states here that he recently left the Avengers. He left the team to focus on his personal affairs in Avengers #16.

Topical References

• The revolutionary devices behind Starktech in this story is identified as transistors. This is not so impressive now since these devices are found in all electronics.

• This story features dated Cold War refferences: Referring to Russia as the “Iron Curtain”, Russians as “Reds” and so on.

• When Bullski reviews footage of Iron Man’s past battles, it is stated that they are news reel clips and they are viewed on a film projector.

• Passengers are depicted boarding an aircraft from the tarmak. Most international airports now have concourses that allow passengers to board a plane without going outside.

Midnight in Graymore Castle!

At Greymore Castle, England, Professor Cedric Rawlings tests his new shrink ray on plastic statues of Captain America and Bucky. Having allied himself with the Nazis, Rawlings is congratulated for his work by Major Uberhart.[1] Uberhart promises Cedric that if he succeeds in killing Captain America and Bucky, he will be hailed as a hero by the Third Reich. Returning to his room, Cedric’s sister Celia pleads with her brother not to betray his country. However, Cedric has been convinced that the Nazis respect his contributions after years of toiling as a scientist. Removing his glove to reveal a metal prosthetic, Cedric reminds his sister that it is her fault he lost his hand and thus. Celia knows this all too well and this is why she feels indebted to her brother.

Elsewhere in the country, a Ranger unit which includes Steve Rogers is being deployed across the Channel. Bucky Barnes tries to tag along, but Steve tells his sidekick to stay behind and keep an eye on things in Britain, fully trusting the youth to operate independently. Not long after the ship carrying Steve Rogers leaves port, Nazi sabatours attack the base. Bucky quickly changes into his costume and tries to stop them but is swarmed and knocked out. He is then taken to Greymore Castle, where Cedric Rawlings eagerly awaits to experiment on Captain America’s sidekick.

Later, in Nazi occupied France, Steve Roger’s unit liberates a small town. Steve finds a Nazi radio operator and knocks him out. Looking over the paperwork, he discovers a memo that talks about Bucky’s capture. He decides to head back to Britain as Captain America to rescue his friend. As he leaps out a nearby window, Steve overlooks another memo telling of an ambush being prepared for his Ranger team. Racing to a nearby airfield, Captain America hitches a ride aboard a Nazi aircraft. As Professor Rawlings begins his experiments by bombarding Bucky with Z-Rays, Captain America takes control of the Nazi plane and heads for Graymore Castle, fully intending to rescue his friend.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Bucky, Nazis (Richard Uberhart) Mike Duffy, Cedric Rawlings, Celia Rawlings

Continuity Notes

1. Major Uberhart’s first name is revealed to be Richard in the Germany entry of Marvel Atlas #1.