What Price Victory?

Happy Hogan has seemingly sacrificed his life in order to get the reverser weapon to Iron Man during his battle with the Titanium Man. With this new weapon, Iron Man intends to make sure that Happy’s sacrifice won’t be in vain. When Titanium Man begins trying to blast the Golden Avenger, Iron Man flies rings around him until he is able to blast his foe with the reverser. This weakens the Titanium Man who then has to fend of a barrage from Iron Man’s ionic blaster.

Watching from the sidelines is Pepper Potts who is upset that Happy was injured. By this time paramedics have pulled Happy from the scene of the battle. Miraculously, Hogan is still alive but is hanging from a thread. Senator Harrington Byrd offers to take Pepper to the hospital and, not for the first time that day, everyone wonders where Tony Stark has been the entire time.

Back on the battlefield, Iron Man believes he has Titanium Man cornered. That’s when the villain exposes a hidden missile launcher that was planted on the scene of the battle. Iron Man easily evades the heat-seeking missile and continues to chase his foe. Boris Bullski, aka the Titanium Man, suddenly realizes that he has no tricks left and begins to panic. Iron Man blasts him with the reverser again and this time it completely immobilizes the Titanium Man armor. Iron Man then pummels his foe and then threatens to drop him from the air unless he surrenders. Fearing for his life, Bullski surrenders and is left on the battlefield to be collected by his masters. Iron Man decides to take the Titanium Man’s helmet as a souvenir before flying off.

Returning to town, Iron Man learns that Happy is still alive and leaves before he can participate in a parade in his honor. Senator Harrington Byrd is impressed with Iron Man and wishes that Tony Stark could be more like his bodyguard. Meanwhile, Pepper Potts and Countess Stephanie de la Spiroza are in a hospital waiting room. Pepper is anxiously waiting for word on Happy’s condition, the Countess is merely using this as an opportunity to confront Tony Stark, who has been snubbing her since she arrived in Alberia. Meanwhile, Tony Stark has retreated to his hotel room where he just barely manages to plug in his armor to recharge after his life-and-death battle with the Titanium Man. Meanwhile, representatives from Russia and China protests Iron Man’s victory because he used a weapon that was brought to him in the middle of the battle. This doesn’t wash with Senator Harrington Byrd and other democratic officials who point out that the Titanium Man planted weapons on the battlefield first.

By this time, Tony Stark has arrived at the hospital to check on Happy. When he consoles Pepper, the Countess gets very upset and vows to get even with Stark before storming out of the hospital. Pepper asks Tony where he was the whole time, and unable to tell her the truth says he was conducting some business. This angers Pepper who assumes Tony doesn’t care about Happy’s condition and wonders what she ever saw in him. That’s when the specialist finally arrives to perform surgery on Happy. He does the best he can and informs Tony and Pepper that only time will tell if Happy will survive. Pepper leaves the hospital by herself. While Pepper shunning him hurts, this is what Tony wants since he cannot be in a serious relationship.

Recurring Characters

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

Topical References

• This story uses a lot of dated Cold War references: propaganda victories, the Iron Curtain, Reds etc.

• The secret technology of Iron Man’s reverser ray is transistors. This should be topical since transistors are now very common in all electronics.

… When You Lie Down With Dogs…!

Captain America and Bucky have been captured by Nazis at Greymore Castle. Major Uberhart now plans on placing them into a V-2 Rocket along with Celia Rawlings and launch it at 10 Downing Street, the home of British Prime Minister Winston Chruchill. Cedric Rawlings, Celia’s brother, protests his sister being punished alongside the American heroes. However, the Nazis have gotten what they wanted out of the British scientist and are now dismissing him for the traitor that he is and toss him into the castle dungeon.

By this time, the knock out gas used to knock out Captain America and Bucky has worn off. Cap fights free and runs for cover. When the Nazis begin shooting at his partner, Bucky knocks out the guard who has him and steals his gun. He then provides suppressing fire long enough for Captai America to recover his shield and use it to knock out the rest of the soldiers. By this time, Major Uberhart has taken Celia at gunpoint and threatens to kill her if they do not surrender. However, Celia refuses to allow herself to be used as a hostage and fights free. Tragically, she is fatally shot by one of the Nazis in the struggle.

As Captain America checks on Celia, she tells him of the sneak attack on his team of Rangers in Nazi-occupied France. With all the Nazis knocked out, Bucky goes and frees Cedric from his cell. He is horrified to learn that his sister has been shot. Her dying words to him are to atone for betraying his country by assisting Captain America and Bucky. Meanwhile, Captain America worries about his unit. Cedric then offers to reprogram the V-2 rocket to strike the Nazi surprise attackers. However, by this point, Cedric has become unhinged and after launching the rocket he sets off the remaining rocket fuel, intending to destroy the entire castle and himself. Cap and Bucky manage to get out just moments before the castle explodes.[1] Moments later, the V-2 Rocket hits its target, decimating the Nazi troops, allowing the team of Rangers to defeat those still standing.

Recurring Characters

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

Continuity Notes

1. Although it seems as though Cedric Rawlins is killed in the blast, he will turn up alive again in Captain America #256.