Into the Jaws of Death!

While posing as Iron Man in order to protect Tony Stark’s secret identity, Happy Hogan has been captured by the Mandarin.[1] Since Hogan is inexperienced with the armor, he is no match for the Mandarin and his ten rings of power.

Meanwhile, back in America, Tony Stark decides that he can’t stay in the hospital while Happy is a prisoner of the Mandarin, even if he hasn’t healed from his recent heart attack. Taking a cab back to Stark Industries, Tony quickly rushes to his private lab where he has to build a brand new suit of armor from scratch. After a rapid construction, Tony tests out the suit and determines that it is much more powerful than the previous model.

Once the suit has been powered up, the real Iron Man uses a secret rocket sled track to reach the plant to a Stark owned missile testing plant. There, Iron Man uses a new experimental intercontinental missile to rapidly travel to the region of China where the Mandarin’s castle is located. By this time, the Mandarin has locked Happy in his dungeon and begins interrogating Hogan in order to learn Tony Stark’s secrets. However, Hogan refuses to talk and so the Mandarin begins resorting to violence. At that exact moment, Iron Man has arrived at the castle and makes short work of the Mandarin’s guards. Inside, he finds himself trapped by high-voltage beams. Using his on-board static-jammer, Iron Man shorts out the device.

Back in Washington, DC, Senator Harrington Byrd is warned that an election coming up and his pressing Tony Stark for Iron Man’s secrets could be political suicide. Byrd is unafraid by this, reminding his colleague that he has a duty to the American public and would rather lose an election than betray his ideals or his oath to office.

While in China, the Mandarin is unable to get anything out of Happy Hogan and orders his guards to prepare to execute the man he thinks is Iron Man. That’s when the real Iron Man comes barging into the dungeon and orders the Mandarin to let his friend go.

Recurring Characters

Iron Man, Mandarin, Happy Hogan, Harrington Byrd

Continuity Notes

1. Following Tony having a heart attack during a public hearing before the US Senate, reporters started to speculate that Stark was also Iron Man. Hogan, who has known Tony’s secret identity since Tales of Suspense #70, posed as Iron Man last issue.

Topical References

• Tony leaves a recording for Sentor Harrington Byrd on a reel-to-reel tape recorder.

The Blitzkreig of Batroc!

Captain America has learned that the female SHIELD agent that he has come to love has been captured.[1] Entering the building where she is being held he is unaware that he is being observed by two Hydra agents. One of them prepares to shoot Captain America in the back, but his comrade warns him that they staged this situation to allow Batroc the Leaper to get revenge against the hero.[2]

Falling through a trap door, Captain America is ambushed by Batroc. As the two duke it out, the Hydra agent is again tempted to shoot Captain America in the back. Not wishing to interfere with Batroc’s battle, his comrade suggests that they instead make sure that their captive SHIELD agent is still tied up in the next room. They tell the woman that Captain America has come to save her but if Batroc fails to eliminate the hero, they will kill him instead.

In the next room, Captain America and Batroc battle on. However, the pair are too evenly matched and the Hydra agent finally gets impatient enough to try to shoot the Star-Spangled Avenger. Cap’s reflexes are lightning-fast and he is able to use his shield to protect himself from the bullets. Batroc is furious that the Hydra agents have disobeyed his orders. After Captain America knocks the terrorists out, Batroc agrees to help Cap free the female SHIELD agent from the two remaining Hydra agents who are holding her hostage.

After the last two Hydra agents are defeated, Batroc decides to make a hasty retreat while Captain America is busy untying the woman he has fallen in love with. However, Captain America figures they’ll meet again. The female SHIELD agent, on the other hand, can’t bring herself to hate Batroc since he was responsible for reuniting her with Captain America.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Batroc the Leaper, Hydra, Sharon Carter (unidentified)

Continuity Notes

1. Sharon Carter is unidentified in this story and is merely referred to as the SHIELD agent that Captain America is in love with. Her real name won’t be revealed until Captain America #103.

2. Batroc last fought Captain America in Tales of Suspense #75-76. It was an inconclusive battle as both men had to team-up to prevent New York from being annihilated by a sample of Inferno 42.