This picks up after the end of the last, with Iron Man unable to leave his armor for fear of dying. Trapped in his armor, he has to be just Iron Man and feign that Stark is gone and left him in Charge. However, Pepper and Happy are suspicious, leading to tentions growing and a suspicion that Iron Man may have killed Tony Stark. All this transpires while Black Widow and Hawkeye try to exploit the situation.

Characters and Development

What we have here is growth for our hero and the two antagonists. Black Widow in her being recalled and Hawkeye more in his thoughts. But we get to see the hints of how each may turn from adversary to ally.

But our hero also shows some growth in these pages, albeit to progress the story; We witness him dealing with the risk, and his identity, and the idea that he may be accused of killing himself.

Originality and Continuity

This story fits in nicely with what came before, but in many ways, it feels like an interlude to where the story may end not so much in a cliffhanger but with nothing resolved for our hero. In some ways, this fits in well, on its own, without the story that preseeded, and (I suspect) the story that follows it is lacking.

Story

It is a simple, enjoyable, and predictable read that leaves Ironman on the run, in no small part due to making mistakes that it is at least a bit surprising that the hero would have made.

Artwork

Don Heck’s illustration and Dick Ayers’s inking bring this tale to life and improve the overall experience of reading this comic. Take a look at the panel below of Hawkeye taking Pepper pots captive and the detail of her office in both panels, but also look throughout this reviews other images as well as the issue itself for many fine examples of what is the best aspect to this story.