Chapter Summaries

Tony fought Ivan Vanko at the Monaco track and defeated him, but Vanko mocked Tony for having been beaten to his technology. Lin Hai secretly took Vanko’s reactor from Tony in exchange for a promised reward, then returned to the stands with Gwen.

• Tony used Mark V to fight Ivan Vanko, who disabled Tony’s pulse cannon, struck him with electric whips, and slammed him onto the road.
• Tony endured the whips’ current, closed in on Ivan Vanko, punched and threw him, then ripped the glowing reactor from his chest.
• Special police arrested Ivan Vanko, who laughed and taunted Tony that he had lost because the reactor’s technology matched Tony’s.
• Tony scanned the reactor and prepared to destroy it, but Lin Hai secretly took it and offered Tony a trade in return.
• Tony let Lin Hai keep the reactor, and Lin Hai returned to his seat beside Gwen with it.

After returning from Monaco, Lin Hai gave Harry Ivan Vanko’s reactor and then offered Tony a choice between information for creating a safer reactor or having his chest device, shrapnel, and injury removed. Tony was left weighing the two options.

• Lin Hai returned from Monaco and secretly gave Harry the reactor he had taken from Ivan Vanko, encouraging him to use it in his armor.
• Harry thanked Lin Hai for the reactor, and Lin Hai said he looked forward to seeing it power Harry’s armor.
• Lin Hai took Gwen to Tony’s New York mansion and told Tony he could choose only one of two offers.
• Lin Hai offered Tony information that could help him create a new reactor or direct removal of his chest device and nearby shrapnel, along with repair of the wound.
• Tony weighed the benefits and drawbacks of both offers without making a choice.

Tony chose to learn how to create a new reactor, and Lin Hai revealed that Tony's father had hidden the model for a new element in the 1974 Stark Expo design. Tony left immediately to return to Malibu and begin his research.

• Tony chose Lin Hai's first option and asked him about the new reactor.
• Tony said he valued discovering a new element and building new armor more than his health or even his life.
• Lin Hai revealed that Tony's father had encoded the new element's structure in the 1974 Stark Expo model shown in his video.
• Lin Hai and Gwen left after saying goodbye to Pepper, while Lin Hai warned Pepper to contact him if Tony injured himself during research.
• Tony ordered JARVIS to arrange a plane back to Malibu immediately.

Justin Hammer freed Ivan Vanko and partnered with him to build an iron army, unaware that Ivan intended only to use Hammer’s resources to kill Tony Stark. At Tony’s Malibu villa, Tony gave James Rhodes the silver-white Iron Man armor so the military would stop pressuring them.

• Justin Hammer arranged for Ivan Vanko to be freed from prison and delivered to him, and Ivan agreed to cooperate while secretly planning to kill Tony Stark.
• James Rhodes visited Tony in his lab and complained that the military kept pressuring him to obtain Tony’s armor.
• Tony led Rhodes to the armor display and offered him the silver-white suit to take back to the military.
• Tony explained that the armor’s biometric lock allowed only him or Rhodes to activate it, and Rhodes accepted the suit.

While Tony worked to create a new element, Nick Fury grew anxious that Tony’s behavior did not match S.H.I.E.L.D.’s expectations and went to meet him. Fury introduced himself as a friend and successor of Howard Stark, leaving Tony listening seriously.

• Tony focused on researching the new element after Rhodey settled the military’s demand for an Iron Man Armor.
• Fury reviewed S.H.I.E.L.D.’s predictions that Tony should be showing severe palladium poisoning, but learned Tony had stayed inside his villa instead of acting as expected.
• Natasha told Fury that Rhodey had handed the armor to the military, and she had noticed nothing unusual about Tony’s health or schedule.
• Tony assembled and calibrated a particle accelerator apparatus to create the new element, but JARVIS announced that Fury, Coulson, and Natasha had arrived.
• Tony confronted Natasha and told her she was fired, but she replied that the decision was not his to make.
• Fury introduced himself as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director and claimed he had been Howard Stark’s friend and successor, prompting Tony to listen seriously.

Nick Fury revealed Howard Stark’s secret work and his history with Anton Vanko, explaining how Ivan Vanko came to hate Tony. He offered Howard’s belongings to Tony and learned that Doctor Lin had nearly helped Tony solve his palladium poisoning.

• Tony reflected on his strained relationship with Howard after Nick Fury revealed that Howard had secretly founded an intelligence organization.
• Nick Fury explained that Howard had reported Anton Vanko, whose resulting exile led him to pass his hatred of Howard on to Ivan Vanko.
• Tony realized that Ivan’s attack in Monaco was tied to his father’s past, then asked Nick Fury why he had come.
• Nick Fury said he had brought Howard’s belongings for Tony and asked how Tony was dealing with palladium poisoning.
• Tony said a young traditional Chinese doctor had nearly solved the problem, and Nick Fury identified him as Doctor Lin.
• Nick Fury called Doctor Lin a very good young man, prompting Tony to question whether they meant the same person.

Nick Fury told Tony that Howard had left an unfinished energy project for him to complete, then showed him a case containing Howard’s research and a recorded message. Tony learned that his father had loved and believed in him, leaving him overwhelmed by the revelation.

• Coulson returned with another S.H.I.E.L.D. employee carrying a case marked “Property of Howard Stark.”
• Nick Fury told Tony that Howard had envisioned energy beyond the Arc Reactor and believed Tony could complete his work.
• Tony doubted that Howard had trusted or loved him, but Nick Fury urged him to look inside the case and left with Coulson and Natasha.
• Tony opened the case and found the original Vanko-Stark reactor blueprint, Howard’s research manuscript, and a videotape.
• Tony watched Howard explain that his work was meant for Tony and tell him, “My greatest creation will always be you.”
• Tony sat alone, overcome with emotion as he replayed Howard’s words in his mind.

Tony created the New Element and installed it in a new reactor, then waited for JARVIS to confirm it was safe. While Tony repeatedly asked Lin Hai to remove the shrapnel in his chest, Lin watched Harry and Peter study Ivan Vanko’s reactor in his underground laboratory.

• Tony activated the New Element with the particle collider and placed the crystal inside a newly designed reactor.
• Tony had JARVIS test the reactor before deciding whether to install it in his chest, while he upgraded the Mark III into the Mark VI.
• Tony called Lin Hai and asked him to cure his chest, but Lin reminded Tony that he had chosen information about the New Element instead.
• Lin told Tony he might cure him when he needed Tony’s help in the future, and Tony agreed to wait.
• Lin watched Harry and Peter take apart and study Ivan Vanko’s reactor in the underground laboratory.

Justin Hammer discovered that Ivan Vanko’s Iron Soldiers were not ready for the Expo, while Ivan prepared his revenge. After installing the New Reactor, Tony realized Ivan and Hammer were working together and suspected Ivan would strike at the closing ceremony.

• Justin Hammer asked Ivan Vanko to demonstrate the Iron Soldiers for Congressman Stan, but Ivan said they could only salute.
• Hammer confronted Ivan at the factory and threatened him, while Ivan remained unconcerned and continued his plans for revenge.
• Tony reviewed the New Reactor’s successful test results and installed it in his chest.
• Ivan called Tony to taunt him about doubling the reactor’s speed, and Tony ordered JARVIS to trace the call.
• Tony traced Ivan’s location to Manhattan, connected him to Hammer, and realized Ivan intended to use the Expo closing ceremony as his stage.
• Tony prepared to test the New Reactor and Mark VI, then wondered whether he should call Lin Hai first.

Tony warned Lin Hai that Ivan Vanko and Justin Hammer might attack the Stark Expo closing ceremony, and Lin Hai agreed to help protect the crowd. Lin Hai opened a Portal from his home to Tony's lab, leaving Tony stunned as he stepped through.

• Tony called Lin Hai and warned him that Ivan Vanko had been freed by Justin Hammer and might strike at the Expo closing ceremony.
• Lin Hai agreed to help protect the people at the ceremony and said he could bring friends to assist.
• Lin Hai asked Tony to prepare his armor and wait in his Malibu lab for five minutes.
• Lin Hai opened a Portal between his home and Tony's lab, revealing Gwen, Peter, and Harry behind him.
• Tony stared in disbelief at the Portal, then stepped through it toward Lin Hai.

Lin Hai gathered his friends at his home in Brooklyn and introduced them to Tony Stark. Dr. Connors arrived last, and the group prepared for their upcoming operation.

• Lin Hai and Tony arrived in Brooklyn, and Tony asked about Lin Hai's other friends.
• Lin Hai and Gwen called Matt, Elektra, and Dr. Connors, then Lin Hai opened a Portal to bring Matt and Elektra over.
• Elektra recognized Tony as Iron Man, and Matt and Elektra introduced themselves to him.
• Gwen led Matt and Elektra upstairs to change, while Peter and Harry went to put on their gear.
• Lin Hai opened a Portal to Dr. Connors's home, and Connors stepped through and introduced himself to Tony.

Lin Hai gathered Tony Stark, Matt, Elektra, and Dr. Connors to prepare for an upcoming fight, introducing their abilities and giving the group time to plan. After seeing Matt catch a strawberry and Connors transform into a humanoid lizard, Tony became excited about the trouble awaiting their opponent that night.

• Lin Hai explained to Tony that the people who taught him magic would not join the fight, then gathered everyone to meet before nightfall.
• Lin Hai introduced Matt as a blind lawyer with exceptional senses and fighting skills, and Matt caught a strawberry Tony tossed at him.
• Lin Hai introduced Elektra as the assassin known as the Phantom Killer and warned Tony not to provoke her.
• Connors demonstrated his transformation ability, changing into a large humanoid lizard while explaining that he could transform further.
• Tony accepted that the gathered group had unusual abilities and looked forward to whoever would have a bad night.

Lin Hai organized the group’s plan to protect the Stark Industries Expo while Tony went after Ivan Vanko. The team arrived near the closing ceremony through Lin Hai’s Portal and prepared to stay in contact as they waited for Tony’s update.

• Connors agreed to get help finding clothes that would fit his changing body, and Tony, Peter, and Harry offered to assist.
• Lin Hai assigned Tony to lure the main attacker away from the crowd and told the others to stop any armor or drones that threatened expo visitors.
• Peter handed out communication earpieces, and Tony asked JARVIS to monitor their channel.
• Tony flew to the expo while Lin Hai and Gwen put on their masks and opened a Portal to a quiet corner near the venue.
• Lin Hai, Gwen, Matt, Elektra, Peter, Harry, and Connors passed through the Portal and confirmed that their earpieces worked.

Ivan Vanko seized control of Hammer’s Iron Soldiers during their Stark Industries Expo debut, turning the demonstration into an attack on the crowd and forcing Tony and his allies into action. Tony drew the flying attackers away while Lin Hai and the others headed to the venue to protect civilians and stop the remaining soldiers.

• Justin Hammer introduced the four formations of Iron Soldiers and the modified Mark II piloted by Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes.
• Tony arrived at the expo, warned Rhodey that Vanko was involved, and tried to find out where Vanko was.
• Vanko took control of Rhodey’s Iron Patriot armor and the thirty-two Iron Soldiers, which opened fire on the stage and audience.
• Tony flew away from the venue to draw the flying Iron Soldiers after him, while Vanko sent several soldiers in pursuit.
• Lin Hai sent Peter and Harry toward the main venue, then led Gwen, Matt, Elektra, and Connors there to fight the remaining Iron Soldiers and help civilians escape.

Lin Hai and the others defeated the Iron Soldiers attacking the main venue and rescued its fleeing spectators. Tony reported handling his own attackers, but Natasha warned that he was surrounded after she shut down Rhodey Armor’s remote control.

• Lin Hai, Gwen, Matt, Elektra, Connors, Harry, and Peter fought the Iron Soldiers and protected the people fleeing the venue.
• The group regrouped after destroying the Iron Soldiers, and Lin Hai contacted Tony to ask how things were going.
• Tony reported that he had dealt with the Iron Soldiers pursuing him, but a sudden clash and machine-gun fire interrupted him.
• Natasha told Tony she had shut down Rhodey Armor’s remote control and warned that Tony was surrounded.

Tony and Rhodey fought off a swarm of Iron Soldiers with help from Peter and Harry, then faced Ivan Vanko in a powerful new suit. Rhodey’s Hammer-made missile, the “Ex-Wife,” bounced harmlessly off Ivan’s armor.

• Tony and Rhodey battled dozens of Iron Soldiers until Peter and Harry arrived to help.
• Tony used a one-time laser attack to cut down the Iron Soldiers surrounding them.
• Natasha warned the group that a powerful Iron Soldier was approaching, and Ivan Vanko landed before them in a massive suit.
• Ivan threatened Tony, Rhodey, Peter, and Harry, then extended his electric whips.
• Rhodey fired the “Ex-Wife” missile at Ivan, but it bounced off his chest armor and fell into a puddle.

Tony, Rhodey, Peter, and Harry fought Ivan Vanko, gradually cutting off his weapons and knocking him down. When Lin Hai arrived through a Portal, he struck Ivan with enough force to send him flying, leaving Tony and Rhodey stunned.

• Tony fired at Ivan, who blocked the bullets with his faceplate and attacked the group with his electric whips.
• Rhodey fired on Ivan, Tony was dragged down by a whip, and Peter blinded Ivan with Silk while Harry slashed his chest armor.
• Harry cut Ivan's whips, and Tony, Peter, and Rhodey worked together to knock Ivan to the ground.
• Ivan burned through the Silk on his legs and charged at Tony, but Lin Hai opened a Portal and sent him flying with one blow.
• Lin Hai stepped out with Gwen and Pepper, while Tony and Rhodey stared in shock at his strength.

Lin Hai and Gwen protected their group from Ivan Vanko’s linked Iron Soldier self-destruct explosions with vines and magic. After the blast destroyed the exhibition hall and left Ivan missing, Tony became fascinated by the sorcery he had witnessed.

• Ivan Vanko charged at Peter and Harry while the reactors in his armor and the wrecked Iron Soldiers began glowing red.
• Lin Hai bound Ivan with vines and called Peter and Harry back to the group as the self-destruct sequence began.
• Lin Hai raised a vine barrier while Gwen formed a golden Winds of Watoomb dome around the seven people.
• The Iron Soldiers exploded, but Lin Hai’s vines and Gwen’s magical shield protected everyone inside.
• After the barriers came down, the group found the exhibition hall destroyed and Ivan gone, while Tony excitedly examined Gwen’s magic.
• Lin Hai asked Tony whether he had ever seen a sorcerer before.

After Lin Hai and his group left through a Portal, Tony and Pepper confronted their feelings and kissed, while Rhodey teased them and flew off in Tony's armor. Tony asked Pepper if they could discuss her resignation later, and she smiled without answering.

• Lin Hai advised Tony to focus on improving his armor, then took Gwen, Peter, and Harry through a Portal.
• Pepper told Tony she was quitting because she feared he might die or ruin the company, and Tony tried to reassure her.
• Tony and Pepper kissed, then embraced and kissed again.
• Rhodey interrupted to tease them, then flew away in the armor Tony had lent him.
• Tony asked Pepper if they could discuss her quitting later, and Pepper smiled.

After the battle that destroyed the Expo, Lin Hai and his friends returned home, rested, and discussed the night’s events. Lin Hai expected Thor’s storyline to come next, while he and Gwen predicted Tony and Pepper would soon confront their feelings.

• Lin Hai, Gwen, Peter, and Harry returned through a Portal, and Harry teased Peter about how shaky his war-correspondent footage would be.
• Lin Hai recalled that Thor’s storyline should be next and planned to ask Nick Fury about unusual activity in New Mexico.
• Peter asked Gwen how she had prepared her magic barrier, and Lin Hai explained that she had anticipated his plan; Peter complained about their public affection.
• Peter wondered whether Tony still wanted to learn magic, and Lin Hai said Tony would learn when he was ready.
• Lin Hai urged Harry to rest, and Harry agreed to record his battle ideas before going to bed.
• Gwen and Lin Hai discussed Tony and Pepper and agreed that the battle would likely bring their relationship closer.