"Iron Man!"
The citizens gathered outside cried out in alarm. Doctor Doom, having cast aside his mortal identity, naturally recognized the playboy who had long dominated newspaper headlines. Back when he had still been Victor Doom, the other man had been a towering figure he needed to look up to—a titan who controlled a multibillion-dollar corporation, highly valued by the Department of Defense, and one of New York's favored sons.
Things are different now, he thought silently.
A faint sneer came from beneath the metal mask. A swift bolt of electricity shot out and struck the Iron Armor hovering in midair, erupting with crackling bursts.
Inside the armor, Tony Stark was like a shell filled with force as he flew backward and crashed into a building. Its sturdy reinforced concrete wall tore open like fragile paper, and billowing dust and smoke poured out.
"Sir, the armor has been struck by a powerful electrical current. Surface damage: twenty percent," Jarvis warned.
Red alarms sounded across the Iron Armor's internal interface, while the Arc Reactor in its chest flickered erratically. Tony coughed twice, a little irritated. He had not expected Iron Man's official debut to end in failure so quickly.
"Wow, and you think you can protect New York like that?" Johnny laughed disdainfully. With a sweep of his arm, he hurled a blazing fireball at the metal figure standing below.
The flames struck the green cloak, scorching it black, but Doctor Doom did not care. Such childish attacks could not hurt him at all.
Electricity in his hands writhed like airborne serpents, lashing at the cars along the road. Massive explosions thundered through the district. The police who had rushed to the scene could only evacuate the crowds as best they could to prevent further casualties, utterly powerless to stop Doctor