Appearing in "Though My Life Be Forfeit..."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Mandarin
- ⏴ Radioactive Man ⏵
- Chinese Air Force
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Sol
- Earth
- Asia
- North America
- United States of America
- New York
- Pennsylvania (Referenced)
- Philadelphia (Referenced)
- United States of America
- Earth
Items:
Vehicles:
- Chinese fighter planes
- Mandarin's escape rocket
Synopsis for "Though My Life Be Forfeit..."
The Mandarin has Rhodes under his mind-control and is demanding he cut his own throat but Rhodes succumbs to an excruciating headache as he begins doing so. Free from the mind-control, he dons the Iron Man helmet and flees Mandarin’s lair and dives into the ocean to hide. The Mandarin moves forward with his plans to destroy the rice crops in China, which would force the desperate Chinese to attack their neighbors to sustain its people and bring about World War III.
Back in New York, Tony Stark is wandering the streets in the midst of a vicious snowstorm and looking for Gretl after she left him due to his apparent inability to provide for her. She sits in a bar drinking despite her pregnancy as Tony wanders by her unaware.
Rhodes emerges from the water and plans to flee China until he discovers the fields turning to black and becomes aware that Mandarin is enacting his plan. He realizes he needs to act but is spotted and attacked by the Chinese Air Force who fire missiles at him. Chinese Air Force leaders suspect Iron Man to be an American agent and the one responsible for the crop destruction which delights Mandarin. Rhodes manages to lead the missiles to some of Mandarin’s equipment and destroys it but realizes he needs to act further and enter the base to find the rest of the crop destroying weaponry. Iron Man ultimately manages to disrupt the equipment but inadvertently causes the collapse of the base. Mandarin manages to flee in an escape vehicle which Rhodes attempts to intercept but fails when he is knocked out of the air by Mandarin.
Rhodes returns to the US and calls Morley Erwin upon his arrival. Morley informs him of a strange energy emanating from Central Park. Rhodes goes to investigate and sees some kind of circular structure. As he approaches a doorway to investigate further, he suddenly vanishes in a flash of bright light.
Solicit Synopsis
Notes
- This story is continued in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1.