—Clytemnestra ErwinHe feels that becoming Iron Man again may ... may revive his drinking problem. He could be right.
Appearing in "A Duel of Iron"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Avengers (Mentioned)
- U.S. National Guard (Mentioned)
- Beyonder (Mentioned)
- Magma (Mentioned)
- Termite (Mentioned)
- Thunderball (Mentioned)
- Radioactive Man (Mentioned)
- Firebrand (Mentioned)
- Mandarin (Mentioned)
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (Referenced)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Sol
- Beyonder's World (Mentioned)
Items:
Synopsis for "A Duel of Iron"
Tony Stark is forced to don the older model Iron Man armor to try to help Jim Rhodes fight Vibro, fearing his spiral into mental instability will cause him to be careless and hurt innocent bystanders. At the air show where Vibro and Iron Man are fighting, Vibro causes a flying plane to lose control using his vibration powers. It is on the verge of crashing when Tony appears in the other armor and steers the plane to safety. Attempting to separate Vibro from the San Andreas fault which facilitates his powers, Tony uses his repulsors to blast him into the air as high as possible.
Back on the ground Morley and Clytemnestra Erwin arrive on the scene. They initially try to deceive Rhodes but admit that Tony is fighting Vibro in the other armor, angering Rhodes and compelling him to go confront Stark. Stark lands at the scene and tries to talk sense to Rhodes but is struck by him after putting his hand on his shoulder. Stark struggles with the inferior capabilities of his armor but manages to knock out Rhodes's unibeam by reflecting it from a scrap torn from an airplane. He is convinced that the battle needs to be taken elsewhere to prevent others from being hurt and flies off, coaxing Rhodes to follow.
As they continue their fight, Stark continues to take advantage of his superior knowledge of the armor worn by Rhodes and outwits him to the point he is ultimately completely immobilized, despite nearly succumbing to his addiction to alcohol after entering a winery. Tony explains that he has no desire to take back the Iron Man armor and then removes his own armor and reactivates Jim's armor, telling him that he is defenseless and to do what he will to him. Instead of attacking, Jim stands up from the ground and shakes Tony's hand.
