Iron Man...what you do next with your power will determine your fate. And perhaps the fate of existence. 
Appearing in "What of Lazarus?"
Featured Characters:
- Unnamed Wobbow (Main story and flashforward) (First appearance; dies)
- Iron God (Tony Stark) (First appearance as Iron God)
Supporting Characters:
- Oblivion
- Eternity
- Lord Chaos
- Master Order
- Living Tribunal (Adam Warlock)
- Death
- Mistress Love
- Sire Hate
- Infinity
- In-Betweener
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Doctor Doom (Dr. Victor von Doom) (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Satanians (Only in flashforward)
- Wobbow (Main story and flashforward)
- Humans
- Abstract Entities
Locations:
- Multiverse (Main story and flashforward)
- Prime Marvel Universe (Main story and flashback)
- Unidentified reality
Items:
Synopsis for "What of Lazarus?"
Brief Synopsis[]
After the destruction of a planet, its sole survivor lands on Satania to sit down and record what happened. Revealing that he is a Wobbow, he recalls the fight of the cosmically-empowered Iron Man and Korvac. The two cosmic beings fight in giant-size, trading blows and insulting remarks. The Wobbow homeworld of Draconius is destroyed when Korvac hurls it at Iron Man. Injured, the narrator is the only Wobbow to make it out alive aboard a drone, carrying a copy of his people's history. As the fight between Iron Man and Korvac continues, Stark uses his cosmic power to rip a rift into another universe, and forces Korvac into it. The Wobbow also crosses into the other reality and continues observing.
A reality where all life was extinguished by Doctor Doom, Iron Man intends to leave Korvac trapped here since he thinks it matches Korvac's vision for the universe. Tony notices this reality's lifeless Earth and bows to improve his own Earth and his entire universe. After dealing a decisive blow against Korvac, the two combatants are confronted by the Abstract Entities. The Living Tribunal and the In-Betweener take Korvac away while the rest ponder what to do with Iron Man. The In-Betweener declares that what Stark does next with his power will determine his fate and perhaps the fate of existence itself, and sends Tony his way. Under his breath, Korvac proclaims that his sole focus will be Tony from now on. Having escaped from the hollow universe back to his own, the Wobbow arrived at Satania after his drone ran out of fuel. As soon as he finishes writing what transpired into the Wobbow's history, he succumbs to his injuries and dies. His final thought is to ponder what will Iron Man bring to Earth, knowing only that what he and Korvac brought to his own was death.
Detailed Synopsis[]
The giant debris of a destroyed planet floats through space, part of the rubble corresponds to a city. A narrator expresses that he is all that remains from his people and his planet, but not for long. On what appears to be a spaceport in the planet Satania, a cloaked figure walks into a bar, earning the glances of the patrons and the staff. He sits at a table, placing a diary on it. He explains that he managed to escape in a flight drone and needs to record what happened, believing himself to be the only one who knows it. He pulls out his hood, takes up a quill and starts writing. With sorrow he states that he needs to document the fate that his homeworld, Draconius, suffered at the hands of Korvac and the Iron God. Flashing back to Draconius before it was destroyed, the alien explains that he is a Wobbow, a race of peaceful shapeshifters that had the potential to wage war if mistreated. The Wabbow look up as their star suddenly detonates, the narrator explains everything changed in that single instant. In space, Iron Man and Korvac are trading blows, both having been imbued with the Power Cosmic and embiggened to a size much larger than any planet nearby. The narrating Wobbow states that they had been battling across the galaxy, locked in combat for some time.
Korvac exclaims that Tony won't stop me, but Stark refutes him. They trade energy blasts and Iron Man uppercuts him, knocking Korvac down. Tony expresses that he is growing disappointed in Korvac's limited ideas. Regaining his footing, Korvac tells Tony that he doesn't understand, but Tony explains that he does. As Korvac tackles Tony, Stark tells him that his plans to remake reality are simplistic and boring. Tony elbows Korvac in the back, making lose his grasp, and elaborates that he himself has only been a god for a few minutes and already has a million ideas better than his. Iron Man fires his unibeam, hurling Korvac through another planet. As Tony contemplates the Power Cosmic, Korvac fires en energy blast at him, calling his mind weak and small. Stark tells Korvac he thinks the opposite. He recalls that people have been telling him that for years so much he had begun to believe it, and asserts that the truth is that he is one of the most pre-eminent thinkers that the Earth and the universe has ever known. Suddenly, Korvac belittles Tony while hurling a planet at him, and it's shattered in impact. The narrating Wobbow explains that's the moment when his planet died. The Wobbow panic as the world crumbles, and the narrator explains they only had minutes to evacuate since the collapse of their star. The narrator flies off on a vessel, explaining he barely made it to a drone with a single copy of their great history. Inside the drone's pod, the Wobbow presses his hand against his bloodied torso. He states that nobody knew what was happening or how fast their end would come. The drone leaves the rubble of Draconius while Iron Man and Korvac are clinching each other. The narrator states that's the moment when he saw them, the cause of their destruction.
As Korvac gets a hold of him, Tony confronts his opponent, asking if he feels how many he just killed. Korvac brushes it off as a necessary sacrifice to stop his interference. Stark asks how many more murders are necessary, and Korvac tells him he will only make it one more if Stark surrenders. Tony fires an immense ray of energy off his hands, tearing a hole in space. He tells Korvac he has found him a better home. Firing more energy off the exhausts on his shoulders, Tony forces Korvac into the rift, explaining it's an entire dead universe all to himself. As Korvac observes his surroundings with dread, Tony passes through the rift and explains that he had never before understood the Power Cosmic, but now his entire being is a vessel for it. Mechanical suits were just the beginning, and now he and the Power Cosmic are one and the other. Iron Man elaborates that his new link to the cosmos shows him a multitude of realities, and the one where he has taken Korvac matches the stench of death that he's covered in, a reality where not even a molecule is alive. As the cosmic dust flows through his fingers, Tony states that he can hear the story of this universe, and its entire existence had been murdered by Doctor Doom. Tony shows concern at what Victor has done. Korvac is horrified, and Tony holds him from behind by the throat. Korvac defends himself, claiming his goal was to improve, not to kill, and to induce harmony. Tony calls him a self-centered fool. Korvac is shocked by the cold and the nothingness. Turning Korvac around, Tony asks him if it's all he wanted. Korvac calls out Tony's ignorance and pities him. Iron Man blasts Korvac with a unibeam, sending him flying into the distance. He states that Korvac is too powerful to die here, but his quest is now over, dooming him to live alone in this lifeless reality. The surviving Wobbow is observing the end of the battle from his vessel. Tony turns around after noticing this reality's Earth, now a lifeless husk. He laments its fate and worries that the same could happen to his own Earth, except that now he is more than a man in a mechanical suit. Looking over the planet, Tony proclaims that he will help it be so much more. And not only the Earth, but also his entire universe and everything. As Korvac charges toward Tony's direction, Stark expresses to him that he is sorry without turning around. He turns around, smashing the Earth into Korvac's face and claiming that it's his turn now.
The Wobbow is then surprised when he sees the Living Tribunal, Eternity, Death, and other Abstract Entities looming over the two combatants. The Living Tribunal declares the battle over. He and the In-Betweener hold Korvac by each arm and prepare to take him away for having disturbed the universal balance. Tony explains that he thought Korvac would be best contained in this lifeless reality. Eternity states that he is safe nowhere that is not under their eye. Lord Chaos and Master Order ponder what to do with the cosmically-imbued Iron Man. Mistress Love states to give him trust. Sire Hate states to give him pain. Death states to give him his ultimate end. Iron Man states that he is willing to fight the Abstract Entities if he has to. Oblivion states that it doesn't matter what they give or do not give Stark, as his path has been set. The In-Betweener proclaims that what Iron Man does next with his power will determine his fate and perhaps the fate of existence. The Living Tribunal expresses that while clouded, the outcome might be satisfactory for them. The In-Betweener tells Tony to go live his destiny. As Iron Man flies away from the group, Eternity warns him that they will always be watching. Tony goads Korvac, boasting that his own project has been green-lit, whereas Korvac's has been cancelled. Under his breath, Korvac states that he has a new project: Tony. That he will be his sole focus from now on.
The Wobbow's drone rockets through space as his passenger narrates that the Entities then vanished with Korvac. The survivor narrowly escaped the hollow universe back to his own reality but found Draconius no more. Landing on a platform, the Wobbow states he came to Satania spent of fuel. He is sitting at the bar, writing on the book. He explains that he can feel his last breaths as he writes the final words in their great history. As he succumbs to his injury and collapses on the table, the Wobbow wonders what will the Iron God bring to his own homeworld, knowing only what he and Korvac brought to his: Death. His body lays lifeless to the obliviousness of people at the bar.
Solicit Synopsis
IRON MAN HAS BECOME THE IRON GOD!
Only trouble is Korvac has once again become cosmic as well. Their conflict now spills out across the universe as both newly nigh-invincible entities vie for absolute dominance. What does it look like when two massive egos with celestial-sized abilities duke it out? What kind of havoc does it cause as they tear through galaxies and dimensions? And how can a handful of tiny humans stop them in hope of saving their old friend Tony Stark?Notes
- As per its corner box legacy numbering, this issue corresponds to Iron Man #640.
- This issue marks the first appearance of the planet Satania and the Satanians since their debut in 1950's Astonishing #3.
- This issue is also the first major appearance of the Wobbow. An alien race initially depicted in a story fabricated by the Wasp in Tales to Astonish #51, the Wobbow were first established to exist in the Prime Marvel Universe proper in Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1.
- When Iron Man is analyzing the story of the hollow universe where he intends to trap Korvac, he learns that its entire existence was murdered by Doctor Doom. An editor's note cites Doctor Doom #10. Doctor Doom was written by Iron Man (Vol. 6) writer Christopher Cantwell. The hollow universe was originally an utopia ushered by its Victor von Doom, who was a heroic and virtuous figure. In issue #10, the Prime Marvel Universe's Doctor Doom finds himself transported to this world. Unwilling to see his own flaws that prevent him from achieving this vision, he murders his counterpart and uses the Ultimate Nullifier to extinguish all life in this perfect universe before returning to his own.
Trivia
- The title of this issue's story, "What of Lazarus?," is a reference to the episode "The Alternative Factor" from Star Trek. In this episode, the protagonist crew of the USS Enterprise encounter a deluded scientist named Lazarus who is obsessed with the desire to destroy his counterpart from an antimatter universe. The climax of the episode sees Lazarus and his antimatter counterpart locked in combat for all eternity sealed in the "magnetic corridor" between the two universes to prevent their destruction. The episode ends with Captain Kirk of the Enterprise ruminating on the fate of the two Lazarus and asks, "What of Lazarus?"