Synopsis
Invincible Iron Man #595 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
This issue's 'splash' page has Victor Von Doom with his Iron Man helmet off explaining the current situation to someone. The explanation for Tony Stark's coma is somewhat different than usual - that it is due to changes Stark made to his own biology (with no mention of the fight at the end of Civil War II). But now Tony's body is missing, and his company is under threat.
Victor thinks in this situation it is even more important that he continues his role as Iron Man. And if Stark is dead he will enact revenge. But if he himself falls then his listener should contact Riri Williams (Ironheart).
Said listener is Amara Perera and she is pointing a gun at him. Victor came here hoping to renew their relationship (from Infamous Iron Man) but then he notices that she has brought a vitamin supplement (or something) for pregnancy. And he vanishes away.
The Tony Stark AI in Ironheart's armour has been trying to contact Doom via the Internet, but with no luck. Riri accuses him of not trying hard enough to help find the real Tony - maybe he *likes* being the only Tony Stark available. The AI diverts the conversation to Eric Lynch and the Stark Industries board trying to take over the company. And 1 of Ironheart's boot jets misfiring since her fight (presumably with Hijack last issue).
Riri was flying to where she lives with her mother in Chicago. She reaches their street when the boot fails completely and she crashes in the road outside her house. A teen named Xavier King (who I guess is going to be a regular supporting character) from across the street asks Riri if she's OK, and now it's her turn to remove her helmet for a chat. They enter the garage and find ...
... goons hired by the Stark board here to 'retrieve' what the board claims is stolen property - ie armour and other inventions she 'based' on Stark designs. Mrs Williams is being restrained by their leader Melina Vostokoff who we readers know better as Iron Maiden, another armoured character. Melina tries to calm things down but Riri says she's recording everything and will release it to the media. Vostokoff thinks the Stark board wouldn't like that, so they choose to leave.
We now turn to the guy in the Iron Man armour from the end of last issue. It turns out he *is* (or at least thinks he is) Tony Stark but he's not feeling too well. He appears to be found by his (biological) mother Amanda Armstrong who carries him to a bed to rest. He confirms Victor's claim that he upgraded his body to survive being Iron Man but it all caught up with him. It was only his desire not to lose his mother now he has found her (see International Iron Man) that has brought him back from the coma.
Amanda says Mary Jane Watson and loads of other folks have been looking for him. She's about to tell him something important about his real father when MJ arrives. Ms Watson phones some others - but she's armed and seems to expect danger. A lot of other superheroes join them, and Luke Cage says they had a guide to reach him - it's James Rhodes (who of course is dead).
It was all a delusion, and the man in the armour falls back into unconsciousness.
Victor Von Doom returns to his home in the South of France. But the Hood is waiting for him with Corruptor and Living Laser. Parker Robbins shoots Doom with both his guns, with explosive effect.
Lastly we join the real Amanda Armstrong talking by video-link with some of the heroes who really *are* helping look for Tony, including Captain America (the returned good Steve Rogers) and Thor (Jane Foster). The real Mary Jane Watson has just got off the phone to the FBI. Nobody, including Stark's right-hand AI Friday, can find him. Amanda suspects Friday knows more than she's telling, but the AI assures her otherwise. But she has an idea ...
... she calls the Tony AI to manifest a hologram form in their midst. She says he's a complete replica of Tony's consciousness and knows everything Tony knows, including what Tony doesn't want *them* to know. She accuses *him* of knowing where Mr Stark is. The AI admits it, but his defence for not telling them is that no-one *asked* him before.