Invincible Iron Man (2008 series) #33

Conclusion to the 9-part Stark Resilient. This issue admits that Stark Resilient isn't the first time Tony Stark has quit the arms business. When Maria Hill kills the cellphone network, this allows Pepper Potts' repulsor battery to be restarted, saving her life. It isn't clear who actually does the restart. Ans last issue I expressed doubt whether her prolonged shutdown was actually necessary. Iron Man doesn't really do anything in this battle except provide the footage for the promo video for the Stark Resilient repulsor-powered electric car. It's Hill's show all the way. Maria also gets Jim Rhodes attached to the military as War Machine, so he keep an eye on Gen'l Babbage and Detroit Steel. Justine Hammer gets Babbage to transfer Zeke Stane from Guantanamo Bay to another facility with a military codename. Does Babbage know that Michael Charlie One is Mandarin City? Ezekiel Stane was last seen as the main villain in The Five Nightmares in #1-6. Iron Man's nemesis Mandarin's last main outing was as the prime villain behind Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #15-28, with time off for World War Hulk in #19-20, although sometimes behind the scenes or under an alias. Now this issue, Annual #1 and #500 are setting him up as the mastermind behind all Iron Man's current troubles. He will come to the fore in the 2012 cover-dated issues starting from #510. Next:- Iron Man probably features in Avengers #7-12 here, before coming back for the renumbered #500. (And War Machine is already a part-time Secret Avenger.)