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Iron Man: Bad Blood #1

Sep 2000
David Michelinie, Bob Layton

Iron Man: Bad Blood #1 cover

Story Name:

Part 1: A Gathering Dark


Synopsis

Iron Man: Bad Blood #1 synopsis by T Vernon
Rating: 4 stars
Tony Stark is vacationing on his yacht, when suddenly the ship is enveloped in an energy shield. Spymaster’s Espionage Elite swoop down on sky cycles planning to kidnap Tony, secure in the knowledge that Iron Man will not be able to pierce the shield. What they don’t know is that Iron Man is already inside; Tony dons the armor then flies out to engage the enemy, only to recognize them as the thugs who beat him up in Paris. Shellhead wrecks the sky-cycles, two by magnetizing them together in flight and they crash into a nearby research vessel, and terrifying the last member of the gang into surrendering by threatening to slice off the arm he’s holding a detonator with. In port, the authorities count four prisoners with another missing and presumed dead. He also rescues the occupants of the other ship and refers the police to Jim Rhodes’ salvage company….

Later at home, he tells Pepper Potts about his new idea: mass-producing a single-use armor called an escape suit to be marketed to other executive who may run into deadly danger. And he blows off Happy Hogan wanting authorization for a large purchase….

Elsewhere, Phillip Barnett tells Justin Hammer about Iron Man’s defeating the bad guys by terrifying them and Hammer is pleased. Meanwhile, a cat flies through the air behind them….

While testing the disposable armor, Tony is reminded to pick up James Rhodes at the airport. As they drive back toward the base, a laser stretched across the road, shears off the top of the car, causing them to crash. Rhodey is knocked out and Tony can’t reach the case with his armor. It’s the last member of the Espionage Elite, presumed dead, back and seeking revenge. Tony flees gunfire and finds his way to a burned out lodge. He hides in the storeroom, placing a tank of propane against the door. When the gunman tries shooting off the lock, Tony leaps out of the window as the propane explodes. Tony then attacks the injured bad guy, beating him brutally until Rhodey makes him stop….

The next day, Tony calls Happy into the office. He rebukes Happy for making that purchase without his okay and then coldly tells him he’s fired….


 

Review / Commentaries


Iron Man: Bad Blood #1 Review by (December 4, 2021)
Comments: Story falls between IRON MAN (1998 series) #25 and 26. The villains, known as the Espionage Elite, attacked Tony Stark in issue #8 of that volume.

Review: Tony Stark goes very dark in this intriguing miniseries by the always dependable team of Michelinie and Layton. The problem is, it isn’t Layton’s best art (how is Justin Hammer’s head attached to his neck?) and the overly bright 90s coloring makes the story a bit hard to read. But the art does get the job done, carrying the story during the action sequences. Pretty cool.



> Iron Man: Bad Blood comic book info and issue index

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Bob Layton
Bob Layton
Steve Oliff
Bob Layton (Cover Penciler)
Bob Layton (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Richard Starkings.
Editor: Bobbie Chase. Editor-in-chief: Bob Harras.

Characters

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Iron Man
Iron Man

(Anthony Stark)
James Rhodes
James Rhodes

(Rhodey)
Pepper Potts
Pepper Potts

(Pepper Hogan)
Plus: Justin Hammer.

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