Synopsis / Summary / Plot
In 1 of the strands of last issue Iron Man (James Rhodes) faced giant monsters Grottu and Tim Boo Ba in Tokyo. Now he's defeated them to much applause. (Although the Japanese Self-Defence Forces spokesman says they would have handled it themselves OK - to much derogatory comment.) Rhodey uses the opportunity to do what he came for - to tout shares in Tony Stark's fledgling company Imperio Techworks.
Also last issue The Pride kidnapped Tamara and Tyree Robinson as bait for Stark. Now Tina Minoru explains to Tamara who they are. The Gibborim supposedly ruled the world before the Great Flood. They will come again to cleanse the Earth of humanity and rule the world anew. They have chosen The Pride to prepare the way by sacrificing a girl to them each year until enough life force has been transferred. Tamara will soon be this year's offering.
In the derelict factory Imperio Techworks is using, Tony has just realised that the Robinson siblings are missing when a hologram of Geoffrey Wilder pops up. Wilder is tired of using minions to fight Stark and wants to bring the duel to a head. But Tony still thinks Obadiah Stane is behind it all, much to Wilder's disgust. He tells Stark that he has invaded the territory of The Pride. And he must come alone to Wilder's house to save the Robinsons.
Back in that house some of The Pride aren't pleased that Geoffrey has just tipped their hand when obviously Stark had no idea they existed. But Janet Stein is eager to test her tech against his. Then Tony blasts his way in with his old Iron Man armour. The Pride are confused because they know the Golden Avenger is in Japan, until Stacey Yorkes does a scan which reveals Stark inside.
Dale Yorkes blows a special whistle to summon their dinosaur. There follows a colossal battle which quickly moves outside - in fact just outside the bedroom window of young Alex Wilder who is oblivious as he listens to music through earphones. But eventually Shellhead reigns supreme.
Then Stacey uses a kinetic drainer pistol on him. Tony recognises the feeling as the same as in #6, and is finally convinced that The Pride is behind everything that happened to him in this story arc. But the armour means he's not as vulnerable as he was then.
He continues to fight until Tina Minoru uses her staff to tangle him in a sudden growth of vines. But Stark reveals an inexplicable knowledge of them. He knows about the Gibborim. And that when they return 6 of The Pride will survive to rule the world with them, but the other 6 will perish with humanity. How will they decide which 6 is which? A mental scan by Gene Hayes reveals that Stark knows much of the contents of their sacred book.
Janet and Victor Stein come forward to talk to him. Stark recognises them from a scientific conference they were all at. Janet says they're saving the world from itself (presumably from human-induced climate change, etc).
Frank Dean is impatient, and wants to torture the truth out of their victim. But just then a spacecraft arrives which the alien Deans recognise as belonging to the Shi'Ar and the Illuminati leap out. Tony explains that Geoffrey Wilder swore by the Gibborim during their earlier chat. Stark contacted Dr Strange about that and Stephen filled him in. Then they called in the rest of the gang.