Comic Browser:

Iron Man #260

Sep 1990

John Byrne, John Romita Jr.

Story Name:

Put Them All Together, They Spell Laser

Synopsis

Iron Man #260 synopsis by T Vernon

Rating:

In a diamond-walled chamber, Iron Man faces the Living Laser, who is delighted to find he is facing the original Iron Man, object of his vengeance. The Laser's blasts are deflected by Shellhead's armor but the faceted walls split the beam into millions of rays that the hero can only protect himself from by throwing up a repulsor shield....
The Mandarin arrives in San Francisco and seeks out the shop of Chen Hsu who holds the villain's stolen ring. The enigmatic shopkeeper turns over the ring; Mandarin places it on his finger and is knocked unconscious....
The earth quakes as Iron Man pulls a section of mirrored wall to send the Living Laser's beams back at him; the Laser shatters the wall. Shellhead bursts out of the rubble and seizes his foe by the neck; the Laser cranks up to blinding full power and quickly switches back and forth from solid to intangible, hitting the Golden Avenger who cannot land a blow himself. Iron Man sets his repulsors to an antagonistic frequency and is able to overpower the Laser; he fails to follow it up quickly enough and the Laser shoots a pinpoint beam that pierces Shellhead's armor—and his flesh underneath. Iron Man rips up the mirrored floor and tries to crush his foe, releasing beams of light that can be seen from miles away....
Kearson DeWitt is examining the data transmitted from Tony Stark's body when he is interrupted by his employers, Desmond and Phoebe Marrs, who remind him he is not a partner but an employee. Marrs orders them to shut down Tony's body to stop him from damaging himself and limiting his usefulness to the Marrs Corp. Shut down, Iron Man collapses to the floor in front of the Living Laser—but the villain wants his foe to grovel and this victory is too easy. The Laser departs in a blast of light....
Dozens of workers come to Iron Man's rescue and strap him to an anti-grav stretcher, sending him up to the surface. When a doctor examines him, he says to tell Tony Stark that “Iron Man is dead....”

Review / Commentaries

Iron Man #260 Review by T Vernon (January 23, 2018)

Comments: Armor Wars II: Part III of IX. Title comes from a popular old song called “M-O-T-H-E-R,” but also refers to the acronyms of the previous two issues' titles. The Living Laser was transformed into real laser in issue #211; he'll be back in issue #263. First appearance of Chen Hsu who will be in the next 15 or so issues. First appearance in this title of Desmond and Phoebe Marrs, who were the main villains for most of the run of NAMOR.
Review: Now there's a distinctive cover! And the knockout visuals inside really make this issue a special one, transforming what could have been just another fight scene into a thing of beauty. And there are the hints of more bad stuff to come with the subplots about the Marrs' and the Mandarin soon to move to the forefront. Tres cool!

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

John Byrne

John Romita Jr.

Bob Wiacek

Joe Rosas

John Romita Jr. (Cover Penciler)
Bob Wiacek (Cover Inker)

Additional Credits

Letterer: Michael Heisler.
Editor: Howard Mackie.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Iron Man
(Anthony Stark)

Mandarin

Plus: Chen Hsu, Desmond Marrs, Kearson DeWitt, Phoebe Marrs.

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