Synopsis
Last issue Iron Man came back to Earth from his Power Cosmic-infused battle with Korvac. Now he's the cosmic-powered Iron God. He began his plan for improving the universe by giving everyone in New York City his genius-level intellect. Things started going wrong straight away, and Hellcat (Patsy Walker) called on Dr Doom to help resolve the situation.
A news reporter describes some of the results of a city full of geniuses. Doctors have found cures for 34 diseases (4 of them terminal), and 11 other diseases have been wiped out by laymen. A guy has invented a process to turn rubbish into a renewable fuel source, and 3 more new fuels have also been invented. High School students are maxing their test results but also quitting school because it's become redundant. Many new financial wizards have destabilised the stock market, and ingenious bank robberies aren't helping. Not to mention the people who've tried to take over the world.
Tony Stark has built a special prison for criminal geniuses, but they still keep escaping. So he's reduced all the prisoners' IQs to 'dull normal'. Meanwhile for some reason most of the NYPD have quit to form a private space program called Blue Moon. And the newsreader herself quits and vanishes after announcing that she's invented a new TP method and founded an intergalactic shipping corporation.
Patsy and Victor Von Doom are watching this in her large apartment (afforded by inheritance from her author mother). Frog-Man, Gargoyle, Halcyon, Human Torch (Jim Hammond) and War Machine of IM's anti-Korvac 'Space Friends' team are on the roof garden but they're not happy when Patsy introduces Dr Doom along with pizza. She explains that because they've all got Tony's type of genius he'll be able to second-guess them. Even Reed Richards has been reduced to this level, so Doom is the only option and he's already come up with a plan.
The team immediately split between those who agree Tony needs to be stopped and those who think he's doing good. Deaf Halcyon has now created a device which translates his sign language into speech. Gargoyle is impressed, and Frog-Man thinks the positives outweigh the negatives. Hammond and James Rhodes side with Patsy. Victor demands that they stop bickering and do what he says. Then Silver Surfer drops in having answered Hellcat's mental call from across the universe.
The Iron God has reduced himself to his human form and is holding a meeting with representatives from all over. Most of them are complaining about what he's done but some of them want him to spread his genius to other places (eg Washington). He can't take any more and with as snap of his fingers he turns everyone in the city into fawning sycophants. Then he leaves to visit Patsy and co to experience *them* being nice to him for a change.
Dr Doom has unveiled his plan. He's built a special bomb to be powered by the Surfer. Then they hear Tony calling out that he smells pizza. Doom and Norrin Radd fly off and Patsy warns the other to pretend to like him (because Doom has magically protected them from his influence). They all greet him as a buddy, even as he apologises for forcing them to act like this. He just needs time to get everything working smoothly. But eventually Patsy can't keep up the pretence and calls him out as an egomaniac.
Tony powers up to punish them so SS intervenes, but Stark has the Power Cosmic too and easily blasts him back. Scientist/sorcerer Doom is more of a challenge but Tony can take time out to destroy the bomb and berate Doom for destroying a whole universe himself (in Dr Doom #10 but discovered by Stark in our #15). Doom eventually falls and Surfer interrupts again so Stark turns him into a silver puddle.
Tony then easily kills Frog-Man and turns Gargoyle into a pile of rubble. HT and Halcyon are next. But he has to turn into the Iron God to face War Machine. His old friend tries to talk him down while Tony tries to justify his actions. But eventually the IG just punches Rhodey's head off.
Iron Man realises what he's done to his greatest friend, and surveys the other dead bodies surrounding him. Hellcat awaits her fate as calmly as she can. But then Tony unmasks weeping.