Synopsis
Tony Stark is at an illegal arms convention in Madripoor, demonstrating the new Pym-Stark Myriad Engine, a miniaturized factory capable of producing thousands of wasp-like robotic drones in minutes. He asks the audience to look beyond their war-mongering ways to imagine beneficial applications for the drones—then he leaves the stage, refusing to sell the device to any of them. By sub-vocal mic, he contacts Captain America, there undercover as a middle-eastern arms dealer to track down Kashmir Vennema, the elusive villain of his previous adventure. Tony, who has been attending these events for years to get leads for the Avengers is in his element and had picked up hints that Kash would be there. Suddenly Cap runs into her and is startled; somehow she seems different—mannerisms, speech patterns, movement. Before he can figure out why, the presentation begins: a scientist is offering for auction the legendary Harvester Protocol, a virus that renders all technology useless while gathering detailed information and schematics. Suddenly, Batroc the Leaper and his henchmen (Batroc’s Brigade) drop into the room intending to seize the device. The virus is activated, shutting down the image-inducer which had disguised Steve Rogers; he quickly dons his Captain America outfit and activates his hard-light shield and leaps into action. Meanwhile, Tony suits up as Iron Man in a nanosecond and races to the scene. As the two heroes engage the baddies, Kash seizes the Harvester device and reveals that she was the one who hired Batroc, offering to double his fee to help her escape. The Harvester virus infects Cap’s shield and shuts it down—and then corrupts the Iron Man armor, leaving Tony naked and helpless as Machete prepares her sword for a killing stroke….
EnemiesPlus: Kash Vennema (
Kash), Machete, Rapido, Zaran (
Maximillian Zaran).