Synopsis
Invincible Iron Man (1998 series) #42 synopsis by
T Vernon
Rating:
Prologue: Three workers at a tech firm kibitz as they wait for a strange file called “You Da Man” to download. When it is complete, the building explodes….
Tony Stark, having abandoned his previous life, is working at Askew Electronics under the name Hogan Potts. On the subway to work, the train is derailed by the Shocker, demanding people’s valuables. Tony dons his rough armor with limited capabilities and finds even a loser like Shocker is a match for him; Iron Man manages to vanquish him by grabbing Shocker in one hand and the third rail in the other and letting electricity take its course….
Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan are trying desperately to handle Tony’s affairs now that he’s gone—mainly fielding phone calls all day, asking where Tony is, including one from Captain America…and they don’t know what to say….
“Hogan Potts” is late for work again and his boss, Mr. DePalma is pretty angry. His pal Johnny Morley tries to cheer him up but he’s no help. Later, Jocasta contacts Tony to tell him that Trevor Donahue has died—and he’s caught talking to his watch by the company CEO Callista Hancock, who is suspicious that “Hogan Potts” can fix her computer to where it is better than the best on the market….
Even later, Iron Man is at Askew’s labs being tested with SKIN, a liquid metal coating that hardens into Adamantium-grade strength. Shellhead is then contacted by a mystery man who tells him that there is a bomb inside Askew. Iron Man orders the building evacuated and the villain hints that it is much closer to Iron Man than he thinks. Tony then realizes the bomb is in his armor….