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January
Year 3 |
Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark takes another sip of his club soda as he stares out the window of his room at New York's Four Seasons. "At least they allowed me to stay here for free as long as I'm in New York, since I agreed to cover all the damages Iron Man caused here," he thinks. (for details see our previous issue - Matt) "The only problem is I'm not sure how long I should stay in town. Mrs. Arbogast called me this morning, saying she found out where Bethany Cabe is. She's been staying in the city the last few weeks. I'm so tempted to call her, especially after my encounter with Masque. (see Iron Man #352 - Matt again) But it's been so long... why am I afraid of seeing her again?"
Tony looks at his watch. "Uh oh. Time to leave, or I'll be late for my meeting." He stands up from his chair and retrieves his jacket from the closet. After calling downstairs to make certain his car will be waiting for him, Tony proceeds to the lobby. When he walks out of the building's front entrance, the valet is waiting with his Porche.
"Your keys, sir," the valet says.
"Thank you for the excellent service," Tony says as he hands the valet a fifty and hops into his car. As he drives down the busy streets of New York towards the offices of Warhammer Construction, he mentally reviews the information he needs for the meeting.
"Warhammer's constructing a new Stark Enterprises facility here," Tony thinks, "and so far everything's going smoothly. In fact, it looks like we may actually finish ahead of schedule. I knew hiring the company owned by my old friend Thor was the right decision. In fact, that's why I decided to stay in New York for this meeting, which I'd normally take care of through videoconferencing. I haven't really seen Thor since we both left the Avengers' active ranks, (in Avengers #420 - Iron Matt) and it'll be nice to catch up with him again."
Upon arriving at the Warhammer office building, Tony parks his car in the VIP garage and then takes the express elevator up to the lobby. He is immediately taken into the conference room, where he is greeted by Jerry Sapristi.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you face-to-face Mr. Stark," Jerry says as he offers a friendly handshake.
Tony returns the handshake and says, "Likewise, Mr. Sapristi. Please call me Tony."
"You can call me Jerry. Please, have a seat." Both gentlemen sitdown at the conference table. "My associate, Sigurd Jarlson, had planned on being here but he's been out of town for a few days and hasn't made it back yet."
"Not so fast, Jerry," comes the booming voice of Sigurd, as the tall blonde muscular figure enters the room. "The emergency has been taken care of, and I just returned." (want the scoop? Read Thor 524-526 - Mattjolnir). Sigurd extends his hand to Tony. "I'm glad to see you again, Tony."
"I don't know how Thor fools so many people with just a ponytail and glasses," Tony thinks as he shakes Sigurd's hand. "Always a pleasure, Sigurd," Tony answers.
"I didn't realize you two had met," Jerry says.
"Yes, we met many years ago, and have had some contact since," Sigurd says. "But shall we get down to business?"
The next thirty minutes is spent going over plans, schedules, and budgets. Blueprints are discussed and spreadsheets are analyzed. As the discussion wraps up, Jerry makes a suggestion. "Tony, how'd you like to go down to the site and see things for yourself?"
"That sounds like a great idea, Jerry," Tony says. The three men leave the conference room and travel down to the garage, where they board a Warhammer van and travel out to the nearly-completed construction site.
The three men, after donning their hardhats, survey the work done thus far. "I have to say, I'm really pleased how things are progressing," Tony says. "I knew I could count on you guys to do a good job, but to be ahead of schedule and under budget - well, those are nice bonuses."
"I have to say, this job has gone smoother than I thought it would -" Jerry says, only to be interrupted by a sudden earthquake!
"I'm used to this type of thing in California," Tony states, "but in New York? What could be causing this?"
As the ground ceases its motion three construction workers exit the site.
"We gotta get outta here!" the lead worker says.
"Be calm!" Sigurd says in a commanding voice. "What is the trouble?"
"We were workin' in the subbasement," the lead worker gasps, "when all of a sudden, some yellow-skinned freak busts through the wall, askin' us where some artifact is, and throwing chunks of concrete around like they were baseballs!"
"Do not worry," Sigurd reassures the worker, "this maniac will be stopped. Jerry, get all the workers to safety. I'll try to contact the authorities."
"And I'll contact my bodyguard," Tony says as he grips his ever-present attache case even tighter.
"As I hoped you might," Sigurd says. "We must hurry!"
As Jerry begins leading all the workers away from the sight, Tony and Sigurd run off in opposite directions. Tony ducks behind a cement mixer and unlocks his attache case. With speed developed through executing this same procedure countless times over the past decade, Tony dons his solar-charged steel mesh battle armor. Soon the figure of Iron Man is seen streaking into the building, heading towards the subbasement.
Meanwhile, Sigurd has concealed himself behind a crane. Making sure no one sees him, he reaches into his duffel bag and removes the enchanted warhammer, Mjolnir! Stamping it upon the ground, Sigurd is transformed in a flash of lightning to his true guise of Thor, god of thunder! Thor spins Mjolnir until it reaches an unfathomable velocity, and then hurls it into the air. Thor grips the hammer's unbreakable leather strap, and Mjolnir carris Thor through the air and into the building, right behind Iron Man.
The two heroes arrive in the basement seconds later. There the see the yellow-skinned man with long brown hair. Thor and Iron Man immediately recognize their foe.
"Grotesk!" shouts Thor. "Turn and face the wrath of Thor and his noble ally, Iron Man!"
"How did you get here?" Iron Man asks Grotesk. "The last time I saw you, the Avengers left you in the custody of the Mole Man! (following the events of Avengers West Coast Annual #6 - Mole Matt) What do you want?"
"Did you think the Mole Man could hold me for long?" Grotesk answers. "I heard tell of an artifact buried in this area that would give me the power I need to destroy your pathetic surface world once and for all! Now get out of my way!" Grotesk picks up a slab of rubble created by his entrance into the subbasement and hurls it at the two Avengers.
"I'll take care of this, Thor," Iron Man says as he fires his repulsors on wide dispersal, disintegrating the large chunk of concrete.
"I thank thee, Iron Man," Thor says, "and now the god of thunder shall take care of yon miscreant!" Thor hurls mighty Mjolnir at Grotesk.
"Thor, be careful!" Iron Man warns.
Grotesk dives into the tunnel from which he entered as Mjolnir flies past, smashing into the far wall of the subbasement and rocking the foundations of the under-construction facility.
"My apologies, Iron Man," Thor says as Mjolnir returns to his hand. "In truth, I had forgotten the delicacy of our surroundings in my haste to apprehend Grotesk."
"No problem, Thor," Iron Man says. "But we'd better follow quickly if we don't want to lose him! I'll lead the way - my unibeam will let us see in the darkness."
Iron Man and Thor both enter Grotesk's tunnel. Iron Man's unibeam shines ahead, revealing only a narrow corridor of earth. They follow the tunnel several feet as it slopes downward into a deeper section of the earth. They round a corner, and find themselves in an expansive cavern. The cavern's roof is thirty feet high, and the entire area is well lit. "It's amazing how vast a world Subterranea is," Iron Man says as he looks around the cavern.
"Aye," Thor answers, "but there is time enough to be awed later. We must not let our quarry escape us."
"Right, Thor," Iron Man agrees. "But where could he have gone? He had to come this way, but I don't see any sign of-"
"Over here, Surface Dwellers!" Grotesk announces from another tunnel on the opposite side of the cavern. "Meet my reinforcements!" Grotesk steps out of the way, and from the darkened tunnel emerges a giant beast the likes of which neither hero has encountered before!
It stands twenty feet tall, its body covered with thick red scales. It has three eyes, each black as pitch. Its mouth is filled with fangs, and drool flows down its chin as it hungrily eyes the heroes. It clicks its razor- sharp claws, one on each of the three fingers of each hand. It lumbers forward on its two legs, dragging a spiked tail behind it.
Thor wastes no time taking in the beast. "Have at thee, monster!" the Thunderer yells as he hurls Mjolnir. The beast unleashes an unholy scream, but does not appear to be seriously hurt.
"You'll have to do better than that," Grotesk says. "He's one of the Mole Man's very best. I call him Earl. You three enjoy yourselves - I have a civilization to avenge!" Grotesk runs down the tunnel, leaving Iron Man and Thor to face 'Earl.'
"We've got to take care of this monstrosity fast!" Iron Man says as he streaks into the air, repulsors blazing. Earl swings a massive arm at the Golden Avenger, which Iron Man barely avoids. Thor, meanwhile, has approached the monster's left leg. Holding Mjolnir in both hands, Thor swings his enchanted mallet with all his godly strength, causing an impact so great Iron Man's audio sensors almost overload. The creature howls in pain and swats Thor away with its tail. The creature charges forward, towards the tunnel Thor and Iron Man followed to reach the cavern.
"Oh no, he's heading towards the surface!" Iron Man shouts. "We've got to stop him!" Iron Man continues to pepper the creature with repulsors, but they seem to do no good. The creature is too large to travel through the same tunnel Iron Man and Thor did, but using its claws, Earl quickly digs its way to the surface.
Above, the police have surrounded the construction site. Lt. Stone of Code: Blue stands talking to Jerry Sapristi. "And you say you haven't heard or seen anything since Iron Man and Thor went in?" Lt. Stone asks.
Suddenly, the ground begins to quake again. Next to the construction site, the earth erupts as the creature we know only as Earl emerges from the ground, followed by Iron Man and Thor. Iron Man streaks to the creatures midsection and delivers a devastating blow before Earl's flailing claws force him back. With Earl distracted, Thor flies behind Earl and lands on his head. Thor begins pounding on the creature's head with Mjolnir, until Earl manages to shake Thor loose. Meanwhile, Iron Man has begun using his unibeam's laser to burn the creature's tough hide.
Thor twirls Mjolnir to float above the battle. "Iron Man! Stand ye back! Now that we be in the open, Thor may unleash his greatest weapon - his birthright as lord of the storm!" Even as Thor speaks, black clouds gather overhead, appearing as if from nowhere.
"Right, Thor! That'll take care of this brute!" Iron Man says as he flies back, still firing his laser as he does so.
The rain is pouring from the heavens now, and lightning begins to flash across the skies. "And now, creature," Thor announces, "thy defeat!" Lightning streaks from the skies, flowing into Mjolnir and emerging in the form of an incredible blast of force!
Earl staggers, trying desperately to stay on his feet. "That's got him on the ropes, Thor," Iron Man says. "Now to finish him off!" Iron Man has retreated to a distance of about two hundred yards. Finally at a distance to effectively utilize his pulse bolts, Iron Man unleashes the waves of energy that gather strength the further they travel. When they strike Earl, they send the tottering creature to the ground, unconscious!
Iron Man and Thor both land near the creature as the rain begins to slack off and the skies begin to clear. "This beast has been subdued, but Grotesk is still free," Thor notes.
"Well, at least we kept the construction site from further damage," Iron Man says. "As for Grotesk, I'm sure he'll show up again. I just can't help but wonder what he was looking for."
Grotesk smashes through another tunnel wall, this one a level below the subbasement of the Stark Enterprises facility under construction. "It must be here somewhere," he says as he desperately looks around the cavern he has uncovered. Then he notices what appears to be a metal control pad. "Ah! The artifact!" he shouts exultantly. Scurrying into the tunnel, he retrieves the artifact and begins to study it. "As soon as I decipher these runes, I can unleash the power that will destroy the surface world, and at last have my revenge!"
Next: Be sure to read Thor #527 by Ralph Angelo, also on sale this month, for part two of our mindstaggering crossover! Then don't miss part three in Thor #528 (by yours truly!) before returning here next issue for the action- packed conclusion, and the beginning of the Angelo era here on Iron Man!
Message from Matt
Here it is, my final issue of Iron Man, the title I launched in MV1 and the title that launched my fanfic writing career. While there are things I wish I'd done better, I'm generally pleased with the improvements I made as a writer over the course of my run, and I've had a blast doing it. I even think I managed to write a couple of good issues along the way.
I'd like to thank all of those who wrote in at one time or another to support me - including Ralph Angelo, Mark Beaulieu, Randy Lander, and Alex Maggi (I'm sure there were more but the old memory's fading), and thanks to everyone who read (and will read) my run. Special thanks to Steve Blair, my partner in crime for the previous six issues. And of course, an extra special thanks to Van Plexico, without whom this never would have been possible.
I hope you'll follow me over to Thor, as I'm pretty excited about what I've got planned for that book. I also hope you'll stick around for Ralph's run on this title - I know I, for one, am looking forward to it!
So farewell, Tony Stark. For now....
Cheers,
Matthew Turnage
November 15, 1998
Send your comments to: turnagem@yahoo.com