Meanwhile, Hawkeye sneaks off with the last piece of pizza.
Marvel Action Hour: Iron Man #2
Marvel (December, 1994)
“Data In, Chaos Out” STORY: Ron Friedman TELEPLAY: Brynne Stephens ADAPTATION: Eric Fein PENCILER: Anthony Williams INKER: John Nyberg COLORIST: Sam Parsons LETTERER: Dave Sharpe EDITOR: Tom Daning GROUP EDITOR: Nel Yomtov
Justin Hammer, aided by MODOK, has been reprogramming Tony’s satellites to frame him for industrial espionage. MODOK also uses a little version of himself called an ELF (External Life Form) to take over the mind of Rhodey to help in the frame job. Iron Man and Spider Woman use a satellite to get on board Hammer’s ship and defeat his plans. The ELF-controlled Rhodey grabs the War Machine armor and attacks Iron Man but Spider-Woman frees him from the ELF and our heroes escape the self-destructing ship.
For the record I couldn’t find a decent version online (probably because Marvel now has an on demand service for their shows and I’m not wasting money, even if I had money, on season 1 of Iron Man unless it’s the only way to get season 2, the good season. Seriously, season 1 was terrible. Besides, the credits already say it was “freely adapted” so all I would be checking is which was the superior tale. Since this is season 1 I think we can all assume the answer is the comic.
What they got right: So the enemy DOESN’T have to be the Mandarin all of the time? Here I thought this was Mandarin’s take on the Legion Of Doom. It’s nice to see the comic do what season 2 would do and play with the enemy list, even if Justin and MODOK have both been established as Mandarin’s “disciples”. And trying to ruin Tony’s company is definitely in Justin’s permanent to-do list.
What they got wrong: Although I don’t know why MODOK cares to ruin Tony when there’s no evidence the Mandarin ordered this assault. I’m also wondering why, if you’re “freely adapting” a story (which means admitting you’re mostly ignoring it), why they didn’t just do an original story. This series has few issues than season 1 had episodes and original stories are coming. Finally, the 90s art found a way to be worse than the show. That takes effort, people. Finally, the order is wrong. This is the second issue adapting the third episode, while the teaser promises Ultimo, who was in the second episode.
Other notes: I find it interesting that Iron Man, War Machine, and Spider-Woman, the three characters that stayed on the team in season 2, are here in this story. (The rest of Force Works were off checking earthquakes.)
Recommendation: Ignore season 1, stick with this comic, and just watch season 2. You’ll be happier that way.
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