Iron Man Epic Collection #17

In "Decisions in a Vacuum," Iron Man leads a group of Avengers on a tense diplomatic mission to a Kree space station, where negotiations with the Kree and the Shi'ar quickly turn violent. Amid clashes with Shi'ar commandos and a brutal fight against the Kree warrior Shatterax—sent by the Supreme Intelligence—Iron Man faces a harrowing choice that could determine the fate of the team.

In "Technical Difficulties," Iron Man is pulled into the 28th century, where a twisted echo of his legacy has taken root: a murderous alien claiming to be a descendant of Stark, worshiped as a god through a fanatical religion built around his armor. The story unfolds as Tony confronts a future where his name and technology have become something far beyond his control.

In "The Masters of Silence," Tony Stark, still recovering from a near-fatal injury, faces a deadly trio of assassins sent to punish him for a nuclear meltdown in Japan caused by faulty parts he designed. With his body weakened and his usual armor barely holding on, he must push his mind and technology to the limit—remotely piloting his suit while racing to build a new one before the assassins close in.

In "War Machine," Iron Man confronts the deception orchestrated by Justin Hammer, revealing the truth to the enigmatic Masters of Silence. With their trust regained, the Masters of Silence pledge their aid in facing Hammer’s growing threat.

In "Put the Hammer Down!", Tony Stark, suit clad as War Machine, leads a daring assault on Hammer's fortress alongside the enigmatic Masters of Silence. Back home, the cost of battle weighs heavy as Tony faces the quiet, relentless toll of his declining health.

In "Search," Iron Man tracks down Savage Steel, a thief using stolen Stark tech to build his own armor, leading to a tense pursuit that takes an unexpected turn when Darkhawk enters the fray. The encounter forces Iron Man to question whether this new opponent is just another copycat—or something more.

When Tony Stark’s fate becomes uncertain, James Rhodes steps into the role of Iron Man, donning a War Machine suit built specifically for him by Stark himself. Now leading Stark Enterprises, Rhodes must balance the weight of legacy with the demands of a new identity.

In "Dust to Dust," the Avengers West Coast face an Iron Man they no longer recognize, while the fate of a frozen Tony Stark hangs in the balance. As Kathy Dare’s tragic end unfolds, Abe Zimmer and Erica Sondheim grapple with the weight of their secret guardianship.

In "Meltdown!", Iron Man faces off against the formidable Atom Smasher, who's poised to trigger a catastrophic meltdown at one of Stark Enterprise's nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, Rhodey finds himself drawn into a new romance with Rae Lacoste as tensions rise both on the battlefield and in the quiet moments between missions.

In "Ground Zero," the fallout from a high-stakes standoff at a toxic waste dump brings Iron Man's allies into sharp conflict, as Rhodey finds himself caught between justice and loyalty. With Atom Smasher threatening to unleash destruction and Morgan Stark manipulating events from the shadows, the truth behind Tony's murder begins to unravel—leaving Rhodey to question who he can trust.

In "The Light at the End," Iron Man faces off against the Living Laser in a high-stakes clash that tests his limits. When Abe Zimmer and Erica Sondheim bring Rhodey to a recovering Tony Stark, the reunion sparks tension—Rhodey, furious upon learning Stark is alive, walks away from the mission.