Tony is still searching for Madame Masque but takes some time off to attend his annual charity Christmas gala for orphans. Taskmaster is training a batch of recruits to single out a new enforcer for Justin Hammer. When one student makes the grade (by killing his fellow pupils), Taskmaster gives him the Spymaster uniform and sends him on a final task to prove he is up for the job. Spymaster infiltrates Tony's party as Santa and battles Iron Man when his identity is exposed. Fearing for the safety of the children, Iron Man lets him take the trophy he is after and lets him return to Taskmaster.

Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).