With An Iron Fist

• Writer - Judd Winick
• Penciler - Kev Walker
• Colorist - Transparency Digital
• Lettering - Paul Tutrone
• Ass't Editor - Nova Suma
• Editor - Mike Raicht
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  New York is the US capital in this reality, which has suffered "plagues, wars, famine and natural catastrophes beyond imagination." Out of such chaos rise strong leaders: Stark is president for life, and he wears his Iron Man armor with Doom's cape.

  He knew that to stay in control, you have to be given power, not take it. His early career was spent taking over companies. Then Magneto started the Mutant War, and many died on both sides. In reality, Stark made a deal with Magneto to fund the war, in exchange for control of the remaining humans. After weeding out the super-humans, he betrayed and killed Magneto on TV, making him a hero. Then the Great Famine hit, caused by virus and fungus, and millions died. Stark Industries cured it, and he received the Nobel. In reality, he had engineered the diseases in the first place.

  He won the presidency in a landslide. Secret technology let him control weather and earthquake, and devastated Europe and Asia came pleading for help. Doom was his last rival; they had an alliance, but Doom betrayed him. He was supposed to attack Washington and destroy Stark's political rivals, but then he tried to overthrow Stark. They battled hand-to-hand, and although Doom blasted Stark pointblank, Stark killed him, took his cloak, and became Sovereign of Earth.

  Pres. Stark consults with his staff, ordering the murder of reporter Roxanne Malveer of the National Review, who asked when he would redesign his armor. He says the current design is to help him recuperate from Doom's attack, and he will need it for years.

  Stark goes for a checkup; the doctor turns off the hologram and his Hitler-cum-Stalin face disappears, revealing green, hideous scarring. She's happy to see the grafts taking, but he's irritated it's taking so long.

  Marcus enters and is startled to see the scars. Stark turns on the hologram; Marcus says NAS Com in the Pacific have found "them."

  In the Pacific, Black Bolt consults with his staff. Arcutus says they have to surface and shut off the cloak to make repairs to the city. The city-ship Attilan is a hiding place for the Inhumans, a hunted race on this world. Sue Storm, Black Bolt's wife, tells him to start the repairs and tells Gorgon to prepare for the inevitable battle. Stark will not be satisfied with earth, and to conquer the stars he will try to capture and breed Inhumans to be his army. Sue asks Black Bolt what they'll do, and he draws the letter G, meaning the G barrier, the last gift from Reed.

  Reed had discovered Stark's true plans and was killed, along with Medusa and many others. Black Bolt and Sue comforted each other and fell in love. Sue has had two loves: Reed, almost never stopped talking, and Black Bolt, who almost never does. Both were emotionally distant.

  Stark orders the attack on Attilan and wants captives taken alive. His armored Generator armies approach the city, floating near the Marshall Islands, and battle is joined.

  The Inhuman army retreats, and Arcutus raises the G-barrier. Reed got it from Galactus, in exchange for saving his life, as a guarantee to prevent his return.

  Stark is informed that the shock wave destroyed his army of 40,000, and the barrier is impenetrable. Stark is about to give up when he hears people in his office. Gambit introduces himself and says Weapon X is there to set things right.