Vol. 4. Issue 10: (Sept. 2006) "Execute Program, part 4."
Cover art: Adi Granov.
Script: Daniel & Charles Knauf.
Art: Patrick Zircher/Scott Hanna.
We start off at the home of Sal Kennedy, the strikingly-similar-to-David Micheline-looking character from early volume 4 issues. Stark essentially has no one else to turn to, so he "disguises" himself (by shaving off his facial hair and bleaching his hair blond, just like he did in "What If Iron Man Lost the Armor Wars?") and he and Sal head to a Berkeley University lab to see if they discover what the hell is wrong with Tony. And, apparently they do: an enigmatic mass is shown to be embedded in Stark's very brain! Sal doubts that it is Extremis, but only one person can legitimately verify his theory -- Dr. Maya Hansen. She's been in the slammer since the initial Extremis "incident," so Iron Man busts her out, natch! She reluctantly agrees to help Tony and Sal, and agrees with Sal that the growth in Tony's noggin is not Extremis. She informs Stark that whatever it is, "it's been in his brain a long time." She also states that surgery will be unable to remove it. And, just as Stark is on the verge of figuring out how his "manipulator" is able to do what he does, the Sentry attacks!! He takes out Iron Man (after Stark quickly armors up) in virtually no time flat! Yikes!
Hube's Recommendation: 2 1/2 repulsors!
Fan Reaction: Hube: The individual is drawn to be small like the Puppet Master. However I believe it is the “Controller”. You will see from issue #10 that there are enough hints to lead the long time Iron Man reader to this conclusion.
I believe that the current story line will refer back to continuity in 292-293. The volume three Basel Stress Clinic still fits in and does not impact the storyline. I agree the story is old and worn but I am getting a glimpse of hope. I personally enjoyed the Vor-Tex story line. It is different in that this was a totally artificial being. -- Bob Samuels
