Justin Hammer manages to buy Stark International, much to the disappointment of Tony Stark. As Iron Man, Tony plans to expose Justin Hammer's true nature. This won't be easy since he'll have to go through Killer Shrike, Unicorn, Whiplash, and even Titanium Man to do so.

Tony's new friend Annie Claremont turns out to be a mutant on the run from Magneto (who wants to use her to assassinate anti-mutant politician Senator Robert Kelly). Iron Man tries to protect her, but how can he fight a mutant with a mastery over all things metal?