Force Works #7 — Nick Peron

Nov 16

Nov 16 Force Works #7

Hands of the Mandarin Part 4: Heart of Darkness

This story continues from Marvel Comics Presents #172…

With Iron Man captured by the Mandarin, Force Works has attempted to reach the villain’s hideout in mainland China. However, an anti-technology field has caused their hex ship to stall midflight and crash land on the property instead. US Agent is the first to come barreling out and clash with the Mandarin’s soldiers. Since his photonic shields are not working, he grabs a make-shift one from one of the soldiers to give him an edge in combat.

He is joined by Spider-Woman who managed to bail out before the crash and hang-glide down to the scene of the battle. After they defeat the soldiers, Julia tells John that Wanda, aka the Scarlet Witch, also bailed out and appeared to be gliding toward Iron Man’s position. Knowing that she can’t face the Mandarin alone, Spider-Woman and US Agent press onward.[1]

In one of the main chambers, the Mandarin has finally stripped Iron Man of his armor and learned that he is actually Tony Stark.[2] However, before he can land a killing blow, the Scarlet Witch comes crashing in through the skylight. She then uses her hex powers to collapse a wall on the Mandarin, separating him from Tony.[3] However, this only subdues the Mandarin for a few moments as he uses his ten rings of power to free himself from the rubble. Nearby, US Agent and Spider-Woman are making their way to the Mandarin’s throne room but are blocked by the Avatars known as Ancestor, Old Woman, Sickle, and Warfist.

Elsewhere on the mainland, War Machine and Century have allied themselves with a military leader named Cho Lo Yan and they are now mobilizing troops to take the fight back to the Mandarin and restore China to its present day.[4] With the soldiers mobilizing, War Machine checks on Century who has been suffering from strange personality changes since they escaped from the Mandarin’s castle. Century believes that his personality changes are due to his separation from Parallax and that they will continue to get worse unless he is reunited with his weapon.[5] That’s when Century is hit by another change in personality and collapses in War Machine’s arm. Jim is deeply concerned for his alien ally and assures him that it’ll be ok.

Back at the castle, the Mandarin and the Scarlet Witch are locked in an even battle. When the Mandarin employs one of his power rings, Wanda is able to use her hex powers to counteract the effect. However, she keeps him distracted enough for Tony Stark to recover and strike the Mandarin on the back of the head with his Iron Man helmet. That’s when Spider-Woman and US Agent’s battle with the Avatars comes spilling into the room. Furious, the Mandarin attempts to unleash the full power of his rings, but this backfires thanks to another hex from the Scarlet Witch. Needing to get Tony to safety, Force Works retreats. The Mandarin decides to let them go. With the added power of the Parallax he has decided to expand the reach of his anti-technology field.

Outside, Force Works are making their getaway when they witness an army of Chinese soldiers charging toward them. Fearing that this is another attack, they brace for battle. While at that same time, the Mandarin and his Avatars teleport to Hong Kong to finish what they started!

… This story continues in War Machine #10.

Recurring Characters

Force Works (Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, US Agent, Spider-Woman, Century), War Machine, Mandarin, Avatars (Ancestor, Butterfly, Deluge, Foundry, Old Woman, Q’Wake, Sickle, Warfist) Cho Lo Yan

Continuity Notes

Here, US Agent expresses anger that they were abandoned by Century. That happened last issue, however he only did so to trace the source of the Avatar’s power back to the Mandarin’s hideout. There he saved War Machine as we saw in War Machine #9.
The Mandarin finally uncovered the true identity of his foe in Iron Man #311.
The narration refers to the Scarlet Witch as a mutant. In reality she actually isn’t one. Years later it is revealed that, as a child, she was experimented upon by the High Evolutionary. In order to cover up his work he made it so Wanda would register as a mutant. See Uncanny Avengers (vol. 2) #4-5.
Cho Lo Yan states here that the Mandarin is a “pretender to the throne of Khan”. Since Tales of Suspense #50, the Mandarin has claimed to be descended from Genghis Khan. We’ll later learn in Invincible Iron Man Annual #1 that his claims were false. In fact, the Mandarin was the bastard son of a Caucasian prostitute that worked out of a Chinese brothel/opium den with (obviously) no ties to Chinese royalty.
Century was separated from Parallax last issue. We’ll learn in Century: Distant Sons #1 that Century is a composite being programmed with the minds of 100 of the greatest Hodomurian people. Parallax has a special role of keeping all the different minds and personalities merged into a single entity.