Iron Man # 251 1989 Acts of Vengeance: Wrecked Him? He Nearly Killed Him! pg 5 by Herb Trimpe & Al Milgrom

Iron Man # 251 October 24th 1989
Acts of Vengeance: "Wrecked Him? He Nearly Killed Him!"
Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Pencils: Herb Trimpe
Inks: Al Milgrom (Signed lower left)
Letters: Rick Parker

Loki sends the Wrecker to defeat Iron Man at Stark Prosthetics. Well sort of, Keep reading.

Dwayne McDuffie is playing a supporting role all over Acts of Vengeance. He's writing features in Solo Avengers, he's tied his entire second Damage Control mini into the event, and he's writing these Iron Man issues during the period between The Michelinie/Layton and Byrne/JRJR runs.

In these issues we get to the topic of Stark's cure for paralysis, which i've said makes Tony look selfish since he's not making that cure available to the mass market. In this issue McDuffie shows that Stark is indeed investing in prosthetics and other such devices, although this is a new development, something that only occurred to him to do after his own bout with paralysis.

The facility is run by Curtis Carr, the original Chemistro, who lost his foot in his debut appearance but is now using a prosthetic.

It is noted that some of the devices, like the floating wheelchair that Stark used circa Iron Man #245, is still too expensive for mass production.

Unfortunately, the Wrecker is planning to attack the facility. He's been hired by the Kingpin, and apparently wants the money to give to Thunderball to hire? bribe? him back onto the team so they can go and rescue the other two members of the Wrecking Crew.

Wrecker's attack destroys the Stark Prosthetics building, and Iron Man, Jim Rhodes, and Curtis Carr have to spend time getting the patients out. Then the fight can begin.

Iron Man gets trounced by the Wrecker, and has to be saved by a distraction staged by Rhodey. Curtis meanwhile runs to call his brother, the current Chemistro for help, but it turns out that's not a good idea. So Iron Man is left to defend himself, which he does by magnetizing the Wrecker's crowbar.

But then with Iron Man still damaged from the Wrecker fight, Chemistro shows up.

Chemistro's gun has always made him sort of like the Molecule Man. He's about as dangerous, just a little more vulnerable since his power is thanks to an external device. But the Wizard has taken the gun technology and turned it into wrist-blasters, giving Chemistro more flexibility.

Curtis tries to get Calvin to not attack Iron Man, but Calvin is having none of it, and he turns Iron Man's armor to lead and also tries to kill Rhodey for interfering. The Iron Man suit is thin enough that Tony pushes his way out the back and he and Rhodey escape.