Marvel Anime (Part 1): Iron Man

Welcome to 2017, my friends!  With the dawn of a new year, it’s about time that I launch a brand-new review series as well.  As such, welcome to the inaugural entry of…

Serving as a joint venture between Marvel Entertainment and the Japanese animation studio Madhouse, this project was first announced at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con as a way to introduce the Japanese populace to these comic book properties.  With Warren Ellis guiding these TV series as the head writer, all of these tales would mainly take place in Japan.  With that said, we begin our venture with the Armored Avenger himself…

Debuting on the Japanese TV channel Animax from October 1 to December 17, 2010, this inaugural series wouldn’t arrive in America until it was shown on the now-defunct channel G4 from July 23 to October 14, 2011.  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment would go on to release the 12-episode series for DVD on April 24, 2012.  For this series, I watched each entry with the English dub and will only credit the English voice actors.  My reason is that these will be long enough in discussing the overall plots & characters and I want to keep these episode summaries as short and precise as I can.  As such, let’s suit up and begin our overseas romp.

We open on our first episode “Japan: Enter Iron Man” as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man (voiced by Adrian Pasdar a.k.a. Glenn Talbot from “Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) arrives in Kyoto, Japan.  He meets his fellow partner who’s also the lead scientist of Lab 23, Dr. Chika Tanaka (voiced by Laura Bailey).

After a short ride, Tony boards a helicopter and meets with Japan’s Minster of Defense named Kuroda (voiced by Neil Kaplan).  We learn that Stark Industries has built an Arc Station here and that Tony has an upcoming armor to present to the local public called Iron Man Dio with training for its eventual wearer already underway.  He also tells Kuroda that he’s giving up his world-known role of Iron Man.  Shortly upon landing, Tony asks for a favor concerning Iron Man Dio’s press conference.

Inside, Chika informs Tony that the Arc Reactor is nearly good to go and that it needs a Plutonium Priming Device in order to be completely operational.  We learn from Tony that this station will supply the Japanese citizens with an unlimited supply of free energy, but Dr. Tanaka has her doubts concerning what they would think it was actually being used for.  She also tells him that in order for him to understand what it takes for the Japanese populace to care about him, he must start with “a modicum of humility”.

Later, Tony returns to his Japanese estate where he receive a Vid Call from Virginia “Pepper” Potts (voiced by Cindy Robinson).  She informs him that the Iron Man Dio armor is ready and that the trainees are on their way to Japan.  Tony tells Pepper that things are looking up for his Japanese Arc Station and that it’s going to lead to greater things.

We cut to the next day at the Tokyo Journal where Chief Editor Nomura (voiced by Daran Norris) rejects an article from reporter Nanami Ota (voiced by Eden Riegel).  Via a competing newspaper, he tells her that she and her fellow photographer Ichrio Masuda (voiced by Benjamin Diskin) need to cover Tony Stark’s business venture.

Over at the Arc Reactor compound, Tony introduces the three candidates to the Iron Man Dio armor.  After learning which pilot will give the initial test run (the one on the far right), Tony takes his leave to go watch.

We then cut to the Japanese Self-Defense Force test site at Mt. Fuji where the armor gives a quick demonstration by firing a Repulsior Ray that’s powerful enough to stop a tank’s shot mere inches from itself.  Afterwards, Tony declares that it’s time to demonstrate its flight capabilities and for Kuroda to help him out with his “favor”.

As he departs from Mt. Fuji, Tony is confronted by the Japanese press (including Nanami & Ichiro) who question him if his project is going to be used for military purposes.  Stark proceeds to inform the press that he has no such desires towards combative purposes and that his Arc Reactor will provide the country with unlimited free energy as a step towards World Peace.  When a reporter asks him if he’ll be suiting up as Iron Man during his stay, Tony tells them that he won’t and uses the opportunity to announce his retirement from his superhero persona, but also states that they’ll still have an Iron Man to protect them.

When Ichiro tells her to go ask Tony a question, Nanami proceeds to head towards him.  However, she accidentally trips over a reporter’s foot and lands onto Stark.  After Tony makes a cute remark to her about a “1-on-1”, the scene ends with an embarrassed Nanami slapping him in the face in response.

Sometime later, Tony Stark shows off his live demonstration of his newest gift to Japan: Iron Man Dio.  Also, it’s Tony himself and not one of the test pilots that’s in the suit and demonstrating it for the Japanese masses.

Suddenly, a flash of light pops in as the armor suddenly malfunctions and slams down onto the streets.  Fortunately, he survives the crash and lands next to Nanami (who was watching the event from her car).  He contacts Dr. Tanaka and lets her know that he’ll leave the suit for her team to pick up.  Nanami agrees to give him a ride back to his place, as long as he agrees to give her an exclusive interview.

After confirming to her that he’s retiring from his Iron Man persona, Tony asks Nanami for her opinion on what the Japanese think of him.  She says that they admire him, but are also a bit worried about him withholding a “secret agenda”.  After their conversation sidetracks into dating and has Tony talking about how he kisses, Nanami gets embarrassed again and stops her car.  From there, Stark gets out under his own power and makes it back to his house having skimped out on Nanami’s interview.

That night, Tony runs a diagnostic but is unable to find anything wrong with his suit.  After calling to tell him that the trainee team is conducting their own diagnostic, Chika proceeds to overlook the operation as a test pilot dons the Iron Man Dio armor and tests out the Repulsor Beams.

Suddenly, the pilot receives a massive strain on his head and falls to his knees.  Shortly afterwards, the armor gets up and fires a massive Repulsor Blast at the remaining test pilots.  When Chika informs him on what just happened, Tony realizes that Iron Man Dio has been compromised.  In his thoughts, Stark believes that it’s somehow connected to the flash of light that he saw earlier.

Suddenly, the hacked armor starts to blast its way out.  Tony tells her to not let it escape, to which Chika orders for some blast doors to get shut.  However, the heavily-reinforced hatches easily fall as Iron Man Dio effortlessly blows them down with powerful Repulsor Beams.  After Tanaka informs him of the bad news, Stark tells her to send the building into lockdown and that he’ll get there as fast as he can.

Realizing that his superheroic days still aren’t behind him, Tony once again suits up as Iron Man and takes off towards his Japanese lab where he arrives just as the Dio armor has completely blasted its way outside.  From there, the two Iron Men tussle for a brief moment in the skies before Iron Man forces the Dio armor down onto the beach.

Just as he’s about to reclaim his armor, Tony is suddenly attacked by a giant, mechanical monster.  After pinning Iron Man down, the beast introduces itself as Scorpio, a “warrior” who’s also a member of a mysterious group called Zodiac.  From there, it powers up its stinger in order to execute Iron Man.

Fortunately, Tony uses his leg boosters to blast the creature off.  With the weakened Scorpio saying that it’s “only the beginning”, Iron Man finishes it off with a massive Repulsor Beam.

And so, Episode 1 ends with Iron Man returning to the unconscious pilot.  However, he discovers that the Iron Man Dio armor is gone.

After Episode 2 “Going Nuclear” opens with a ship getting robbed of a particular item at night…

…we shift over to daytime at the Tokyo Journal where Nanami is reading an informative article about Tony Stark.  Suddenly, she sees a news broadcast about Stark being called to the Parliament Building where not only is his Arc Reactor coming under question, but he’s also being accused of illegally smuggling Plutonium into Japan.  As such, she and Ichiro head out to cover the event.

Shortly before his meeting with the Japanese Parliament, Tony learns from Minister Kuroda that some Plutonium was stolen from a cargo ship that was owned by one of Stark Industries’ companies and that it didn’t have any military escort.  Feeling that someone is trying to frame him for the crime, Tony asks for permission to recover the missing Plutonium.  However, Kuroda says that the Maritime Self-Defense Force is already working on it.

From there, he meets in front of the Japanese Parliament.  With the event being covered on TV, Tony is asked about his current accusation, to which he responds by saying “It’s a friggin’ lie”.  Sometime later, various reporters surround him with questions as he takes his leave from the governmental building.

Fortunately, he sees Nanami and Ichiro arriving too late to cover the official meeting.  He manages to reach their car and ask for help in eluding the press.  With the reporters bearing down on them, our threesome climb into the vehicle and escape.

After making their getaway, Nanami gets started on her second attempt at an interview with Tony.  With accusations hovering over Stark and his company, she offers to write about his side of the story and help prove that he’s innocent.  However, that’s the only thing that she’s able to say to him as Tony denies her chance to interview him.

Sometime later, the Maritime Self-Defense Force calls in to report that they searched the entire cargo ship and didn’t find anything suspicious.  However, a smirk hangs over the leader’s face shortly afterwards.

Not too long afterwards, Tony arrives at the cargo ship as Iron Man and proceeds to head below deck.  After his computer system detected a sparse group of human life aboard, he makes his way towards them.  After discovering the actual Maritime Self-Defense Force members unconscious, he asks one of them on what happened.  He learns from the barely-conscious man that they were attacked by a creature.  Shortly afterwards, he makes his way to the main holding cell where the Plutonium used to be stored.

Just then, another robotic member of Zodiac arrives as Cancer proceeds to tangle with Iron Man.  After blasting their way outside, they fly around for a while before Iron Man knocks the behemoth into the Pacific Ocean.  As he flies back to Japan, he contacts Minister Kuroda and informs him that he found the cargo ship and that Zodiac (a terrorist affiliate of Advanced Idea Mechanics or A.I.M.) is behind this.  However, Kuroda doesn’t believe him and thinks that Stark is making an excuse for his crime.  As such, Tony says that he’ll find the Plutonium in order to prove his innocence.

Shortly after he arrives at the docks, Iron Man hacks into the security camera and plays back the recent footage.  From there, he discovers a group of men in suits with their stolen plutonium getting into a black car as he takes off to find them.

Little does he know however is that someone was watching him from afar as he then heads out on his motorcycle.

After arriving back at his Japanese home, Tony programs his company satellite to track down the thieves’ car and have the coordinates sent to his armor.  From there, he proceeds to head out in his slick car.

Unbeknownst to him, he passes by Nanami and Ichiro.  Still kicking herself for not getting the chance to interview him, Nanami proceeds to give chase after him.  After a short while, Tony manages to get past the railroad tracks right before the gates come down.

Fortunately, this doesn’t slow Nanami down as she takes Ichiro’s camera and makes it past the tracks right before the train passes by.  From there, she takes a bystander’s scooter in order to get back in the chase.

Tony then accesses the city’s traffic system in order to turn all of the traffic lights red.  As the mysterious motorcyclist is puzzled by the sudden gridlock, the Plutonium thieves attempt to weave their way around the vehicular jam.

As a result of his plan, Tony manages to reach the criminals as they attempt to elude him before reaching their rendezvous point.  However, they’re forced to stop due to an approaching security checkpoint.  At the same time, Nanami catches up and drives down some stairs to order to reach her target.

From there, Tony proceeds to fire a pair of mini missiles from his car as they manage to hit the thieves’ vehicle and tip it over.  Afterwards however, Nanami unintentionally crashes into the upturned car as both parties drop their cases.  Tony then arrives and demands for the thugs to hand the Plutonium over.

Just then, the mysterious man from before confronts him and exclaims that Japan doesn’t need Stark and his recklessness.  Using this distraction to their advantage, the thugs pick up their metal case and take off for their destination.  Meanwhile, Nanami joins our current group in order to finally get her elusive interview.

Before she gets the chance however, they’re interrupted by the arrival of a massive armored car.  As the mystery man and Nanami take off, Tony’s personal computer detects a radioactive signature coming from the spunky reporter.  It turns out that she accidentally acquired the Plutonium.  With the thugs fully aware of their screw-up, they proceed to hunt her down as she flees for her life.

As Tony keeps up with his pursuit, he activates a special function in his car that allows him to don his Iron Man armor.  Shortly afterwards, the armored car turns on its cloaking device that even shields it from Tony’s scanners.  As the mystery man joins in on the chase, he contacts his superiors on clearing the streets.  We also find out that he’s Nagato Sakurai (voiced by Travis Willingham) and that he’s a member of the Japanese Self-Defense Force.

Nagato then manages to deliver a key assist by sacrificing his motorcycle.  The resulting explosion creates enough detail for Iron Man to pick up the armored vehicle and bring its rampage to an end with a powerful Repulsor Beam.  However, Nanami’s not out of trouble yet as Cancer returns to retrieve the Plutonium.

After saving her life and informing her that she’s unintentionally carrying the Plutonium, Iron Man engages Cancer and manages to best the robotic beast.  The fight concludes with our Armored Avenger tossing the creature into the sky and blasting it with a pair of Repulsor Beams.

Later, Nanami has written an article about Tony Stark who’s been cleared of all charges thanks to his effort as Iron Man and that the Japanese citizens shouldn’t be too quick to judge their American ally.  Afterwards, Ichiro arrives and gives her a flower bouquet sent from Tony himself.

And so, Episode 2 ends with Nagato talking to Kuroda about Tony Stark and his rule-breaking style.  Later, the JSDF Captain arrives back at the underground base where a particular armor is being constructed.

Following a tornado that pops up out of nowhere to cause some quick death and destruction…

…we begin Episode 3 “Reap The Whirlwind” over at the Arc Reactor Station.  Chika presents Tony with the mechanism that will serve as the building’s security system: an EMP Generator.  Dr. Tanaka explains that the device sends out an electromagnetic pulse that can disable whatever device it’s targeted at.  After a demonstration where it takes out a nearby flat-screen TV, Chika informs Tony that it’s currently in Beta form since it only has a limited range at the moment.

Just then, she gets a phone call from Professor Satoshi Yamaguchi who’s driving as fast as he can to get away from the tornado.  He tells her that “they” managed to knock off Professor Ohno (as evident from the episode’s opening scene) and tries to warn her.  Unfortunately, he gets sucked up into the tornado and dies.

We then cut to the next day at the Tokyo Journal where Nanami shows an article to her boss Nomura about the freak tornado incident that claimed Prof. Yamaguchi’s life.  After bringing up Prof. Ohno’s similar fate, the scene ends with her believing that a connection between their deaths exists somewhere.

Over at the U.S. Military Base, another freak tornado has suddenly popped up.  With its violent winds, it proceeds to suck up various vehicles and aircrafts.

Fortunately, Tony Stark was quick to respond as Iron Man.  After making his way through the vicious wind funnel, he discovers the cause of these freak storms.  It turns out to be another robotic member of Zodiac named Aries.

Several miles away at a local university, Nanami meets up with Professor Michelinie (Sakamoto in the Japanese dub) in order to write an opinion piece concerning the recent freak tornadoes.  Shortly afterwards, Chika arrives and meets the young reporter with Prof. Michelinie telling her that Dr. Tanaka was one of his best meteorology students.  From there, the scene ends with her explaining to Nanami that even though she works with Tony, she doesn’t exactly “know him”.

Meanwhile, Aries’ tornado continues its destructive path as it rips through a train yard.  Iron Man tries firing his Repulsor Beams at a receiver on top of the mechanical monster, but it has no result.  From there, Aries takes Stark out by launching a retractile hand out to grab and fling him out of the funnel, causing Iron Man to crash down onto the streets.

Back at the university, Nanami and Chika try to learn about the connection that Prof. Michelinie had with the deceased Ohno and Yamaguchi.  He explains that they (and Chika) were part of a research initiative called the Tesla Project, which was a way to control typhoons and hurricanes in order to avert these natural disasters.  However, the project was ceased before it could become perfected.  Due to recent events, Dr. Tanaka gets the feeling that Tesla isn’t as dead as they thought.

Just then, Aries’ tornado reaches the university as our threesome get struck by the fierce winds.  In the aftermath, Chika finds Michelinie unconscious and wounded as she tells Nanami to call for an ambulance.

Meanwhile, Tony has a Stark Industries truck transport his armor back to Lab 23.  As if losing to Aries within the destruction wasn’t bad enough, the head relief worker acts rude to him and tells Stark to clear out so that he can tend to the injured and displaced.

A short time later, relief workers are trying to save an unconscious mother and her child who are trapped in a damaged bus that’s about to fall into the water.  However, time is running short before the ropes give out while a helpful crane is unable to reach them due to the pitiful road conditions.  Just then, Tony emerges and offers to assist them.  Unfortunately, the head relief worker rejects his help.  Stark states that it’s okay if someone doesn’t like him, but he’s more than willing to give them the equipment that they currently need.  However, his act of kindness is still turned down since the head worker wants no part with a man whose company used to create weapons.

Meanwhile, Chika and Nanami are on the road as the young reporter tells our scientist that she’s got a tip about the recently damaged U.S. Military Base.  She then tries to ask the good doctor for some background information on the Telsa Project, but Tanaka doesn’t say a word and drives off.  Nanami tries to catch up, but Chika is able to speed away.  Fortunately, our tabloid girl reaches the head scientist who has arrived at a particular destination.

Back at the disaster site, Tony manages to help the relief workers secure the lines in order to prevent the bus from going over, despite the group leader’s orders for him to clear out.  However, the overwhelming weight has put too much strain on the ropes as the embedded spikes are ripped out of the ground, causing the bus to fall into the current.  With the crane still blocked by debris-covered roads and the massive vehicle starting to get pulled under, Tony dives in and attempts to save the mother & her crying child.

Back with our two heroines, Chika discovers that someone managed to open certain encrypted files even though access was only allowed for those who worked on the venture.  In order to help out, Nanami wants to know what exactly the Tesla Project is.  Tanaka finally gives in and tells her that it combines Tesla’s electromagnetic principle and Butterfly Theory in order to essentially turn the planet into one giant electromagnetic device.

Shortly after Chika discovers an e-mail extension coming from Prof. Michelinie’s university, our two heroines are suddenly confronted by the corrupt tutor himself.  He explains that Zodiac was able to give the Tesla Project its necessary funding, securing the preservation of his work.  With the satisfied feeling that his research will live on (albeit through villainous acts), Michelinie fires his ray gun.  Fortunately, our heroines dodge the blast as Nanami shoves a crate towards him.  He ends up getting disarmed and falls down, allowing the two women to escape.

We then have a quick scene where the relief workers wait in baited breath for any sign of life.  Fortunately, Tony emerges with the mother and child on a successful rescue.

Later, Chika presents Tony with a powerful EMP Cannon that can shut down any piece of tech in its path.  The drawback is that due to its widespread range, his Iron Man armor could also be affected by it as well.  She offers to give his suit some EMP protection, but she doesn’t get the opportunity as they’re informed that a pair of F-5 tornadoes are striking the Yokosuka Base.

Despite being noticed by the relief workers, Professor Michelinie is too delusional and delighted by the sight of his destructive work as he gets himself sucked up into the massive funnel.  Meanwhile, Iron Man takes the EMP Cannon into the violent winds and proceeds to fend off Aries’ attacks.

Ultimately, Iron Man manages to plant the EMP Cannon on top of Aries and unleashes its power.  This manages to shut down the mechanized tornado terror, but it also effects Tony’s armor as the two of them begin to plummet towards the ground.

Stark manages to begin the reboot process on his suit but has to wait 30 seconds before it becomes complete.  Just as Aries slams into the ground in defeat, Iron Man manages to finish his armor’s start-up process in the nick of time.  And so, Episode 3 ends with the head relief worker admiring him for his guts as Iron Man flies back to base while engaging in comforting conversation with Chika.

Following the birth of his superhero persona by defeating his terrorist captors, but not before losing an important friend…

…we continue our trip into the past which opens Episode 4 “A Twist Of Memory, A Turn Of The Mind”.  Back when his company used to make weapons, Tony unveils a revolutionary aircraft that travels through the air and underwater: the Screamer.  A small squadron emerges from the ocean and demonstrates their firepower by blowing up a deserted island, impressing the U.S. Military personnel at hand.

As Tony heads out to secure his weapons deal, he’s suddenly under attack as a terrorist fires a rocket launcher and strikes the helicopter, causing the craft to plummet to the sandy ground.

Fortunately, Stark was able to survive the crash.  Unfortunately, he suffered a massive wound in his chest and ultimately collapses onto the desert floor.  From there, the terrorist group capture him and take him back to their base.

Sometime later, Tony wakes up bound to a chair and calmly asks how much the ransom will be for his safe return.  Surprisingly, the terrorist says that they’re not interested in Stark’s money.  However, he gets a double dose of bad news.  Not only does his chest wound require medical help in order to prevent him from dying, but now he’s forced into making weapons for his captors.

From there, a man named Dr. Ho Yinsen (voiced by Kyle Hebert) preps his shot and states how this “death merchant” would be far off better if he was dead.  Thinking that he’s about to be injected with a toxin, Tony screams for the man to “Wait!”.

Just then, Tony wakes up as it turns out that he was having a nightmare.  From there, he takes out a coin that he received from Ho Yinsen as we learn from Stark that those scenes played out five years prior.

We then cut to the hospital where Nanami and Ichiro are with Kawashima, a racer who broke both of his legs after a vicious crash.  Looking towards a full recovery, he promises to give Nanami an exclusive first interview the moment that he’s back on the track.

That evening, Tony and Chika are at a charity banquet where Stark Industries-sponsored race cars are on display.  When Tanaka asks about his investment towards these automobiles, he says that he wants to help his company’s image in the eyes of the Japanese and prove that Stark Industries does have a human side.  When Chika asks what made him go from a weapons manufacturer to a World Peace advocator, Tony begins to explain his backstory, starting with his imprisonment via foreign terrorists.

As Tony scrambles through the provided scrap in order to find some necessary components in order to make a weapon, he finds out that Yinsen is actually a prisoner like him.  Stark says that he doesn’t care that he’s building a weapon for his enemy, since it’s the only thing in his mind that’ll keep him alive.  In response, Ho punches him in the face and asks him if he’s ever wondered about the number of lives that were ultimately lost due to the weapons that were built by his company.  Yinsen also tells Stark that he only prolonged his life by one week since that’s how long the battery in his makeshift pacemaker will last.  As such, Ho tells him that it’s just long enough for Tony to “regret” what he’s done with his weapons.  The flashback ends with Stark telling Chika how these events help bring “clarity” to one’s life.

Having spent his adult life creating and profiting from weapons that have ultimately taken lives, Tony tells Tanaka of a personal vow that he made upon getting his freedom: He would dedicate his life to undone the damage that he has caused.

We then have a quick scene at the hospital where Kawashima is in misery as he hits his helmet across the room, since he’s been informed that he’s unable to make enough of a recovery to race again.  Just then, a mysterious figure (who also observed Tony at the gala earlier) comes in and gives him an opportunity to get behind the wheel again, with one favor in mind.

We then cut to the next day at the racetrack as Tony watches his sponsored car take a test run on the course.  Just then, Nanami arrives and informs him that she’s here to interview Kawashima, since he’s made such a miraculous recovery.

However, we find out in Kawashima’s thoughts on how he was able to make an impossible recovery.  It turns out that the mystery man helped him and even managed to program him in a way with one goal in mind: Kill Tony Stark.  As such, he steers his race car towards the stands and attempts to ram him.

Fortunately, Tony gets some unexpected help as a familiar friend comes in and slices the car in half.  After Stark saves Nanami from half of the debris, he sees that his life was saved by James Howlett a.k.a. Logan a.k.a. Wolverine (voiced by Jess Mariano and Peter Petrelli himself, Milo Ventimiglia).

Shortly afterwards, our threesome soon discover how Kawashima fully recovered and survived his firey crash as well: He’s become part-cyborg.  From there, he makes his escape.

After we shift back into the flashback, Tony manages to create the signature key to his heart’s survival: his first Arc Reactor.  He explains to Yinsen that it’ll keep his main ticker alive for 150 years.  Not only that, but it’ll help out with the key to their escape: an armor that will fend off the opposing terrorists.

When offered the chance to help out, Ho says that it ultimately comes down to chance.  As such, he shows a coin that saved him from an opposing knife and flips it into the air.  Since it landed in favor of Tony, they proceed to get to work.  During their conversation, Yinsen is very pessimistic towards Stark since it was “men like him” who came to this once-peaceful country and ravaged it, bringing civil war and the deaths to many people, including Ho’s family.

After a while, the first piece of Tony’s armor is complete as the flashback comes to a temporary end.

Back in the present, Tony learns about Zodiac’s scheme of turning people into (as Logan describes them) “Techno-Organic Zombies”.  In fact, it’s because of A.I.M. that Wolverine is in Japan to begin with.  After Stark tells him that he’ll deal with Zodiac, he’s given a USB Drive that contains information on the opposing group.

The next day, Tony heads out as Nanami follows him in order to help.  After donning his Iron Man armor, he tells the young reporter to flee for her safety.  Just then, Kawashima arrives to fight Stark.  When Nanami demands to know how this murderous intent is in any way involved with him racing again, he explains that his job is everything and killing Tony will help.  As such, he heads inside the warehouse with Iron Man following suit.

After a brief search, he’s suddenly confronted by the next member of Zodiac: Taurus.  With Kawashima at the controls, he begins the fight by charging at our Armored Avenger.

After a short while, Iron Man slows down Taurus by grabbing its horns and standing his ground.  He tries convincing Kawashima to break free from Zodiac’s control, but the tragic racer isn’t given the chance as electrical pipes and tendrils wrap themselves around him and take control.

As such, Taurus pushes Iron Man towards the wall and pins him.  Fortunately, Wolverine comes in and slashes off one of its front legs.  This allows Iron Man to deliver the finishing blow as he fires a chest beam into the mechanical beast and causes it to explode.

Fortunately, he managed to save Kawashima from the blast.  From there, he tells Nanami to get to Lab 23 since they’re the only ones that can save his life.

With Nanami heading out and Stark’s computer system detecting the return of the Dio armor, Logan offers to help out.  However, Iron Man says that this is something he must deal with.  After Wolverine takes his leave, Tony takes to the skies as he encounters Iron Man Dio.  The two armored figures proceed to fight before Dio’s chest beam takes Iron Man out of the skies as he slams back down into the warehouse.

With Iron Man Dio preparing to deliver the final blow, we move into the episode’s final flashback as Tony is in his completed armor.  From there, Yinsen begins the process of transferring some of the Arc Reactor’s power into the suit.  Unfortunately, a terrorist walks in on them.  Despite Ho taking out the fiend with a wrench to the face, he ended up getting shot.  With the process nowhere near completion, Ho decides to fend off the approaching terrorists in order to buy Stark some time.

A short time later, Yinsen lies mortally wounded.  Fortunately, his stalling tactic had paid off as Tony emerges within his newfound armor and decks the terrorists out.

Afterwards, Tony tells Yinsen that it’s time for them to escape.  However, Ho is too badly wounded to go and tells Stark that the armor was built for him to do some good for the world.  He then gives Tony his coin and has him promise to take his knowledge & wealth in order to carry out their goal.  From there, Yinsen passes on as the newly-born Iron Man makes his escape and brings the flashback to an end.

From there, Tony recovers and fends off the attack.  After demanding to know who’s piloting his newest suit, he gets the shock of his life as Iron Man Dio’s wearer is actually Ho Yinsen.  As such, Episode 4 ends with him flying off while Stark is left in utter disbelief as to how his former ally has returned from the grave.

We begin Episode 5 “Outbreak” with Iron Man testing out a space booster attachment.  He manages to prevent himself from freezing up thanks to an anti-icing solvent as he sees how high he can go.  Unfortunately, he’s not able to escape Earth’s gravitational pull by the time his armor gives out and starts plummeting back down.  Fortunately, he’s able to activate his stabilizers in order to ease his rate of descent.

Back at his Japanese home, Tony preps some adjustments for his armor including a stronger radiation shield.  Wondering how his one-time ally managed to cheat death, he contacts Pepper Potts back in America and asks her to run a detailed background check on Ho Yinsen.

As she heads off to take care of the task, Stark gets contacted by Chika.  The scene ends with her explaining that a situation has arisen and that she requires his assistance over at the control tower’s medical center.

Meanwhile, Nanami and Ichiro are out and about, supposedly to have a meeting with Tony Stark.  While waiting at an intersection, a young woman at the crosswalk suddenly starts to feel sick.  Our two reporters witness in horror as she vomits a blue liquid before collapsing onto the street.

Over at the medical center, we see that this sudden sickness isn’t an isolated incident.  Chika shows Tony an Arc Station worker whose own health is in rapid decline due to a failing immune system and is “in a state of toxic shock”.  She also explains that the cause hasn’t been found yet, but the virus also attacks white blood cells.  Just then, Tanaka gets a call informing her that another victim is being rushed in.

We find out that its the same lady from before as Chika heads off to take care of her situation while Tony discovers Nanami and Ichiro as the ones who brought the victim in for treatment.

Shortly afterwards, our two reporters take their leave with a sense of something sinister happening around Stark Industries.  As such, they agree to investigate and find out what’s going on.

Meanwhile, Capt. Nagato Sakurai arrives at a military base and learns that one of their recon satellites has malfunctioned, despite a diagnostic check that didn’t detect any software or hardware problems.  After re-positioning another recon satellite at the previous spot, they start to zoom in on a foreign-looking spacecraft.  Just then, it creates a single flash of light before the video feed cuts out.  Despite no harm towards their satellite, they discover that its camera has been damaged.

Back with Tony and Chika, they discover that this newfound sickness isn’t being caused by a virus, bacteria, or even anything chemical-related.  Just then, Tony gets a call from Nanami who informs him that it’s becoming a pandemic as more and more people are becoming sick while trauma centers are running out of room.

While Ho Yinsen watches Nanami describe the medical chaos from afar, Tony and Chika are suddenly confronted by a group of soldiers.  The leader explains that under the orders of Minister Kuroda and the Ministry of Health, the Arc Station is being determined as the cause of the outbreak and that the whole base is now under lockdown.  Hoping to get some answers, Chika tells Tony that she’ll personally contact Kuroda.

Over at the Japanese Parliament building, Nagato informs Kuroda that they’ve lost their surveillance satellite.  The Defense Minster then exclaims that they must send a spacecraft to go deal with the unknown threat, but it’ll take too long for them to properly prepare through their normal routine.  Fortunately, the captain exclaims that he does have an alternate idea.

Back at the Arc Station, Chika has been unable to receive a response from Kuroda.  As such, Tony plans on tricking the guards in order to escape and see the Defense Minister for himself.  Before he can enact his plan, Nagato arrives in order to inform Stark of their situation.  Sakurai requires Iron Man to help him take care of the menace that made a JSDF surveillance satellite go offline.  Despite his reluctance, Tony is convinced by Chika that this situation requires them working together.

After comparing the footage from recently to six months ago, our group discovers that some foreign object has attached itself to the satellite.  Not only that, but a simulation from its solar panels down to Earth reveals that it positioned itself 200 kilometers (or just over 124 miles) over the Arc Station.  Tony asks if the JSDF has a jet with boosters powerful enough to help Iron Man get to the Thermosphere, to which Nagato says that they do, but it’s in the prototype stage.  Stark tells him to have it ready in six hours along with the best pilot they’ve got.  After Capt. Sakurai takes his leave, Tony tells Chika that the disabled satellite problem is connected with the current outbreak.  He explains that Zodiac has attached this monstrosity to the spacecraft in order to beam down the illness in an undetectable frequency towards the Arc Station.  Because the building has a powerful shield, only a small-enough beam is able to get in while the rest is spreading out and causing the citizens to get dangerously sick.

Over at the main entrance, the soldiers are bombarded by the press who are looking for answers while they continue to keep the Arc Building in lockdown.  Among the reporters are Nanami and Ichiro who claim that they have a scheduled interview with Tony Stark.  However, Nanami suddenly vomits the familiar blue liquid as she horrifyingly discovers that she’s now among the infected.

As they make their way towards prepping for the space mission, Tony admits to Chika of a major snafu with his armor: He has yet to perfect the Particle Radiation shields.  She tells him that heading into space without that specific kind of protection is simply tempting fate, but he says that there’s not much that he can do about that due to their current situation.

As they get off the elevator, they see some medical workers taking their latest patient in for treatment.  To Tony and Chika’s horror, they discover that it’s their newest friend Nanami.

As Stark heads off to prepare, Tanaka informs him of an alternate application that he can use to shield himself from cosmic radiation.  She mentions that there’s a protective coating she’s been working on which protects space shuttles from said emission.  Tony accepts, but she warns him that the substance hasn’t gone through its final tests yet.  However, Stark’s devil-may-care attitude towards routine testing doesn’t deter him in the slightest.

A short time later, Tony makes it back to his house and begins the coating process.  After a brief moment, both the suit and the space rocket attachment are covered in the material as Tony suits up for action.

After Chika informs him that she’ll be monitoring his progress and that the specialized jet is en route, Iron Man flies off to rendezvous with the aircraft.  Shortly after seeing it, he makes his way over to it and grabs on.  After discovering that Capt. Nagato Sakurai is the one piloting it, the two of them begin their climb towards the upper atmosphere.

From there, Chika tells Nagato to get Iron Man to a elevation of 50,000 meters (slightly below 164,042 feet above sea level).  As such, the climb starts off smoothly.

The higher up they go though, the more atmospheric strain gets put on the jet.  Fortunately, Nagato is able to fight through it and reach 50,000 meters.  From there, Iron Man disembarks and activates his rocket booster attachment.

Upon reaching 150,000 meters, he detaches them and activates his secondary boosters.  After he makes it to the target elevation of 200,000 meters, he disengages from his attachments and flies off to the compromised SDF-1 satellite.

Shortly afterwards, the Zodiac beast called Aquarius (its name is never uttered here, by the way) unleashes its missiles.  Fortunately, Iron Man manages to protect himself with some powerful Repulsor Beams.

During the commotion however, Aquarius managed to disappear from sight.  Iron Man tries to locate his target, but he falls prey to a sneak attack as it entraps him with its tendrils and severs his communication before trapping him inside itself.

Shortly afterwards, Iron Man starts getting bombarded with Aquarius’ energy waves.  Fortunately, his communication lines are restored as he transmits it towards Chika and company.  Upon receiving them, Tanaka has the data sent to Lab 23.

From there, Iron Man blasts his way out.  Aquarius proceeds to give chase, but loses its target upon gazing into the sun’s bright light.  Our Armored Avenger uses this to his advantage and fires a series of missiles, sending Aquarius to a permanent grave.

Afterwards, Chika informs him that the provided data has given them the cure they need to counteract the radiation.  As such, every patient (especially Nanami) will be back on the road to full health.  And so, Episode 5 ends with Iron Man taking in the peaceful view of Earth before beginning his descent back down in order to take care of some unfinished business.

Following a quick glimpse of a lonely man plugged into his computer system and holding an origami fish while crying out to his mother in his thoughts…

…we open Episode 6 “Technical Difficulties” at the Arc Station where Tony asks Pepper if she’s managed to find any interesting details concerning the resurrected Ho Yinsen.  However, all that she could dig up was the fact that it was slim that he even survived.  Stark doesn’t buy it since he saw his former friend, believing that he’s somehow in allegiance with Zodiac and wondering what could have made him turn his back on their partnership.  Pepper does bring up the fact that two Japanese citizens claim to have seen Yinsen on the streets, but it was during the recently resolved radiation poisoning outbreak so there’s no proof of his existence.  When Pepper asks him what he’ll do should he find out that Ho really did survive, Tony answers that Yinsen is the reason he’s still around and will look to help “return the favor”.

Suddenly, the Vid Call is cut off and the building goes into automated lockdown as the fire alarms blare.  Tony and Chika try to figure out the cause of the system’s activation, but there doesn’t seem to be any true sign of a fire in the building.

Just then, the fire alarm and the automated lockdown comes to a sudden end.  However, the cleaning robots start to go haywire and attack the employees.

Back in his office, Tony manages to fend off the small army of rebelling robotic cleaners before reaching his desk and starts to shut down their system.  However, he finds out that his command has been overridden and that he’s locked out of his own system.

Meanwhile, Chika has been cornered by a pair of cleaning robots and are about to finish her off with their shocking mechanical arms.  Fortunately, Tony comes in and takes them down with a lead pipe to the mechanized heads.  Afterwards, Tanaka wonders what could have caused these Robo-Cleaners to go haywire, to which Tony responds by saying that it isn’t a mechanical error.

Just then, the air conditioning starts to pump out chilly air.  Tony tries to access the Heating, Air & Ventilation system, but it’s yet another program of his that he’s locked out of.  Stark and Tanaka try to leave, but the door isn’t able to open.

Afterwards, Chika is able to find out the cause of these mechanical problems: a worm virus.  Somehow, it managed to access the operating system and is now in the process of going after the Arc Reactor’s main system.

After we head back to the mystery computer man from the beginning, we then dive into a flashback and start to learn about his backstory.  As a young boy named Sho, he wanted to play with a group of children out in the snow.  However, his mother denies his request since she doesn’t want him to get sick.

From there, she invites him over and creates an origami fish. When Sho is puzzled as to why it has wings, his mother tells him that it allows her creation to both swim and fly.

Back in the present, Tony and Chika try various programs to take care of the virus.  Unfortunately, all efforts are easily shot down by the malignant techno-organism.  As such, Stark creates a series of firewalls in order to provide extra protection for the Arc Reactor.  Just then, the scene ends with Tony and Chika receiving a message from the virus’ recipient: “You think you can stop us, but we will never give up”.

Meanwhile, Nanami and Ichiro are driving around when a car pulls out in front of them.  Fortunately, they swerve away in time as both parties avoid a collision.  Shortly afterwards, Nanami notices that the traffic lights are malfunctioning as they rapidly change their signals.

Just then, she gets a call from her boss Nomura and learns that it’s not just the stop lights that are messed up since an express train end up derailing due to the railway’s computer system suffering from a malfunction.  Not only that, but ATMs are also under the same plight.

Sure enough, our two reporters discover the citizens scrambling to stuff their pockets with Yen as it constantly pours out of the automated money machines.

As Tony and Chika watch this mechanized chaos via a news broadcast, everyone’s cell phones suddenly start ringing.  With the worm virus even affecting the cellular network, Nanami reads a text sent from the technological menace stating, “I will fight for the weak and those who have no voice”.

Even the Japanese Special Defense Forces’ jets aren’t immune as their navigation systems have crashed and their auto-pilot systems have been compromised.  Nagato and Kuroda learn of this while at their special base, prompting Capt. Sakurai to ask for permission in letting him use their own armor called Ramon Zero and help out the jets.  However, Minister Kuroda tells him not to head out yet since they want to save it as a back-up plan.

Back at the Arc Station, Chika suspects that the virus is purposely attacking all computers in the public sector due to it getting shut out of the Arc Reactor.  With the JSDF jets set on a collision course with the building, Tony orders her to disable the firewall and give the technological menace what it wants.  Shortly after doing so, the virus relinquishes its restraint on the jets, allowing the pilots to regain control and fly away.

Afterwards, Tony receives a message from the virus’ recipient stating “I fight for justice.  My duty is to crush Tony Stark’s evil ambitions”.  Afterwards, Tony replies with his own message stating that he’s trying to advocate peace.  However, the man behind the virus, Sho, still believes that Stark has malicious intentions towards Japan.

With the virus being mere moments away from infecting the Arc Reactor, Chika proposes on shutting it down.  However, Tony has a different plan as he suits up as Iron Man and decides to jack into the system in order to lure it away towards himself.  As such, the virus stops its pursuit towards the reactor and instead goes after Tony’s suit.

As expected, the armor starts getting infected.  With the virus fighting him for total control, Iron Man hastily crashes through the window and flies off.

While using his willpower to fend off the virus, Iron Man is flying recklessly throughout the city causing minor damage to buildings and getting Nanami’s attention.  Eventually, he crashes in a park just outside of town as our young reporter managed to follow him.  After Tony warns her to stay away while he tries to control his suit, he hastily takes off towards the skies.

After returning to Sho, we then move into the next part of his backstory.  When he attempted to go outside and play with the other children, a minor trip caused him to start coughing uncontrollably.  Fortunately, his mother managed to get him back to their apartment and into bed.  She then tells him that his frail body can actually help him appreciate the value of life.  By growing up with a gentile nature, he’ll be able to help people.  As such, Sho promises her that he’ll never grow up with hatred in his heart.

Back in the present, it turns out that Iron Man flew back up into space during his struggle.  Meanwhile, his subconscious is fully aware within cyberspace as he tangles with the virus in its true form: the Zodiac member known as Pisces (another member whose name is never uttered).

We then move into the next flashback where Sho has grown up into a young man.  One day, he comes home to find his mother working really hard on their computer but also suffering from a nagging cold.  She assures her son that this illness will ultimately pass.  However, the strain on her body becomes too much as she end up succumbing to her illness.

With no more friends or family, Sho remembers the promise that he made to his mother before burying himself in her computer work.

While Iron Man continues with his confrontational clash against Pisces within the realms of cyberspace…

…we then move into our final flashback for the episode.  After his treatise on converting people’s own will into program codes was rejected, he’s confronted by Ho Yinsen who was impressed by the concept.  He offers Sho the chance to join Zodiac and receive proper funding for his work, so that his dream can become a reality.  We also find out that Yinsen instilled the idea that Stark Industries has become a shining example of death around the world and that Sho is needed to take Tony out.

Back in cyberspace, Pisces starts to gain the upper hand on Iron Man.  As Tony states that it looks like he won’t be able to live up towards the promise he made to Yinsen on saving people, Sho overhears this and starts to personally doubt himself on his terrible mission.

With the personal promise to his mother ringing his head, Sho turns on Zodiac and sacrifices himself in order to destroy Pisces.  With the computer virus crisis over, Sho tearfully says that he lived up to his promise before his computer system shuts down.

As Iron Man makes it back down to Earth, he’s suddenly confronted by a pair of Cancer robots.  Due to his struggle against Pisces, he doesn’t have enough power to properly fight back.  Fortunately, he gets some unexpected help as Ramon Zero arrives and takes out one of the opposing robots.

And so, Episode 6 ends with Iron Man confronting this new armor.  Little does he realize is that Capt. Nagato Sakurai is its pilot.

We begin Episode 7 “At The Mercy Of My Friends” with Ramon Zero effortlessly taking out the remaining Cancer robot.  Afterwards, Iron Man tries to ask this newfound ally for some important details.  However, he just takes off without uttering a word.

Later that night, Tony takes a shower while constantly thinking about his confrontation with the newfound armor.  Afterwards, he finds out that Chika has showed up to his place.  After getting dressed, he heads outside to ask her what she’s doing here at this hour.  Just then, a tranquilizer dart flies in and hits him in the neck as Stark passes out from the effects.

We cut to Nanami and Ichiro who are fresh off of a late-night interview.  Just then, she notices Tony’s car as they start to wonder what he’s up to at this hour.  Sensing a huge scoop possibly attached to it, they decide to follow his car.

They follow the vehicle down to the docks when they’re suddenly confronted by a Zodiac robot.  As a result, the car ends up rolling over.

By the time they reach Tony’s car, they find it abandoned before noticing a boat heading out to sea.  Suspecting something foul at play, Nanami proceeds to call the authorities.

Back on the boat, Tony lies unconscious while being hooked up to some wires and gizmos as a familiar mystery man works on him.  There’s even a moment where Stark seems to be naked while being scanned by familiar lasers.

Sometime later, Tony and Chika wake up within a shed.  They’re surprised to find out that the door is unlocked and that there’s no guards to be found anywhere, but they soon discover why: They’re on a deserted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.  After checking out their surroundings, Chika says that they’re still within striking distance of Japan but this spit of land is used as a dumping ground for landfill.

Just then, Tony feels a pain in his chest.  He discovers that his Arc Reactor has been replaced with an old-fashioned pacemaker.  Just then, Ho Yinsen reveals himself as the man who imprisoned our two heroes and swapped out Stark’s main life support.  Tony is then informed that his pacemaker will only last one whole day before its batteries run out.  Yinsen will only save him if he pledges himself to work for Zodiac.  With 24 hours of decision time to go, Ho takes his leave after telling our heroes to not bother trying to escape.  Tony tries to follow him, but he starts feeling intense chest pains as he collapses onto the ground.

A short time later, Stark is resting up.  He wonders how the man who gave his life purpose & who despised using “violence as a means to an end” would just turn his back on those ideals and join Zodiac.  With that notion hanging over them, they plan on escaping back to the Arc Station and acquiring a spare Arc Reactor for Tony’s heart.

Chika says that calling for help is out of the equation since there’s no cell phone service out here.  Fortunately, Tony looks at the massive amounts of junk and see them as his materials towards freedom.

Using the shed door as a make-shift table, Tony gets to work on their escape plan.  Using the junk and Chika’s cell phone, he creates a make-shift internet modem to hook up to a still-functioning laptop in order to call for help.  However, Yinsen pops up and informs our heroes that he’s placed a jam on all wireless signals in a 10 km (slightly more than 6 miles) radius around the island.

After cutting off Tony’s connection, we find out that Yinsen is hiding out on a personal yacht somewhere on the island.  In his thoughts, we learn that Ho actually managed to plant a subliminal trigger within Stark and have him revert back to being the weapons manufacturer that he once was, given the right mental message.

While Tony and Chika desperately work against the clock to try another method for their escape…

…Yinsen is scanning Stark’s Arc Reactor while talking to his superior.  Ho assures his master that the final analysis will be sent to him in time.

After creating a make-shift motorboat, Tony and Chika climb aboard and begin their trek back to Japan.  Shortly after Stark notices Yinsen’s yacht hiding out nearby, he and Chika are suddenly attacked as their boat gets decimated.  Once underwater, they discovered what wreaked their craft: another Scorpio robot.  As such, Tony and Chika are forced to swim back to the island.

After getting back on shore, Tony feels a strain in his chest and proceeds to lie down.  After he claims that he feels worthless without his Arc Reactor, Chika scoffs at that notion.  She goes on to proclaim her admiration towards Stark’s drive to finding a solution despite his weakened state.  Impressed by her feelings towards him, he tells her about discovering Yinsen’s yacht and feels that it’s their key to getting home.  Tanaka fears that they’ll come across Scoprio again and will be unable to defend themselves.  Tony responds with the fact that they’ll “get creative”, since he wants to prove to Yinsen that he’s not the weapons maker that he once was.

Back on the mainland, Nanami & Ichiro are back at the Tokyo Journal and are exhausted from last night’s incident.  Just then, their boss Nomura comes in and tells them that they have a visitor, which turns out to be JSDF Capt. Nagato Sakurai.  After our reporters learn that both Tony and Chika were kidnapped, Nagato asks our pair on which direction the fleeing boat went.  Fortunately, Ichiro had his camera at the ready as he catches the seacraft fleeing and even the instant before he and Nanami were attacked.  With this newfound information, Nagato discreetly takes his leave.

Back on the island, Tony and Chika get to work on their plan.  Unbeknownst to them, Scorpio is watching from above.  As Yinsen observes them, he starts to realize that something’s amiss.

As such, he gives the order to fire at our two heroes.  After Scorpio shoots down a stinger blast, it goes down to investigate.  Unfortunately for it and Yinsen, it turns out that Tony and Chika weren’t even there to begin with since Stark created a make-shift hologram projector, to which Scorpio immediately destroys.

With their cover blown, Tony and Chika are forced to make a run for it.  From there, Yinsen orders Scorpio to hunt down Stark in the hopes that the subliminal messages coax Tony back to his weaponized ways.

During their mad dash, Chika suddenly sprains her ankle.  She tells Stark to leave her since he’s important to the world, but Tony says that he’s not ditching her.  He explains that he needs her and her brilliant mind to help create “a world without violence”.  From there, he carries Tanaka to a nearby hiding spot.

With Scorpio lurking about, Tony gets one last break when he discovers a still-working lighter on the ground.

Shortly after reaching the top of the cliff, Tony takes out his cannon, ignites the fuse and yells out to Scorpio.  As the mechanized terror charges towards him, the subliminal messages start pouring into his head with the temptation to fire his newly-created weapon at Scorpio in order to kill it and give in to his weapons-filled past.

However, it turns out that it wasn’t a weapon after all as Tony fires it into the air.  Stark actually made a make-shift flare gun as his call for help sparks in the afternoon sky.

Fotunately, Nagato was in the vicinity with his Ramon Zero armor as he flies over to the island.  From there, he makes quick work of Scorpio’s attacks before slicing the mechanized menace into oblivion.

Tony then runs down to Yinsen’s yacht, only to see it blow up.  Ho then confronts Tony as Iron Man Dio and tells him that this entire exercise was nothing more than a test.  After giving Stark his Arc Reactor back, Yinsen acknowledges the change that he’s gone through before taking off.

Shortly afterwards, Ramon Zero comes in.  After Tony thanks him for his help, Nagato reveals himself to Stark as the armor’s pilot and says that Nanami deserves a lot of thanks for pointing him in the right direction.

Amd so, Episode 7 ends at sunset with a rescue boat coming to pick up our two heroes.  After Tony thanks Chika for his help in proving to Yinsen that he’s a changed man, the two of them cap off their recent series of events by sharing a kiss.

After a quick scene where a tactical group breaks into a warehouse and discovers a human within a chamber only for a mysterious being to axe them off…

…we begin Episode 8 “Daughter Of The Zodiac” over at the Arc Station where Tony invites Chika out to dinner.  However, she declines his request due to her claiming that she still has loads of work to do.  Once she gets inside the elevator, it turns out that she’s feeling emotionally awkward over the shared kiss.

Sometime later, Tony is in his car wondering how their shared kiss somehow made her emotionally unavailable for dinner.  Suddenly, a little girl pops up in the road as he swerves away in time.  After stopping, he gets out and berates her for just standing in the street.  However, she simply states that she’s finally found Iron Man.  From there, the scene ends with her introducing herself as Aki and that she “ran away from Zodiac”.

That night, Tony takes her to dinner at a fancy restaurant as he wonders why she needs his protection from Zodiac and how she’s connected to the devious organization.  Aki proceeds to demonstrate her telekinetic power on a pair of silverware in order to prove to him that she’s “special”.  When Stark asks her why she needs his protection, Aki says that he’s causing problems for Zodiac.

Thinking that she was sent to somehow get him, Tony confronts her and demands to know if she’s working for Zodiac.  However, Aki starts crying.  Realizing that his assumption was false, he proceeds to order her some ice cream to calm her down.

Meanwhile, Capt. Sakurai and the JSDF are investigating the remains inside of a warehouse.  It turns out that a Special Ops team went in to retrieve a Zodiac weapons stash before they met their maker by a mysterious creature.  Just then, a soldier comes in and gives him a USB Drive containing recovered data.

Later, Tony takes Aki back to his house and lets her sleep in his bed.  Wanting to know more about this little girl, he contacts Nanami and asks her to do “a favor”.

After spending the night on an adjacent couch, Tony wakes up and sees that Aki is out of bed.  He ultimately finds her in his basement workshop doing some cleaning.  However, her good intentions and naive nature go a bit too far.

From accidentally shredding important documents to damaging his tech (not to mention machines causing some physical harm to Tony himself), Stark ends up as the victim to a comedy of errors caused by Aki.  Just then, the door bell rings as she heads off to answer it against Tony’s wishes.

It turns out to be Chika who’s come to do some official business with Tony.  When Aki answers the doors and states that she’s “Tony’s daughter”, Tanaka is taken aback.  Fortunately, Tony arrives in order to meet with her.

After things calm down, Stark and Tanaka try to talk about business details.  However, Aki butts in and makes things uncomfortable between them.  First, she asks if Chika is Tony’s girlfriend, but Dr. Tanaka sets things straight by saying that they’re only business partners.  Then, Aki embarrasses Stark by stating how “when it comes to the ladies, Tony’s quite popular” and that she was just awake enough to catch him making a call to “some woman”.  This makes Chika feel uncomfortable enough to leave, telling him to look over the provided materials before she heads out.

Tony responds by berating Aki for messing up his lab and for making him look like a foolish jerk in front of his fellow co-worker, even going as far as saying that she “might as well be working with Zodiac”.  This makes Aki emotionally distraught enough to send out a telekinetic blast, causing Tony to fly over to his personal bar before she takes off.

We then have brief scene where Nanami arrives at the orphanage and asks the head nun if she’s familiar with a certain girl, where it turns out that she is.

Sometime later, Tony is out trying to find Aki.  At that moment, he gets a call from Nanami as she fills him in on the young girl’s backstory.  Two years ago, she lost her parents in a plane accident, since the aircraft was hijacked and it somehow exploded mid-flight.  Afterwards, Aki was the lone survivor and ended up at the orphanage.  Six months ago (or 1 1/2 years in the Japanese dub), a group of people (Zodiac) came by to adopt her.  In that time, the head nun didn’t have any way to contact the group.  If that wasn’t enough, Nanami wasn’t the first person to drop by and ask about the little girl.

Afterwards, Tony finds Aki overlooking a soccer field being used by a group of children.  He asks her if she would like to join them, but she turns the offer down since she’ll risk putting them in danger.  As she levitates a nearby soda can, she says that she doesn’t have complete control over her power, which is how she lost her parents.

Within a quick glimpse into her past, we see the hijacking while one of the terrorists approaches Aki and her folks.  In a state of fright, she unintentionally unleashes a blast of telekinesis which causes the passenger jet to blow up.

Feeling sorry for her tragic past, Tony picks her up onto his shoulders and states that they’re done talking about what’s already happened.  He proceeds to give Aki some much-needed levity as he dashes off and gives her a piggy-back ride.

After a fun-filled day, Tony and Aki prepare to go grab a bite to eat.  Suddenly, they’re confronted by Capt. Sakurai who’s come to take her with him.  Realizing that it was him who talked to the nun prior to Nanami, Tony declines his request.  With no other choice, Nagato gives the order.  It turns out that JSDF agents were hiding as they zap Tony with a taser and knock him out before taking Aki away.

Sometime later, Tony wakes up within a trailer truck before finding Aki unconscious and strapped to an examination table.  Nagato tells Stark that they need to control her powers since her mind generates a “strong magnetic field”, which could manipulate the iron in a person’s blood stream and even their own hemoglobin.

Capt. Sakurai then shows the information that he acquired at the desolate warehouse.  Tony learns that Zodiac has been using her mental ability in order to power their weapons, since they’re connected via brain waves.  Nagato then asks for his help in analyzing the data in order to keep Japan safe.  Stark agrees, but only for her.

Just then, Aki starts to wake up and begins warning them about Virgo.  Sure enough, the convoy gets attacked by said Zodiac member as it blasts the truck off of the road.

The surviving JSDF agents try their best to defend themselves from Virgo.  However, bullets easily bounce off while a rocket launcher isn’t even able to penetrate its force field.  As such, Nagato gives to order to retreat.

Fortunately, Tony managed to slip away with Aki during the chaos.  He then makes it to the adjacent road where he gets a driver to stop.  After paying him an undisclosed amount, he then takes the man’s car and drives off to the Arc Station.

Following an MEG (or a Magnetoencephalography) Scan, Chika says that Aki’s suffering from some abnormalities.  Fortunately, Tony also managed to grab the USB Drive from the JSDF truck as he gives it to Tanaka in the hope that a solution can be found.  With their radar picking up Virgo’s incoming approach, Stark heads out to deal with the monstrosity.

A short time later, Tony emerges as Iron Man and proceeds to engage Virgo with his Repulsor Beams and missiles.

Back inside the Arc Station, Aki is suddenly bombarded by an intense wave of mental pain.  When Chika goes to check up on her, the vital signs and the acquired information unveils a startling revelation.

With Virgo going down, Iron Man prepares to finish it off.  However, Chika tells him to stop firing.  She reveals that Aki’s brain is somehow hardwired to Virgo, meaning that she’ll feel the effect of every shot that’s sent the robot’s way and even possibly kill her.  Using this distraction to its advantage, Virgo fires a powerful shot which hits Iron Man and severs his communication.

Aki tries to get up and help Tony, but Chika manages to stop her since she’s too weary.  However, Aki sends her away with a telekinetic blast before she wearily rushes out to aid Iron Man.

Meanwhile, Tony gets blasted out of the sky.  With our hero on his last limb, Virgo proceeds to unleash its finishing shot.  Fortunately, Aki arrived in time and uses her telekinesis to shield Iron Man from the blast while yelling at the floating head to stop.

Unfortunately, the peace is short-lived as Virgo gets attacked with Aki collapsing in pain.  It turns out that Sakurai has returned as Ramon Zero and is ready to finish it off.  However, its missiles are destroyed by a Repulsor Beam as an enraged Iron Man engages Sakurai in the skies.

While Tony and Nagato continue their airborne clash, Virgo manages to use its tendrils and place Aki inside itself.

With the young girl tucked away inside the monstrous head, Iron Man and Ramon Zero can only watch as Virgo creates a destructive field.  Even worse, it continues to expand itself right for the Arc Station.

Fortunately, Chika gives the order to activate the EMP Generator.  It manages to form an EMP Barrier and even counter Virgo’s destructive field.  However, the strain that Virgo is putting on the energy shield is threatening to doom Aki.  Realizing that Iron Man is holding out on the mechanized head running out of power before attempting to save her, Ramon Zero then asks our hero if one girl is worth the potential damage and lost lives.  Tony then asks Chika if his armor can withstand the magnetic fields for 30 seconds, to which Tanaka says that it can, but only in theory.  Willing to take the risk, Iron Man flies right towards Virgo in order to save Aki.

Despite the fierce expulsion of energy, Iron Man fights through it all as he reaches Virgo and opens up the cockpit area.  A weary Aki is surprised that he came to rescue her, to which Iron Man tells her “that’s what friends are for”.  She then ends up passing out as Tony picks her up and flies out.  From there, the weakened Virgo proceeds to get destroyed by the EMP Barrier.

Sometime later, Aki has fully recovered and is playing soccer with a group of children.  We then learn from Tony and Chika’s conversation that she’s been relieved of her telekinesis, but she also has no memory of Stark or Zodiac.  Satisfied in the fact that Aki can now live a happy life, Episode 8 ends with Tony finally taking his leave with Chika as they finally get to their dinner date.

As we begin Episode 9 “A Duel Of Iron”, we start to learn about Yinsen’s decline towards villainy.  Sometime after Tony Stark made his escape, Ho was discovered by a woman named Shehla who brought him back to her home and was nursed back to health.  While recovering in bed, Yinsen sees the kind heart that she brings to the local children.

We then cut to one year later (or a month later in the Japanese version) where he’s become well-integrated among the locals as he strives in farmwork and is adored by the neighboring children.

Back in the present day, he receives a call from his superior that “an opportunity” has arisen and he’s to report to him immediately.

Over at the Arc Station, Tony has invited Nanami and Ichiro over for a special purpose.  With the numerous Zodiac attacks gripping the populace in fear and distrust, Stark wants to remind them on why he installed his Arc Reactor in their country to begin with: providing the Japanese with a limitless energy source, thus helping to cease the international power struggle for fossil fuels and help build towards World Peace.  Thus, Tony feels that Nanami can write a positive article to educate the citizens on his grand project and quell any safety concerns.

Meanwhile, a JSDF convoy is hauling plutonium to its destination.  Suddenly, Iron Man Dio comes in and delivers a surprise attack on the troops.

Afterwards, Minister Kuroda is informed that the personnel has been wiped out and the plutonium is being stolen by “an unidentified assailant”.  The scene ends with him giving the order to send troops over to the disaster site and to keep this incident under wraps.

Meanwhile, Nanami and Ichiro begin their exclusive interview coverage.  When she asks if World Peace can be obtained at some point in their lives, Tony says that it can.  He states that humans have the capability to make it achievable and that it can be done by creating a world without weapons, which all starts with his Arc Reactor.  To Stark, the path to international harmony begins with eliminating the struggle over energy resources.  Thus, his Arc Reactor creates an unlimited and free energy source for all.

Just then, he receives a call from Chika and gets informed about the JSDF’s plutonium convoy getting attacked.

Back on the highway, the troops arrive and open fire on their target.  Unfortunately, Iron Man Dio is able to shield himself before he wipes them out with a Repulsor Blast.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, we head over to the military base where Capt. Sakurai receives some awful news from an aide.  It turns out that Minister Kuroda has revoked Nagato’s clearance, thereby preventing him from using the Ramon Zero armor.

A short time later, Tony arrives as Iron Man and proceeds to investigate the crime scene.  Just then, his computer system detects a radioactive signature over in the nearby woods.

Dio heads over to collect the plutonium, but Iron Man arrives and confronts his one-time friend.

From there, the two Iron Men proceed to fight each other.  After taking their brawl to the skies, Tony subdues Ho and tries to convince his former friend that Zodiac is only using him just to further their own devious goals.

However, Yinsen is unwilling to be changed as he frees himself from Stark’s grasp and knocks him down towards the ground.  With Iron Man pinned, Dio prepares to finish him off.

Fortunately, the JSDF arrives and distracts Dio with some gunfire.  Unfortunately, he had a secret weapon waiting as a sudden barrage of deadly lasers emerges from the trees and wipes out the troops.  From there, Yinsen says that he’s “running behind schedule” and that he’ll let Sagittarius take care of Tony.  As such, Dio takes the plutonium and flies off.

Back on the ground, Iron Man is barely able to defend himself.  It turns out that when Sagittarius fires a single shot, it splits into multiple laser blasts.  Once Tony is able  to fly up above the trees, he discovers that both Dio and Sagittarius have managed to escape.

Later, Tony meets with Minister Kuroda, who’s nearing his wit’s end.  He tells Stark how it was bad enough that Japan suffered two nuclear bombings from America in World War II, but now the country has to suffer yet another atomic crisis.  Tony promises to get the plutonium back, to which Kuroda says that it’s his last chance since the fate of both of their respective countries are currently at stake.

As he takes his leave, Stark meets up with Nagato.  After learning that Capt. Sakurai couldn’t find anything helpful within his base and that he’s also been banned from there as well, Tony says that they need to find some useful answers.

Just then, he gets a surprise call from Yinsen.  After informing Stark that the plutonium has been placed “somewhere safe”, Ho tells him that he’s remembering “the past” and that it’s always on his mind.

We then have a flashback where Shehla is getting married.  Even though he didn’t attend her ceremony, Ho does show up among the happy crowd to wish her and her husband the happiest of unionships.

Suddenly, a small squadron of Stark Industries-owned helicopters emerge and opens fire on them.  Due to being the only person who survived, the flashback ends with him walking among the burning ruins to see that everyone (including Shehla and her husband) have had their lives tragically cut short as he yells out in heartbreak.

Having been made aware of his former friend’s motivation to see him suffer, Tony says that even though he deserved it, he still reminds Ho that he was the one who turned Stark’s life around for the better.  However, Yinsen says that he’s no longer that man and only sees humanity as “small, petty, & blood-thirsty “.  He then hangs up after saying that they’ll see each other again in about 10 minutes.

Afterwards, Tony prepares to head out and deal with his former friend by himself.  Nagato wants to help since he wants the plutonium to be recovered.  However, Stark says that this is one responsibility that he needs to deal with, whether or not he survives in the end.

Later, Tony and Yinsen meet each other again up in the skies while wearing their respective armors.  Eventually, Dio blasts Iron Man down towards the ground.

After grasping Stark by the neck and picking him up, Yinsen tries to convince him that humanity is nothing but a “cesspool” and can only be made better if it’s wiped out and starts over from scratch.  Tony says that Might doesn’t make right and that humanity can be a good lot if given the chance to prove themselves, not to mention that he’s been willing to change himself for the better.  However, Ho is too jaded to believe such a notion.

We then head into the episode’s final flashback where Yinsen is among the destruction caused by Stark Industries’ helicopters.  Suddenly, a mysterious man emerges and offers him the power to obtain “retribution”, so that there never has to be any more “victims of war”.

As such, the mystery man is able to convince Ho that Stark has taken his Iron Man armor in order to instill his presence on the world by “wreaking havoc on the masses”.

Back in the present, Yinsen declares that Tony’s “new world” doesn’t exist.  Stark says that he’s still working on it since it “takes time”.  However, he’s unable to convince his former friend as Dio punches him through the woods.  Afterwards, Ho declares that their armors are nothing but weapons.  Tony responds by saying that it actually depends on whoever wears it and what they do with it.  However, Yinsen says that it doesn’t matter since he has devious plans for the world.

Over at the Arc Station, Nanami and Ichiro notice a small group of lights heading towards the building.  It turns out to be a group of unmanned armors called Iron Man Sigma as they surround the facility with Chika informing Tony of the situation.  Yinsen explains that these suits (made from Iron Man Dio’s specs) follow his every command.

From there, the Sigma armors blast their way into the building.  Chika gives the order to activate the EMP Shield, but is told that their system is offline.  As such, the unmanned armors begin their takeover of the Arc Station.

Back in the woods, Dio continues to pummel away on Iron Man as he claims that he’ll be “deciding the future”.  After stating that he’ll make sure that the Plutonium gets put to “good use”, Yinsen ends the fight by firing a powerful chest beam that blasts Tony into unconsciousness.

With our hero defeated, Dio strips Tony of his Iron Man armor and proceeds to toss him into a deep chasm where he plunges into the running water below.

With no one left to stand in his way, Yinsen reaches the Arc Reactor ready to unleash his “New World Order” upon the planet.

And so, Episode 9 ends with the group of Iron Man Sigmas surrounding Chika & her fellow scientists, Zodiac having complete control over the Arc Station with Nanami & Ichiro as hostages alongside the employees, Capt. Sakurai on the road to an unknown destination and a weary Tony Stark plunging towards his demise.

We begin Episode 10 “Casualties Of War” with Chika being escorted into the Arc Reactor room by a pair of Zodiac guards.  Surprised to see Yinsen clad in the Iron Man Dio armor, she demands to know what happened to Tony.  After kicking the Iron Man armor down to her, he tells her that Stark is dead.

Over in the control room, our two captured reporters sit among the staff members with the Zodiac guards keeping watch.  Ichiro says that he overheard the troops claiming that Iron Man is dead, but Nanami doesn’t buy it and says that there must be a way to escape.  Despite her wishes, Ichiro offers to create a distraction for her.

He puts his plan into motion as the Zodiac guards rough him up, giving Nanami the chance to crawl her way to freedom and get some necessary help.

Over at the Japanese Parliament building, the Prime Minister is outraged to hear about the Arc Station getting taken by Zodiac.  Shortly after Minister Kuroda tells him that they should hear some demands fairly soon, an aide comes in and says that the terrorists have started to exclaim their message via television.

Yinsen takes to the airwaves and lets the country know that if Zodiac’s demands aren’t met, they’ll kill the hostages and use the Arc Reactor to wipe out all of Japan.  He then proceeds to list off what must be done in order to avert disaster: 1. Expel all American troops stationed in the country.  2. Disband the JSDF.  3. Dissolve the National Diet (Japan’s Legislative System).

After overhearing the broadcast, Nanami continues her escape attempt.  Unfortunately, she gets spotted by a Zodiac guard and ends up captured.  After being confronted by Yinsen, she says that there’s no way the Japanese government will give into their demands.  Ho exclaims how it’s hypocritical of their country to renounce war only to somewhat arm themselves with weapons.  As such, he believes that he and Zodiac are the only ones capable of running Japan towards the future.  After Nanami states that no one would ever allow themselves to live in a nation run by terrorists, the guard leads her into a storage closet and locks her in.  From there, the scene ends with her noticing the ventilation shaft as her newest means of escape.

We cut to a dream where Iron Man is swiftly captured by Dio before he’s obliterated by a Repulsor Beam.

Tony then wakes up to find himself outside and underneath a tree.  Discovering that his injuries have been treated, he sees that it was Nagato who saved him.  As Stark reacquires Yinsen’s coin, he learns about Minister Kuroda stripping Sakurai of his Level 5 Clearance, thus preventing him from using the Ramon Zero armor and that Ho has taken control of the Arc Station.  When Nagato asks about their plan of attack, Tony says that he has to get his Iron Man armor back.

Over at the Arc Station, Chika is on a work station computer when she suddenly gets contacted by Tony on her specialized wristwatch.  Relieved to discover that he’s alive, Tanaka explains that she’s being used to prepare the Arc Reactor.  After exclaiming that Yinsen stole it from him, Stark asks for her to remotely activate his armor’s GPS signal in order to locate it.

She manages to do so, but gets caught in the act by Ho who takes her wristwatch and tells Stark that he’ll be dead soon enough before he crushes the device.  Afterwards, the scene ends with him telling his troops to trace the communicative transmission and send Sagittarius after Tony.

Back at the Parliament building, the governmental group continue to discuss how they should respond to Zodiac’s demands.  The Prime Minster (middle) is told by the General (right) that he plans to send the JSDF on an assault mission.  However, the collateral damage would see them losing at least a third of the total hostages.  As such, the Prime Minister shoots that plan down since it would greatly damage his legacy.  From there, Kuroda tells the governmental body that he’ll personally handle the situation and that he promises to take full responsibility should the worst happen while gladly giving credit to the Prime Minister should it be successful.

As such, Kuroda meets with the press as he broadcasts his announcement to the public about the hostage situation with Zodiac and how the Parliament has been trying to come up with the best possible solution.  In the end, he announces that he’ll surrender himself to Zodiac in exchange for the release of all of the hostages.

As Tony and Capt. Sakurai hear the announcement over the jeep’s radio, Yinsen reclaims the broadcast airwaves and says that Zodiac is impressed with Kuroda’s selfless act towards others.  As such, he states that they’ll accept his offer.

Back inside the Arc Station’s storage closet, Nanami attempts to get a shelf in position to reach the storm grate.  Just then, she notices the door starting to unlock as she manages to look normal just as a Zodiac guard places Chika inside.  She then informs Nanami that Tony is still alive and that she has to find his Iron Man armor in order to get it back to him.  From there, our young reporter instantly offers to help out.

Back on the road, Tony recounts his last battle against Yinsen and starts to doubt himself.  He states that his Iron Man armor is supposed to safeguard the innocent, but it’s ending up putting peoples’ lives in peril.  Nagato tells him that the Dio armor may be similar to his, but it’s missing one important “element”.

However, he’s unable to finish his statement since Sagittarius has caught up to our heroes as a high-speed chase ensues.

Back at the Arc Station, Chika & Nanami have climbed up into the storm drain as they navigate their way towards the room containing the Iron Man armor.  Nanami asks the good doctor if she and Stark are currently in a relationship, to which Tanaka tells her that she’s too good to get romantically involved with him.  They then manage to reach their destination but find out that it’s under watch by a lone Zodiac guard.

Fortunately, the two ladies overcome this minor hurdle as Nanami knocks out the sentry with a pipe while Chika manages to reacquire the Iron Man armor.

Outside, Yinsen sees Minister Kuroda arrive in order to exchange himself for the safe release of the hostages.

As such, every last captive is set free as they prepare to board the buses to safety.  However, Ichiro notices that Nanami isn’t within the group.  Not wanting to leave without his workmate, he begins to sneak his way back inside in order to find her.

Meanwhile, Nagato continues to evade Sagittarius’shots.  Just then, Tony is contacted by Nanami with some good news.  Thanks to Chika, she’s recovered his armor and is en route via his personal car.  As such, he sends her coordinates for them to meet up.  Just then, Sagittarius unleashes a barrage of enemy fire that forces Capt. Sakurai off of the road.

After stopping within reach of the woods, Nagato arms himself and tells Tony that he’ll hold off the approaching robot for as long as he can.  After promising his return when he gets his armor, Stark dashes off.

He ultimately makes it back to his car where Nanami informs him that Chika stayed at the Arc Station since she “wanted to wrap a few things up”.  Despite his injuries, Tony hops into his vehicle and suits up for the rematch.  After telling her to hide, he takes off to help out his friend.

Meanwhile, Capt. Sakurai proceeds to get hunted down by Sagittarius.  He tries to fire back at the monstrosity, but it effortlessly hops over a rocket launcher’s shot and easily withstands gunfire as it prepares to wipe out Nagato.

Fortunately, Iron Man arrives in time as he blasts Sagittarius’ arm cannon off before unleashing a powerful Repulsor Blast that obliterates the robotic menace from existence.  From there, he takes off towards the Arc Station.

Seeing Stark approaching the base, Yinsen heads out with the group of Iron Man Sigmas in order to engage our hero.

After taking out one of the Sigma armors, Iron Man proceeds to engage Dio in another round of aerial combat.

Inside, Chika discovers why the building’s EMP Shield didn’t active during the initial attack from the Sigma armors.  It turns out that someone has broken into their system.  Just then, she’s gets confronted by Ichiro who’s trying to find Nanami.

Back in the skies, Iron Man is able to put up a better fight against his former friend.  However, Dio is able to turn the tide with a powerful chest beam.  Our hero tries to fend off the blast with his Repulsor Beams, but it overpowers him as he’s blasted down towards the Arc Station.

With Iron Man pinned yet again, Dio prepares to finish him off.  Just then, it turns out that they landed within striking distance of Chika and Ichiro.  He hesitates just enough for Iron Man to get back up and carry him out of the building.  As he’s doing so, Tony wonders why Yinsen didn’t take the kill shots.  From there, the two Iron Men continue with their duel.

Just then, the Sigma armors become compromised as both Iron Men find a powerful Repulsor Beam coming their way.  Tony manages to toss Yinsen out of the way and takes the shot for him, causing him to crash down onto the ground.

Dio approaches and asks why he was saved.  Tony says that he saw a glimmer of humanity within him just a moment ago, but Yinsen still denies it as he prepares his killshot.  However, a Sigma armor comes in to ruin his moment.

This forces Dio to redirect his shot at the unmanned suit and send it to oblivion.  He then tells Iron Man that someone has taken control of the Sigma armors as the two of them are forced to team up against the same enemy.

However, Tony is too weary to fight.  As such, Dio proceeds to engage one of the Sigma armors.  He manages to plunge his hand through it, but it traps him by grabbing onto his arm.  This allows the other Sigma armor to fire a massive Repulsor Beam which delivers a devastating blast.  Unbeknownst to our Iron Men, a feint shot takes out the remaining Sigma armor.

With his friend fading fast, Tony asks him why he joined Zodiac.  With his dying breath, Ho explains that he thought that he could use the power that they gave him to make a difference in the world.  Seeing the grave error of his ways, he commends Stark for not letting his own power corrupt him.  He then warns him that Zodiac has bigger plans coming up and that he must stop them.  And so, Episode 10 ends as Yinsen succumbs to his injuries and passes on.

With his friend’s dying words ringing in his ears, Iron Man flies back to the Arc Station as we open Episode 11 “The Beginning Of The End” with a series of newscasts informing about the end of the hostage situation, how Minister Kuroda bravely gave himself up and lingering questions about whether Stark Industries has any ties with Zodiac.

Inside, Tony praises Kuroda for his bold decision.  However, the Minister tells him that things have become “complicated”.  Due to the Arc Reactor’s security getting constantly breached and that the populace believes that he’s somehow working with Zodiac, he calls in Nagato and explains that Stark will be placed under the JSDF’s custody until he’s cleared of such allegations.  Despite Capt. Sakurai assuring him that he’ll clear his name of these charges, Tony wishes to prove his innocence himself and demands to speak to the U.S. Embassy.

A short time later, Tony is in a prison bus as the media report on Stark’s arrest by the JSDF, much to the surprise of Nanami and Ichiro.

After a while on the highway, Capt. Sakurai tells the driver to deviate from Kuroda’s orders and take an upcoming exit.  Tony is then informed that they’re going to Nagato’s home instead.

We then have a quick scene where Chika is working on the Arc Reactor.  However, her eyes start glowing red, implying that something has taken control of her.

Back at Nagato’s home, he proceeds to teach Tony on the “Japanese Way Of Thinking”.  After arming him with a wooden sword, Capt. Sakurai easily evade Stark’s strikes.  Tony tries to run in and attack, but Nagato manages to defeat him since his wild and reckless charge left him wide open for a killing strike.  Sakurai tells him that it’s sometimes wise to hold back and analyze your opponent for any notable weaknesses.  Tony is impressed by the demonstration, but he suddenly turns the student-teacher role around with a surprise kick to the gut.  He tells Nagato that not all battle strategies are the same, since the Americans have their own way of dealing with things, even if they are less-than-honorable.

Back at the Arc Station, Chika regains consciousness and discovers the Arc Reactor in a state of malfunction.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Military Base has suddenly lost power.  With its backup power and all communication lines to the JSDF also down, Zodiac effortlessly manages to take control over the base.

Over at the Parliament Building, the entire governmental body has gathered together in order to decide on the fate of Stark Industries.

As if the brewing crisis at the Arc Reactor and the U.S. Military Base wasn’t bad enough, even the JSDF isn’t resistant to the sudden compromisation of their mental faculties.  One of the pilots is sudden controlled by the same unknown force as he unleashes his missiles onto the building.

Over at the Tokyo Journal, Nanami begs her boss to let her investigate Stark’s arrest.  However, Nomura denies her request.  Just then, Ichiro catches a newscast reporting on the recent bombing of the Parliament Building and turns on the volume so that Nanami and Nomura can get informed by the shocking event.

Suddenly, the news broadcast is interrupted by Zodiac as a trooper delivers their takeover message to the public.  With Japan’s Government wiped out and the JSDF nullified, they demand the release of their “comrade-in-arms”, Tony Stark.  If not, then they’ll start killing off their military hostages.

Back on the prisoner transport bus, Nagato and company are also overseeing the broadcast.  Tony calmly wonders why Zodiac is going through so much trouble just to paint him in a bad light when Capt. Sakurai suddenly gets a call.  It turns out to be Minister Kuroda who feels that the terrorist group is coming after him.  As such, he gives Nagato a final order: Execute Tony Stark.  The good captain is shocked by the request, but Kuroda says that he’ll never hand Tony over to Zodiac and that even he believes that the terrorist group has put Stark in a position to unleash his tyranny.

Unbeknownst to Nagato, Tony managed to place his watch on the door and have it act as a timed explosive.  As such, it blows down the doors as he makes his escape.  After Capt. Sakurai informs him on what just happened, Kuroda tells him to not worry about the hostages and go after Stark.  He even reinstates his Level 5 Clearance so that he can use the Ramon Zero armor again.

Meanwhile, Tony remotely activates his car as it proceeds to drive off and deliver his armor to him.

As he reaches an underground garage, Tony gets a call from Chika.  She informs him that “someone” has broken into the Arc Reator and is rerouting its power.  She’s also unable to stop the process, even though there’s no sign of a security breach or that it was caused by an outside hacker since she’s the only one who has access to this particular system.  With the arrival of his car, Tony tells her to find out where the reactor’s energy is going.  After he suits up, Chika manages to pinpoint where that power is being sent to Tokyo Bay.  She then manages to send him the coordinates before she’s confronted by a pair of Zodiac troops.

Meanwhile, a transport helicopter arrives as Nagato suits up and prepares to hunt down his friend in the name of his country.

Iron Man takes off and starts to head towards Tokyo Bay, but he’s suddenly confronted by Ramon Zero who proceeds to fight him.  As Tony learns that Nagato has been completely influenced into thinking that he’s working for Zodiac, their fight ultimately takes them to a baseball stadium where they have a stand-off.

After reminding Capt. Sakurai of his earlier lesson: “It’s a wise man who knows when to hold off & take his time and exploit his opponent’s weakness”, Iron Man grabs Ramon Zero as they escape from the immediate area in time.  It turns out that something has fired a shot on them as they discover that it’s the last Zodiac robot.  With this as definite proof that he couldn’t be working for Zodiac if he was taking their robots down, Iron Man gives Ramon Zero the coordinates to Tokyo Bay and explains that the Arc Reactor’s energy has been re-routed to said area.  While he investigates the source, Tony will duel with Zodiac’s final robot.

As Ramon Zero arrives at Tokyo Bay, his scanners reveal that the Arc Reactor’s energy is getting sent underneath towards the Aqua-Line.  After flying into a traffic tunnel, he heads down a side tunnel (which was covered by a hologram) and takes a service elevator down below.  He then discovers what lies beneath: Zodiac’s Command Center.

Ramon Zero tries to attack the main leader but is completely outmatched as his sword strike is blocked before he gets kicked into the wall.  With Capt. Sakurai at his mercy, the evil mastermind decides to reveal his identity as the scene ends with Nagato shocked at the revelation of Zodiac’s head commander.

Back at the baseball stadium, Iron Man finds himself pinned to the scoreboard as the Zodiac robot prepares her finishing shot.  Fortunately, Tony manages to counter with his chest beam.  However, her beam starts to overpower him as it slowly makes its way towards our hero.

Back at the underground base, it turns out that Zodiac’s leader is Minister Kuroda.  Before he prepares to kill Nagato for not executing Tony, he says that Zodiac is the only thing that can prevent Japan from complete collapse.  After he raises the country back up within his image, he’ll then set his sights towards world domination.  He then gives Capt. Sakurai one last chance to join Zodiac, but has his offer rejected.  Fortunately, Ramon Zero escapes his grasp and fires a missile at the base’s core.  This causes an explosion powerful enough to flood the base as he manages to reach the surface in time.

However, Kuroda also got out as well as he engages Nagato in a sword battle. Unfortunately, Ramon Zero is overpowered for the last time as the corupt Defense Minister fatally stabs Capt. Sakurai and causes him to plunge into the oceanic water below.

Back at the baseball stadium, both Iron Man and the Zodiac robot are starting to run low on power.  Fortunately, Tony’s chest beam is able to overpower his opponent’s beam and gives himself some breathing room.  With both sides struggling just to keep themselves in the air, the Zodiac robot is forced to retreat.

After landing back on the ground, he gets contacted by Nagato and is informed that Kuroda is the leader of Zodiac.  With his fatal wound taking hold, Capt. Sakurai tells Stark that he can’t continue.  Tony refuses to buy that since he still needs his help.  Unfortunately, Episode 11 ends as Capt. Nagato Sakurai succumbs to his injury and loses his life within the oceanic depths.

From there, we begin Episode 12 “Endgame” as Kuroda kicks off his reign over Japan (due to him being the last surviving member of Japan’s Diet system).  He delivers a broadcast to the country where he promises to maintain order across the land, starting with his first act of imposing a temporary Martial Law over the people.

Later, Kuroda is at the Arc Station as his prepares to unleash his “vision for Japan”.  Just then, a Japanese soldier comes in and gives him a message from the U.S. Government.  It states that they’re not happy with their diplomats getting expelled from the country and that they’ll threaten with military action should their Japanese bases remain barricaded.  As such, the scene ends with Kuroda stating that it’s time that their country stands up and proclaim its might against America’s military.

Meanwhile, Iron Man is flying back to the Arc Station when he gets a call from Chika.  She wishes to speak with him over at the lighthouse and that it involves the Arc Reactor’s siphoned energy.  As such, he begins to fly off towards her while Tanaka starts making her way over to the meeting spot.

While Japan’s misguided military blindly prepares itself for a deadly confrontation with the United States’ fighting force…

…we head over to the lighthouse where Iron Man meets up with Chika.  She informs him that the Arc Reactor was compromised, but its security protocols were never dismantled by any outside hacker (not even Yinsen), since she’s the only one who had direct access to the system.  She believes that she’s somehow not in control of herself (as evidenced from early in Ep. 7 & the previous episode), since she blacked out each time.  Tony is puzzled as to how she could’ve reprogrammed the reactor’s system while under a blackout session.  From there, Chika climbs out to the cliff’s edge and prepares to commit suicide, since she doesn’t want Stark’s work & progress to go up in flames and that she doesn’t trust herself due to her belief that she may be indirectly working for Zodiac.  Suddenly, a massive explosion occurs in the distance as he realizes that the U.S. Military Base was just attacked.

Just then, his scanners picks up the culprit as it detects another mech suit.  It turns out to be Zodiac’s leader as the fiend flies right towards our hero.

With the knowledge of the figure behind the team of terrorists, Iron Man demands to know why the U.S. Military Base needed to be destroyed.  Kuroda states that he only cares about Japan’s future and that he thanks Chika for being a “great help” to him.  Iron Man believes that she’s been mentally manipulated by him, but Kuroda then reveals something much worse.

Suddenly, Tony is given the shock of his life as Chika glows and sheds her human form.  It turns out that she was the last Zodiac robot all along.  From there, Kuroda takes off to carry out his sadistic plan, leaving her to take care of Iron Man.

Shortly afterwards, Tony finds himself forced into brawling with his former workmate as he becomes locked in an emotionally painful struggle.

Meanwhile, Nanami & Ichiro are out on their assignment.  Despite Nomura ordering them to cover the devastation of the U.S. Military Base, Nanami explains that the main culprit behind its destruction appeared to her as Zodiac-related and that Tony can help them with their story.  Just then, they notice the lighthouse in the distance and see two blips of light clashing with each other.  As such, they start making their way over there.

Back at the lighthouse, Chika keeps up her programmed attempt to kill Stark.  Fortunately, Iron Man slams her down onto the ground and pins her.  He then says that he’s not going to fight her anymore.  However, she uses her twin hair spikes and jabs them into his armor before delivering an intense electric shock.

In an attempt to help Chika regain her humanity, Iron Man proceeds to rip off her face mask and opens his own mask in order for her to look into his eyes.  It takes a while, but she’s able to stop her attack and regain control over herself.  She then starts to cry over the mechanized menace that Kuroda turned her into and is worried about all of the blood that she’s already spilled & may still spill under Zodiac’s name.  Fortunately, Tony promises to stick with her until she’s freed from her armored prison and that he wants to be with her as they share a kiss.

However, Chika starts to bleed out of her mouth as he discovers that she accidentally drove one of her hair spikes into her own gut.  Just then, Nanami and Ichiro arrive as they’re also shocked by the fact that Tanaka has been made into a Zodiac robot.  Iron Man tells the two reporters to get her to a hospital while he takes care of Kuroda.  After he flies off, the scene ends with Chika saying that she’ll give Nanami the news story of a lifetime if she does “a favor” for her.

A short time later, Kuroda is overlooking his growing empire at the Nagatacho District.  Just then, his scanners pick up an approaching Iron Man.  From there, the two of them resume their fight.  Tony demands to know why his foe decided to side with Zodiac, to which Kuroda mentions his grudge with America for the Atomic Bombs that were dropped on Japan near the end of World War II.  He also states that every single attack from each robotic member helped in preventing Tony from ever suspecting anything abnormal about Dr. Tanaka.

Speaking of whom, we find out that Chika had Nanami and Ichiro take her to the Arc Station instead of the hospital.  Despite her fatal wound, Tanaka is hard at work in trying to stop Kuroda’s scheme.  It turns out that the reactor has been siphoned in a way that allows its energy to power his armor.  As such, Chika is attempting to recalibrate the reactor’s power transfer. To do so, she’s going to take some inspiration from the Pisces virus and upload her consciousness into the Arc Reactor’s mainframe and work her way into the core.  Nanami is weary about this idea since she promised Tony to look out for the good doctor’s safety.  However, Tanaka says that this is the only way that Iron Man can gain the edge he needs to finally defeat Kuroda and Zodiac for good.

Meanwhile, Iron Man continues his final fight as he learns that Kuroda killed Capt. Sakurai.  The corrupt Minister then begins to overpower Tony and explains that his armor is a combination of the Ramon Zero armor and what Nagato was able to learn about Stark’s armor.  After throwing Iron Man to the ground, he quickly mentions about Chika inadvertently designing his suit as a means to take Tony down.

Speaking of whom, Dr. Tanaka contacts Tony and informs him that she’s uploading some important coordinates to him that he needs to get to.  She explains that she’s rerouting the Arc Reactor’s power and will send it to him through a photon beam.  Iron Man isn’t sure of how that’s possible since Kuroda locked her out of the system, yet Chika says that the only way that she can help is by inserting her own consciousness into the reactor itself.  Tony forbids her from doing so since she would lose her life, but Tanaka says that there’s no other way to stop Kuroda.

As such, she starts prepping the Arc Reactors’ satellites for her plan.  Meanwhile, Kuroda prepares to deliver his finishing blow.  Enraged by what the corrupt Defense Minister has done to Nagato and Chika, Iron Man delivers a fierce punch that actually causes some minor damage as Kuroda is shocked to find out that his supposedly indestructible suit actually suffered some impairment.

From there, Iron Man flies up to the top of a tower as Chika fires the photon beam.  Tony withstands the impact as his suit receives a massive power boost.

Realizing that his connection to the Arc Reactor has now been severed, Kuroda flies up to interfere.  However, it’s too late as Iron Man has absorbed every last inch of Chika’s photon beam.  From there, the two figures unleash everything they have into a single chest beam.

Fortunately, Iron Man’s extra arc energy helps his shot overpower Kuroda as the corrupt Defense Minister is blasted into oblivion.  As such, Tony stands triumphant with the fact that Zodiac’s reign has finally been brought to an end.

However, the victory was not without its cost as a heartbroken Nanami and Ichiro stand over the lifeless Chika, who went out a hero and not a mechanized monster.

One month later, the newly-christened Tanaka Memorial Arc Station is now fully-operational.  With Nanami & Ichiro among the press that’s covering the historic event, the plant proceeds to start handing out free energy to the world.

High up in the Earth’s atmosphere, Iron Man watches as the Arc Reactor’s energy powers up all that he sees with a comforting glow.  After he commends Chika for their hard work, the series ends with him flying back down to Earth on a job well-done.

Now that this immense series recap is out of the way, let’s finally dig into my character analysis.  Starting off with the villains, let’s start with the big surprise in Ho Yinsen. To begin with, it was different to see him in a villainous light as he went from being the man who helps Tony turn his life around and convinces him to spend the rest of his days undoing the damage that his weapons have caused to become a perverse version of what Iron Man is supposed to be.  Even when Yinsen first meets Tony as a fellow prisoner, he sounds cynical in tone for a long time up to when Stark puts his escape plan into motion.  Fortunately, Tony’s heroism ultimately convinces him towards a positive light.  If not for Stark Enterprises’ helicopters on a random mission, then Shehla’s random act of kindness would have completed his transformation towards becoming an outstandingly moral man.  As we learn about his backstory, his duplicity isn’t exactly gradual when the helicopters suddenly take his last positive life away.  When Zodiac quickly hops in to take advantage of his grief, Yinsen is given false hope in making the world better, only by ruling it with an iron fist.  Until he’s betrayed by Kuroda via the Sigma armors and learns too late about the errors of his ways, he becomes a mirror of Tony himself.  It’s fitting that he carries out his plans while wearing Stark’s newest armor and there’s a bit of a tragedy here in the fact that he’s turned into the same monster that Kuroda originally convinced him that Tony has become. Throughout their battles, Stark is convinced that he’s still the good man that he once knew.  Even though he’s in constant denial during the series, his final appearance shows a quick glimmer before Zodiac turns on him and he’s forced to protect Tony.  In the end, this alternate take on a classic Iron Man character places him squarely into the category of “no man is beyond redemption”.  Kyle Hebert plays him as an arrogant, cynical and flawed man whose path towards his own demise is clinched due to his own jaded outlook.

Now we move on to our main villain, Kuroda.  Another figure who’s become jaded due to deadly combat, he carries a grudge against America ever since World War II.  In his preparation for his personal war against the United States, the series does a good time of keeping his villain status hidden in the background before he’s revealed as Zodiac’s leader.  In fact, he’s hardly seen during the first half of the series.  How effective since the Zodiac attacks and lower-tier members make themselves known to Iron Man in order to distract him from the more devious schemes.  He doesn’t even appear throughout the majority of the series’ second half until the final few episodes when his plans have come into fruition.  From keeping Tony and Nagato away from potential disasters, he manipulates certain events in order to not bring too much attention to his groups plans.  It’s only fitting that he’s nowhere near the Diet building when it gets destroyed and the entire Japanese Parliament is completely wiped out that he instantly places himself in position to become the country’s leader and put his plans into motion.  I would like to wonder how he’s able to control certain people.  Is it nanites that he discretely injected into certain people or a subtle radio frequency that sends subliminal messages into their brains?  Since he essentially bonds some robot armor to Chika, did he do the same thing to the pilot that wiped out Japan’s government officials?  Either way, Neil Kaplan is effective in delivering an intimidating and commanding tone to the manipulative Defense Minister.

Moving on to our main heroes, let’s work our way up and start with Capt. Nagato Sakurai.  As a top-tier member of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, he sort of serves as Japan’s own version of Iron Man with his Ramon Zero armor.  He’s loyal to his job and country, but that also serves as his personal flaw.  While he’s willing to give his services in the name of Japan, Kuroda is able to manipulate his sense and code of honor, resulting in unnecessary problems for Tony that delay him from effectively doing his job.  When he does work along Stark, they make an effective duo.  The series establishes him early on before his Ramon Zero armor finally shows up around the halfway point of this saga.  When he’s in the suit, he’s very skilled with the numerous weapons and abilities that it offers him.  Kuroda sees him as a potential threat and makes sure that he doesn’t use the armor in a way that prevents his devious scheme from reaching its zenith.  Throughout the series, he was stern and devoted to his work.  Despite that, he still carried a swagger and confidence that made him somewhat down-to-Earth and his own person.  Only when he finds out that the man that he willingly and blindly served was actually Zodiac’s leader does he completely become his own independent character.  Despite ultimately getting slained by Kuroda, he manages to tell Tony of the major revelation before he departs from this world.  Travis Willingham is effective in the role, delivering the right tones and beats to make his character stand out just enough.

Next up, we get to the only non-superhero/superpowered members of the group, Nanami and Ichiro.  As an established employee for the Tokyo Journal, Nanami’s youthfulness gives off the vibe that she’s still looking to become a top-tier reporter.  Throughout the series, she becomes a crucial ally to Tony and Chika as her ventures put her front-and-center at Zodiac’s devious plans.  Thanks to her personal connection to Stark and Tanaka, she’s able to write the crucial articles that’ll greatly help her career.  Even though she’s mainly more important and does have several moments where she proves her worth by herself, she also has a reliable photographer in Ichiro.  While he mainly serves as the comic relief character with his semi-naivete and constant love for food, they’re thankfully not shoved into every last scene to the point where you find him annoying.  After all, he does have a few moments where he shines at the most crucial of moments.  The two biggest moments come from Ep. 7 where his camera skills help Nagato in his search for the missing Tony and Chika.  His biggest moment came when he allowed himself to distract and get roughed up by the Zodiac guards in order for Nanami to slip away, which ultimately led to Stark recovering his Iron Man armor.  Eden Riegel is greatly enjoyable as our youthful reporter, showing a plentiful range of emotions and delivering a tone that suits her really well with her castmates.  Meanwhile, Benjamin Diskin is effective with giving the humble camera man enough range as well.  Going from caring & careful to upbeat & playful, he gives an effective performance for the trusty wingman.

Now we get to the biggest tragic character of this group in Dr. Chika Tanaka.  Serving as Tony’s right-hand lady during his stay in Japan, she aims to help Stark’s reactor become fully operational in order to help make the world a better place.  Throughout the series, she and Stark develop a deep respect for each other and somewhat form a relationship as a result.  She also forms a solid friendship with Nanami as they team-up a few times in order to retrieve information or Tony’s stolen armor.  However, it’s her high-level position at the Arc Station that Kuroda uses to his advantage.  It’s most likely that she’s a regular human who was subtly kidnapped and was decked out in Zodiac armor before being placed back among the humans as if nothing bad had happened to her, since he uses her to catch Tony off-guard.  His control over her is subtlety foreshadowed in two spots.  One is when the Pisces virus gets into the Arc Station’s computer system (since it’s never stated that it got past the security system) and the other is when Chika is lured outside so that he can get kidnapped and placed onto a deserted trash island.  Of course, she’s placed there as well in order to not arouse suspicion.  Ultimately, she sacrifices herself in order to end Kuroda’s reign of terror and gets posthumously rewarded with the completed Arc Reactor named in her honor, immortalizing the work that she made towards Tony’s dream.  Laura Bailey does an effectively good job with her role.  Though there’s not as much vocal range in various parts as I would’ve wanted, she does bring a great care of concern and compassion that is shown off to great effect.

Finally, we get to our main centerpiece in Tony Stark/Iron Man.  From the start, he makes an effort to install an Arc Reactor in Japan so that the world can worry a little bit less about the struggle for precious resources.  From the get-go, a dark cloud is hovering over him in the eyes of the Japanese public.  Not only is he a foreigner, but also a big-business figure.  No thanks to Zodiac, his Arc Reactor gets constantly placed in a bad light.  As a stranger in a strange land, he’s being reminded that his good intentions do come with consequences.  Yinsen wishes to see Tony’s work get destroyed since he’s been manipulated and misinformed by Zodiac, while Kuroda has his personal vendetta against America and wishes to prove that Japan doesn’t need international help of any kind.  Throughout the series, he gains a key group of Japanese allies that he forms specific partnerships with.  He has Nagato whose skills and Ramon Zero armor make him an effective ally in combat, Nanami supplies him with an inside source for crucial information and tasks, while Chika is his direct help throughout the majority of the series.  She helps out at the Arc Station and serves somewhat as his technological equal, providing him with necessary tools and guidance for him.  In a way, she serves as an unofficial hero’s sidekick to Tony.  Through all three of his Japanese friends, they help ease his burden and emotionally help him overcome Zodiac’s terrorizing grasp on the country.  Adrian Pasdar was a surprisingly solid choice for the role.  I was mainly used to seeing him as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s reluctant ally from a particular TV show but was ultimately amazed as to how confident he fit the shoes of a bold superhero.

The animation was colorful and energetic.  Madhouse displayed a wide color palette for this series, which is fitting for the start of the studio’s run with Marvel.  In terms of the actual animation, the humans are the regular style of fluent Japanese animation while the armor and the main generator’s energy is computer-enhanced 3D.  Despite the differences in animation, the two styles never uncomfortably clash with one another.  The action scenes do have their exciting moments, especially with Iron Man trying to figure out how to effectively defeat a specific member of Zodiac.  The storyline is mainly solid, highlighting the struggles Tony goes through to make his dream project a reality.  It can be tricky in certain foreign business moves, since you’re trying not to cause any major international incidents.  In that vein, I feel for Tony as he fights to prevent disaster within Japan and the world.

Overall, this is a nice start to the series.  The characters are engaging, the story is effective & moves at a nice pace, the animation is fluent and the twists & turns provided here continue to help Tony grow as an already-established person.  As an entertainment entry to his mythos, it’s worth a couple of hours of your time to see him outside of America.

Next Time: We only got a brief moment of him back in Episode 4, but what exactly is everyone’s favorite mutant doing in Japan?  All will be explored as we continue our look at Marvel Anime with “Wolverine”.