A new, powerful villain known as The Mandarin arises in the Orient, and Iron Man is sent to investigate. Soon trapped in Mandarin's castle, Iron Man faces challenge after challenge as Mandarin tests and toys with the Golden Avenger.

Meanwhile, Pepper, angry at Tony for neglecting an employee dinner (or, more specifically, her chance to catch his eye) asks Happy Hogan to escort her.

Iron Man is almost defeated by the Mandarin with his karate skills, but Iron Man calculates which angle will have enough force to deflect the blow and knock Mandarin out at the same time. He then goes back to the employee dinner, where he gets to spend time with Pepper.

Accompanying comics: "Them" (Lee, Lieber, Bell, Rosen); "Tales of the Watcher: Journey's End" (Lee, Lieber, Brodsky, Simek)