Finally free of controlling influences, Iron Man prepares to assault both Mad Thinker and M.O.D.O.K., only to be hit with unexpected mental projections. He survives this, as well, but the delay gave M.O.D.O.K. time to best Mad Thinker and take control of Iron Man. The Black Lama appears again, sending M.O.D.O.K. and Iron Man to the Yellow Claw's stronghold for that battle. The Yellow Claw wins that battle, only to discover that this Iron Man is nothing more than an android. It is revealed to the reader that the Mad Thinker prepared for M.O.D.O.K.'s attack by replacing himself and Iron Man with androids, thereby allowing his opponents to defeat each other. With the help of a woman who contacts him through some form of E.S.P., Iron Man escapes to take on the Mad Thinker himself.