Tony fakes his death after several attempts on his life, which seemed connected to a larger plan involving the abduction of four industrialists by the Mandarin. Tony returns in a more powerful suit of armor and has to team up with a double crossed Mandarin to stop Fin Fang Foom from taking over the world.
A.I.M. takes credit for a deadly terrorist attack, but Iron Man finds the source to be a powerful space station named the Star Well. A kind man, Arthur Dearborn, lives on the station, which is guarded by the mighty Sunturion. Iron Man tries to get Dearborn to evacuate before A.I.M. attempts a take over.
An unmanned alien ship arrives on Earth with a message begging for Iron Man's help against Dark Aegis. Iron Man is determined to help, since it was he that left Dark Aegis adrift in space, and readies the ship for take off. Jim, who is determined to conquer his fears, suits up as War Machine again to accompany Iron Man. But a dangerous stoaway threatens their mission.
Iron Man's quest to disable all armored warriors continues, even going against War Machine. Justin Hammer, who leaked Stark's armor secrets, creates a massive armored warrior named Firepower to stop Iron Man and destroy Stark Enterprises. The only way Iron Man can take Firepower down is with new exo-armor.
One of the Mandarin's missing rings creates a time rift and Julia gets sucked in. Iron Man manages to recover the ring with Bruce Banner's help, but before Julia can be saved, The Leader steals it and now possess two of the Mandarin's rings. The Leader plans to travel back to before the gamma bomb detonation and gain the power of the Incredible Hulk.
The Mandarin has reclaimed all ten rings and plans to turn Earth back into a pre-technology society using an anti-technology field, with him in charge. He demonstrates the power of the field by disabling New York City and Iron Man himself. Unable to defeat him alone, Tony brings the Force Works team back together.
The Mandarin has captured Iron Man and learns his true identity. The rest of Force Works arrive at the Mandarin's citadel in a rescue attempt, but are captured. The Mandarin is now ready to complete his plan, using their energies to power the Heart of Darkness. But Tony manages to escape to Jim and Su-Yin, who helps build an armor immune to the anti-technology field. Iron Man and War Machine are now ready for the final battle.