Ultimo! Abe Klein and Krissy Longfellow watch as Iron Man uses an atomic pile-driver to test the strength of his upgraded armor. Designed to shatter mountains, the pile-driver destroys itself against Iron Man. He changes into Stark and is reminiscing over past girlfriends when Senator Hawk of the defense committee calls from Washington. He's gained information that Stark has been selling intelligence systems to foreign officials, and wants Stark to explain himself to the committee. Meanwhile, a Russian submarine launches a missile at Washington DC and the Coast Guard tries to stop it to no avail. It destroys a pier but does not explode. When Iron Man arrives in Washington with Stark's attache case containing evidence, Hawk's assistant Jon activates the missile revealing Ultimo inside. Iron Man and the military battle the giant, the fight damaging the Washington Monument. Iron Man stops the tower from falling on bystanders, but he's grabbed and crushed by Ultimo, cracking his new armor. Iron Man collapses, suffering dizzy spells from a weak heart.
