Duel of Los Angeles | A.I.M. Operative Controller

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"Come on. I never totally fit in with the gang, anyway." The subject of this article is part of an MCU franchise story that has been officially deemed to be non-canonical to the primary continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its events instead occur in another reality within the Multiverse. This universe is designated by the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki as the "A.I.M. Operative Controller Universe".

Duel of Los Angeles
Previous	Attack on A.I.M. Headquarters
War	Stark Industries Weapons Mongering
Date	Mid-2008
Location	Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Result (Outcome)	Iron Man kills Iron Monger.
Combatants
Iron Man
Iron Monger
Commanders
Iron Man
Iron Monger
Casualties
-
Iron Monger

"You always do what you want, Tony. I'll do what I must."

―Obadiah Stane to Tony Stark^[src]

The Duel of Los Angeles was a battle between Iron Man and Iron Monger.

Background

Obadiah Stane argues

"You should have given me that suit, Tony. Then this never would have happened."

―Obadiah Stane to Tony Stark^[src]

Tony Stark was kidnapped by the Ten Rings and realized that the terrorist organization had gotten access to weapons produced by his company, Stark Industries. Stark escaped the Ten Rings and decided to end weapons production in his company, leading the Maggia to attempt to steal weapons. Stark decided to have all the weapons destroyed, frustrating his business partner Obadiah Stane.

Obadiah Stane betrays Tony Stark

Stane partnered with A.I.M. to use the armor which Stark used to escape to create a new weapon to sell, but A.I.M. struggled to find a power source as Stark continually foiled their attempts. Stane orchestrated an attack on Stark led by A.I.M. operative Boris Bullski, but Stark defeated Bullski. Stane then confronted Stark himself and stole his Arc Reactor. Stark set out to destroy A.I.M. and foiled their operations. Stark tried to convince Stane to stop, but Stane refused as he kidnapped Pepper Potts and completed his Iron Monger Armor.

Duel

Iron Man blasts Iron Monger

"Congratulations, Tony. You've destroyed your father's company."
"Maybe so. But at least I didn't betray his legacy."

―Obadiah Stane and Tony Stark^[src]

Obadiah Stane used his Iron Monger Armor to cause damage to a Los Angeles highway, but Tony Stark appeared and demanded to know where Pepper Potts was. Stane told Stark to focus on himself and the two fought, with Stane throwing a car at Stark. Stark returned the attacks and Stane caught him in his grip, but Stark broke free. Stane claimed that Stark destroyed Stark Industries, but Stark insisted that he did not betray his father's legacy.

Iron Monger is killed

The two continued to fight until Stark flew away and went to the large Arc Reactor at Stark Industries Headquarters. Potts contacted Stark and revealed that she was in the control center, and Stane warned that the Arc Reactor was unstable and could explode, which J.A.R.V.I.S. confirmed. Stark decided to short-circuit Stane's armor, so J.A.R.V.I.S. suggested he use an electrical current or electromagnetic pulse. Stark got Stane to stand on top of the Arc Reactor as Potts got it to fire a pulse, frying the armor and allowing Stark to defeat Stane.

Aftermath

Tony Stark becomes Iron Man

"And the day comes where he must ask himself... 'what kind of man will I be? Am I willing to die on my feet? Or will I live my life and my needs? Do I have what it takes to become truly great? To become more than a man. To become Iron Man."

―Ho Yinsen^[src]

With Pepper Potts safe, Tony Stark reflected on Ho Yinsen's words about growing into being the role of a hero and decided to continue protecting people as Iron Man.