Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Avengers #64In the latest issue of Marvel Comics’ Avengers, it’s revealed that there is one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes whom Mephisto allegedly fears the most. Having united a legion of variants of himself known as the Council of Red while also assembling the Multiversal Masters of Evil to take on Earth-616’s Avengers of the present and 1,000,000 B.C, it’s clear that the demon lord has big plans underway in the current Avengers Assemble event. However, it seems as though there’s one Avenger who might give him pause: Iron Man.
In the new Avengers #64 from Jason Aaron and Javier Garrón, the fourth part of Avengers Assemble sees the Multiversal Masters engaging in battle with both sets of Avengers at Earth’s genesis point of heroes. Meanwhile, Mephisto and his Council of Red have gone to war against Avenger Prime and his Avenger variants such as a full army of Captain Americas and the Carol Corps providing air support (as seen in Avengers: Forever). However, Mephisto’s agent known as the Iron Inquisitor comes face to face with Iron Man in this new chapter, revealing himself as a variant of Tony Stark’s father Howard who claims Mephisto wants Iron Man dead the most.
Mephisto Fears Iron Man (For A Very Dark Reason)
While it’s possible this dark version of Howard was simply trying to sway Tony onto his side, he’s probably not wrong about Iron Man sharing similarities with the demon lord. Just like Mephisto, Iron Man typically carries plans within plans and is always looking toward the future. They both carry extremely large egos as well, a problematic trait that often sees Tony Stark creating just as many crises as he solves.
Thankfully, Tony doesn’t give in to the temptation. Iron Man’s apparently seen enough Star Wars to know that this version of his father was trying to “Darth Vader” him. Regardless, his decision to battle Howard outside their suits leads to a truly brutal brawl, culminating in Tony ending the threat of the Iron Inquisitor (without killing him), ensuring that Mephisto has lost one of his key puppets in the current Avengers Assemble event.
While he may very well fear Iron Man and all he’s capable of, there are other non-Avenging heroes Mephisto is seemingly concerned by as well such as Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. Furthermore, it seems as though the mysterious Avenger Prime has long been a chief rival of the demon lord as well in the multiverse. However, when it comes to the core Avengers, it seems Mephisto is keenly aware of just how much Iron Man could ruin his plans and schemes. Avengers #64 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
