2000s

This is an timeline of events that occurred in the 2000s.

#### 13th

* Two days after the September 11 attacks, Thaddeus Ross convinces the United States Army to start the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project in an attempt to recreate the results of Project Rebirth.

### December

* The Afghan National Army is established.

## 2003

### October

#### 24th

* The Walt Disney Concert Hall is opened to the public in Los Angeles, California.

### December

#### 16th

* Arek Smith is born to Lisa and Bradley Smith in Hinsdale, Illinois.

## 2004

### January

#### 26th

* The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan becomes the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

### April

#### 18th

* Surveillance begins on Banner as he begins a year of work towards the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project, and Ross saves a CCTV photo of him.

## 2005

### March

#### 14th

* *Mad Money* airs its first episode, with Jim Cramer as host.

### April

#### 16th

* Under the threat of funding cuts, Bruce Banner tests the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project on himself, but the combination of Gamma Radiation and the serum Betty Ross developed based on Abraham Erskine's Super Soldier Serum results in the accident that turns him into Hulk. Gamma pulses stored in Banner's amygdala which are released during high stress moments, will trigger a transformation. Betty is injured and hospitalized.

#### 19th

* Bruce Banner visits Betty Ross at the hospital and Thaddeus Ross admits to Banner that the project is being developed as a weapon, not just defense. Banner goes on the run. The military closes the lab building for a year and shuts down the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project. General Ross keeps some project data, while Betty also secretly holds onto data and remains at Culver University. After Banner's leak, Ross puts the military on his track. Angered by her father's treatment of Banner, Betty stops talking to him. This is the start of the Bruce Banner Manhunt, which spans for five years.

### December

#### 15th

* The F-22 Raptor is introduced into the United States Air Force.

### February

#### 7th

* Bruce Banner tries to contact Betty Ross, but the email is intercepted by the military and she never receives it.

### April

#### 8th

* Natasha Romanoff kills people in São Paulo.

### May

#### 14th

* On his way back to Canada from South America, Bruce Banner is sighted when he transforms into the Hulk.

#### 27th

* Bruce Banner is spotted via satellite recon photo in Canada.

#### 28th

* Hulk is sighted by locals in Canada, who mistake him for a "Green Sasquatch".

### June

#### 7th

* The military loses Bruce Banner, who eventually arrives in Eastern Nunavut near Greenland, in the Arctic Circle to commit suicide in a place where his body would not be found. In the Arctic, Banner tries to shoot himself in the mouth. However, the attempt fails and he turns into Hulk, who spits out the bullet, and Banner wakes up afterwards.

#### 13th

* The Lion King musical moves from the New Amsterdam Theater to the Minskoff Theatre in New York City.

### August

#### 2nd

* Bruce Banner is sighted near Osaka, Japan.

#### 6th

* Bruce Banner is sighted in Sapporo, Japan.

### September

#### 4th

* The Mossad sends a photograph of a destructive event, possibly linked to Hulk, to the Strategic Operations Command Center.

### October

#### 21st

* Bruce Banner is sighted for at least five months, as he is involved in an incident which destroys another truck.

### January

#### 22nd

* A picture that came to the United States Army of a wrecked car in Samara, Russia is assigned as a possible incident caused by Hulk. However, there is no sighting.

### February

#### 18th

* Natasha Romanoff sets a hospital on fire.

### March

#### 2nd

* A flight on this date is pinned as significant by the United States Army.

#### 19th

* A letter is written to S.H.I.E.L.D. about Banner having not been sighted in 5 months, and they are brought in to help Thaddeus Ross, continuing to help him until 2010. Stark Industries sells him HMMWV-mounted sonic cannons.

## 2008

### January

* *Wired* magazine features Tony Stark on the cover, with the headline: "The Mind of Tony Stark".

### February

#### 9th

* Tony Stark wins the Apogee award, as a video biography is played at the ceremony hosted at Caesars Palace. James Rhodes presents the award to Stark, but Obadiah Stane accepts it on Stark's behalf, joking that Stark is always working. However, Stark instead gambles at the casino.
* On the casino floor, Stark plays Craps as he hits on various women. Rhodes goes to the casino and scolds Stark for missing the event and gives Stark the award, but Stark is too preoccupied with his game. He gestures for Rhodes to blow on the dice for luck, but Rhodes hits his hand away, causing a losing roll.
* Happy Hogan escorts Rhodes and Stark outside, where Stark is approached by *Vanity Fair* reporter Christine Everhart, who questions him on the morals of war profiteering. Stark gives witty responses to her questions, insisting that he will stop making weapons once they are no longer necessary for peace. Stark mentions that his company has saved lives with military funding and flirts with her, taking her back to his mansion.
* Stark and Everhart sleep together, during which they fall off the bed, leading to Stark laughing.

#### 10th

* J.A.R.V.I.S. wakes Christine Everhart up at 7:00 AM. Everhart looks out the window before searching the mansion for Tony Stark. Pepper Potts gives Everhart her dry-cleaned clothes before sending her away.
* Stark works on one of his hot rods' engines as Potts heads to the garage and informs him that he is late for his flight to Afghanistan. Potts asks Stark about a painting he is buying a painting and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology commencement speech before mentioning that it is her birthday. Stark realizes that he forgot and tells her to buy something nice, to which Potts responds that she already did.
* Stark races Happy Hogan to the Stark Industries Aviation Division, and beats him there, due to his faster car. Stark gets on the Stark Industries Private Jet, ignoring Rhodes' complaints about him being late. The plane takes off for Afghanistan.
* On the flight, Rhodes complains about Stark's irresponsible tendencies as Stark orders him a drink, leading to Rhodes and Stark drinking together.
* Rhodes and Stark, now drunk, talk about Rhodes' sense of community from being in the military. As Rhodes tells Stark that he could be more than what he is, Stark comments on the attractiveness the flight attendants. Trixie sits on Stark's lap and invites him to bed while Rhodes attempts to advise Stark to get rest, as they have a briefing. The other flight attendants sit with Rhodes and flirt with him.

#### 11th

* Tony Stark eats breakfast as James Rhodes, hungover, tries to get some rest. Rhodes is interrupted by the flight attendants announcing that the plane is preparing to land.
* The plane lands at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Stark greets the generals and prepares for his presentation of the Jericho. A general asks how Stark's flight was, so Stark turns as Rhodes leaves the plane and says that it was choppy.
* The soldiers present do a presentation for Stark.
* As Stark presents the Jericho, he explains the specifics of the weapon, remarking that America and his father are both feared and respected. He then demonstrates the weapon's capabilities, decimating the side of a nearby mountain.
* After the successful presentation, Stark drinks as he sells Jericho missiles to the United States Air Force and readies for the trip back to base. Stane calls Stark, who tells him that the sale was successful. Rhodes attempts to join Stark, who cuts him off and asks him to use a different Humvee.
* **Kidnapping of Tony Stark**:
	+ Stark is driven back to base by a military convoy and jokes with the soldiers. Jimmy asks to take a picture, which Stark accepts. Pratt readies the camera when the Humvee in front of them explodes due to an attack by the Ten Rings.
	+ Pratt, Jimmy and Ramirez rush to engage in the firefight, ordering Stark to stay inside. Stark watches as the three soldiers are killed. before running for cover behind a rock and tries to call for help, but is horrified to see that Stark Industries Fragmentation Shells were being used when one lands next to him. The missile explodes, sending shrapnel into Stark's chest as he passes out from shock.
	+ The Ten Rings take Stark captive, keeping him in a cave. While Stark is unconscious, fellow inmate, Ho Yinsen works to save Stark's life by implanting a small electromagnet into his chest, keeping the shrapnel from his heart. Yinsen attaches the magnet to a car battery to power it. Stark screams in pain as Yinsen finishes the surgery.
	+ Sometime later, Stark wakes up to the Ten Rings holding him captive and recording a video, telling someone that they do not intend to kill the great Tony Stark. The speaker threatens Stane for his deception.
	+ Stark wakes up in the cave, and attempts to move, but Yinsen advises against it. Stark realizes that he is connected to an car battery powering a magnet in his chest.
	+ Yinsen makes dinner as he explains the magnet to Stark, telling him that the shrapnel would kill Stark in a matter of days were it not for the magnet. Stark realizes that they are on camera, and Yinsen mentions when he and Stark had met, but Stark does not remember. The conversation is interrupted by Abu Bakaar welcoming Stark and instructing him to build a Jericho missile in exchange for his life. Stark refuses, but is dunked underwater until he complies.
* Bakaar and his men carry Stark outside the cave, to show Stark their supply of Stark Industries weapons, explaining that once the Jericho is finished, Stark will be set free. Bakaar shakes Stark's hand as Stark and Yinsen agree that Bakaar is lying about releasing him.

#### 12th

* Back in the cave, Ho Yinsen and Tony Stark sit by the fire. Yinsen laments to Stark, asking him if creating weapons used by murderers is what Stark wants his legacy to be. The hopeless Stark says that this will not be his legacy.
* Stark instructs the Ten Rings members on what materials he will need to build the missile as Yinsen interprets for him. The men gather materials into Stark and Yinsen's cell.
* Stark works to carefully dismantle a missile as Yinsen reveals more information on the Ten Rings. Stark removes the main mechanisms from the missile as Abu Bakaar watches on the security camera.

#### 15th

* Tony Stark drills parts of a missile, removing the palladium core. Ho Yinsen asks to be included in the planning, wanting to help. However, Stark ignores him.
* Stark removes the palladium from the core, throwing the rest of it away. Stark asks Yinsen to get him 11 more cores of palladium, and Yinsen obliges. Ten Rings members continue to watch the pair's movement.
* Stark puts sand into a cup, placing a metal ring inside it.
* Yinsen heats the palladium over the fire. He walks it over to the table as Stark asks him to be careful. Yinsen replies that he has steady hands. Yinsen pours the molten palladium into the cup as he properly introduces himself to Stark.
* Stark lifts the palladium cover ring, placing it into a glass circle.
* Stark carefully works as he welds wires onto the palladium ring.
* Stark finishes work on the miniaturized Arc Reactor as it glows with energy, causing the lights to flicker. Yinsen comments on the amount of energy coming from it, adding that it could power his heart for fifty lifetimes. Stark replies that it could also power something big for fifteen minutes.
* Stark shows Yinsen his plans, a mechanical battle suit powered by the Arc Reactor.
* Members of the Ten Rings observe as Stark attaches the Arc Reactor to his chest.

### March

#### 1st

* Ho Yinsen and Tony Stark play Backgammon together. Yinsen tells Stark about his family in Gulmira, hoping to see them. Yinsen realizes that Stark does not have a family, commenting that Stark has everything and nothing.

#### 16th

* Ho Yinsen and Tony Stark work as Abu Bakaar leads his men to the cave, finding them working.

### March

#### 31st

* Tony Stark welds parts of the suit he is designing.

### April

#### 16th

* Tony Stark tightens bolts on some canisters. The Ten Rings watch the video feed, confused that what Stark is building looks nothing like a Jericho.

#### 30th

* Raza watches the camera feed as Ho Yinsen and Tony Stark get the legs working on the suit.
* Abu Bakaar interrupts Stark as he welds. Raza enters and recounts Gengis Khan's rule over Asia, comparing it to his own potential empire. Raza asks Stark and Yinsen why they failed to build the missile, and Yinsen replies that they are working. Raza does not believe him and orders his men to bring Yinsen to his knees.
* The Ten Rings force Yinsen onto the ground as Raza readies a hot rock to put in his mouth. Raza demands the truth, but Yinsen insists they are building the Jericho. Stark attempts to intervene, telling Raza that he needs Yinsen to be his assistant. Raza gives them until the next day to finish the missile.
* Stark repeatedly hammers a piece of heated metal, forming it into a helmet. Stark places it into water to cool it before showing it to Yinsen.

### May

#### 1st

* Tony Stark puts wraps on his hands as Ho Yinsen readies the battle suit. Stark quickly puts on a leather bodysuit and rubber gloves.
* Yinsen lowers the chest plate onto Stark. Yinsen assembles the rest of the armor onto Stark as they go over Stark's escape plan.
* Raza looks to the security cameras, not seeing Stark. He sends his men to find Stark.
* The men arrive at Stark and Yinsen's cell, yelling for Yinsen to stop in Hungarian. Yinsen tries to answer them despite not speaking Hungarian. Getting tired of waiting, the men open the door, which was rigged to explode by Stark. Raza sees the video feed cut out and orders his men to attack. Yinsen works to program the suit as Stark gives him specific instructions.
* Yinsen screws the suit shut as the men approach. He realizes that the suit will not be done in time and decides to buy Stark time by shooting at the Ten Rings' soldiers. Stark yells for him to come back but he has already left.
* Yinsen shoots at the men, only to be cornered and fatally wounded.
* The suit reaches full power, causing the lights to flicker. Ten Rings members rush into the cell, finding it empty. Stark attacks one of the men, taking them out. The remaining men open fire, but Stark attacks them in the suit. Stark heads down the hallway, killing Ten Rings members as he passes.
* Some of the men hide behind a door. Stark destroys the door and punches a wall, causing his arm to get stuck. The fleeing men attempt to shoot him, but are taken out by the ricocheting bullets. Stark frees his arm and continues forward.
* Raza goes to see the commotion with a grenade launcher with him as Stark finds Yinsen in critical condition. Yinsen tries to warn Stark but Raza fires at Stark, who fires his own missile at Raza, burying him in rubble. Stark rushes over to Yinsen, planning to rescue him, but Yinsen tells him that dying was always his plan, and that he will be reunited with his family in death. In his final breaths, Yinsen warns Stark to not waste his life.
* Ten Rings members aim for the cave exit as Stark's footsteps echo. Stark reaches the cave exit as the men open fire. Stark activates his flamethrower, wiping them all out. Stark makes his way through the Ten Rings Base, destroying all of his weapons. As the base goes up in flames, Stark attempts to fly away, but instead crashes into the desert sands.
* After crashing into the sand, Stark takes off the armor, finding it to be destroyed.
* Stark wanders through the desert overnight.
* Stark continues his trek through the desert until he is found by the United States Air Force. Stark yells in excitement and waves his hand as the helicopter lands. James Rhodes runs out of it, relieved to find Stark alive, and hugs his friend.

#### 3rd

* The United States Air Force escort Tony Stark back to the Stark Industries Aviation Division in California. Pepper Potts tearfully greets Stark as he exits the plane. Stark and Potts get into Happy Hogan's car, where Stark refuses to go to the hospital and asks for an American cheeseburger and to hold a press conference.
* Hogan and Stark arrive at the Stark Industries Headquarters, where Stark is hugged by Obadiah Stane as people applaud Stark's safe return. Stark grabs his Burger King order before heading inside.
* Inside, Potts is greeted by Phil Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Potts remarks at the length of the agency's name, and Coulson asks to debrief Stark about his escape. Stark begins the conference by asking everyone to sit down, wishing for the event to be less formal. Stark talks about how he wonders if his father had doubts about his company making weapons, revealing that he witnessed young American soldiers get killed by his weapons.
* A reporter asks what had happened in Afghanistan, and Stark reveals that he had realized that he can do more for the world than simply making weapons, adding that he will be shutting down weapon production at Stark Industries, causing the crowd to erupt into questions as Stane pulls Stark away. Stane tells the reporters to glad that Stark has returned healthily.
* Stark meets with Stane, who voices his concerns with Stark's decision. Stark tells him that he wants his legacy to be more than weapons, and Stane replies that it is their job. Stark suggests looking further into Arc Reactor technology, which Stane dismisses before Stark reveals the miniaturized Arc Reactor embedded in his chest. Stane reminds Stark that they are a team and that Stark should not make big decisions by himself.
* Stark returns home and is greeted by J.A.R.V.I.S., who says that he had calculated a 0.25% that Stark would make it home safe. Stark finds a new watch on the table, with a note from Obadiah Stane saying "Thank god it wasn't you time." Stark admires the watch before putting it on. J.A.R.V.I.S. reveals that Stark has 1,713 missed voicemails. Stark scrolls through a few of them before deleting them all. J.A.R.V.I.S. detects electromagnetic energy, and Stark tells him to start their scanner.

* Pepper Potts grimaces as she watches *Mad Money* host Jim Cramer rant about Stark Industries' stock prices plummeting. Tony Stark calls Potts, asking her for help in his garage.
* Potts goes downstairs, where Stark asks her help in replacing his electromagnet with a newer Arc Reactor. Potts squeamishly helps him with the operation, nearly causing him a cardiac arrest from a mistake she makes, but ultimately succeeding in the procedure. Stark then tells her to simply destroy of the old reactor, but she decides against it.

#### 5th

* Only a few days after his return, and with his injuries healed, Tony Stark visits James Rhodes at Edwards Air Force Base as he talks to air force recruits in a hangar. He explains to Rhodes that he is considering starting a new project, asking Rhodes to be a part of it. Stark explains that the project is not for the military, prompting Rhodes to say Stark needs more time to get his mind right before walking away.
* In his garage, Stark instructs J.A.R.V.I.S. to open a file for his secret new design project, dubbing it "Mark II." Stark renders a projection of the Mark I's blueprints, and strips away unnecessary parts, attempting to perfect the design.
* In Afghanistan, members of the Ten Rings search the desert sands, where they find the scattered remnants of the suit of armor Tony Stark had used to escape.
* In his garage, Tony Stark works on his new armor, putting together the boots of the suit, with help from Dum-E. Stark and Dum-E struggle with each other, and Stark makes fun of the robot.
* Stark begins his log of tests for the new Mark II armor, beginning testing. Stark has Dum-E stand by for fire safety, while U records Stark's test. Stark first begins by testing the flight capabilities. However, he underestimates the power of the thrusters, and flies up and backwards into the wall behind him, before falling to the ground. Dum-E sprays Stark with a fire extinguisher despite the lack of anything on fire.

#### 8th

* Late into the night, Tony Stark works in his garage, looking at renders of the Mark II, designing handheld thrusters.
* Stark manipulates a holographic render of the handheld thrusters, before sliding his arm into it.

#### 12th

* In his garage, Tony Stark tries on the newly fabricated arm thruster, as Pepper Potts comes downstairs with a gift-wrapped box that she gives to Stark before informing that Obadiah Stane is visiting. Potts then questions Stark's making of weapons, but Stark clarifies that they are merely flight stabilizers, before activating it, blasting him backwards.
* Stark goes upstairs and finds Stane, who had just returned from a trip to New York. Stane laments that the trip would have gone smoother had Stark been there, but Stark replies that he is lying low as Stane had asked him to. Stane explains that the Board wishes to lock Stark out, believing Stark's new direction to not be in the company's best interest. Stark admits that he is now being responsible, and Stane tries to ask for the specs for the Arc Reactor, but Stark refuses.

#### 15th

* Obadiah Stane ships weapons to the Ten Rings, which uses them to attack the small town of Gulmira. Pictures are taken of the attack and the weapons. As the attackers fire, Raza smokes and notes a camera filming him.
* Tony Stark completes work on the Mark II. He starts a new log, dating this test as "Day One." He notes how the suit originally was meant to escape as well as to stop the shrapnel from reaching his heart. However, now that he has advanced, he can use his suit to take down others who have his weapons.
* Tony Stark completes work on the Mark II. He starts a new log, dating this test as "Day One." He notes how the suit originally was meant to escape as well as to stop the shrapnel from reaching his heart. However, now that he has advanced, he can use his suit to take down others who have his weapons.
* Stark flies over Malibu, further testing his HUD on people he passes.
* Stark, now at mach 0.30, decides to test the suit's altitude capabilities and flies straight up, attempting to reach the world record of 85,000 feet. As Stark ascends, ice begins to build up on the suit, causing him to plummet from the sky. Stark free falls, but manages to break the ice, re-enabling his suit's flight before hitting the ground. As Stark speeds away from Malibu, he cheers at his success.
* Stark returns to his mansion, and tries to land on the roof. However, falls through the roof, landing inside his garage, where Dum-E sprays the fire extinguisher once again.
* Stark holds an ice pack to his head as he notices the box left by Pepper Potts, he opens it to find his old Arc Reactor, put in a case and marked with the text, "Proof that Tony Stark has a heart."
* At their base, members of the Ten Rings work to assemble the pieces of the Mark I as Raza oversees them.

#### 16th

* Tony Stark analyzes data from his first flight with the Mark II. Wanting to resolve the icing problem, he instructs J.A.R.V.I.S. to rebuild his suit using a gold titanium alloy. J.A.R.V.I.S. renders the model as Stark overhears the TV showing a news report on the third annual benefit at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Stark holds a prototype Iron Man mask over his face as he watches the reporter says that no one expects him to appear.
* J.A.R.V.I.S. finishes the render, and Stark, inspired by the color scheme of his Ford Flathead Roadster, tells J.A.R.V.I.S. to add red paint to the next suit, code-named the "Mark III". J.A.R.V.I.S. begins automated fabrication, giving an estimated completion time of five hours.
* Stark drives to the Walt Disney Concert Hall to attend the third annual benefit for the Fire-Fighters Family Fund.
* Stark arrives at the Concert Hall. Obadiah Stane answers news reporter's questions, stating that weapons manufacturing is just a small part Stark Industries, but is drowned out as people cheer for Stark's arrival. A woman asks if Stark remembers her, which he does not. On his way inside, Stark compliments a man who he believes to be Hugh Hefner. The man turns around, confused.
* Stark approaches Stane, who expresses surprise at Stark's arrival before asking him to take this slow, as the board is right where he wants them.
* Inside, Stark goes to the bar and orders a scotch, but is met by Phil Coulson. Coulson introduces himself, using his agency;s full name, causing Stark to advise him on finding a shorter name. Coulson requests a meeting with Stark, suggesting 7:00 PM on the 24th at Stark Industries Headquarters, Stark, who is focused on Pepper Potts wearing a purple backless dress, agrees, not fully listening to what Coulson had said.
* Stark approaches and compliments Potts, asking where she got the dress from, and she reminds him that it was a birthday present from him. Stark offers her a dance before pulling her into it. As the pair dance, Stark asks if he is making her uncomfortable, to which she comments that she is dancing with her boss in a revealing dress. Stark jokes that he could fire her, and Potts responds that he would not last a week without her. Stark asks if she would like to get some air, which Potts agrees to as Coulson watches.
* Outside, Potts and Stark disagree on whether their dancing was weird. Potts explains that Stark cannot understand why she would worry it is weird, but Stark claims she is exaggerating. Potts and Stark both lean in to kiss each other, but Potts asks for a drink. Stark leaves to get it.
* Stark returns to the bar and orders Potts' drink. Christine Everhart walks over and asks about Stark Industries' involvement in the attacks on Gulmira. Stark points out that he had not approved any weapons shipments. Everhart responds that his company did, so Stark points her, saying that he is not his company.
* Stark confronts Stane, showing him the pictures of Gulmira. Stane tells Stark he is being naive, but Stark says that he now has a line that they cannot cross. Stane insists on posing for a picture, before revealing to Stark that he was the one who filed the injunction against Stark, claiming to be protecting him. Stark watches angrily as Stane leaves.

#### 17th

* Members of the Ten Rings attack and kill refugees living in Gulmira, Afghanistan. Several news agencies report on it.
* Tony Stark works on the Mark III's gauntlet as he watches the news, witnessing the horrors being committed by the Ten Rings, disgusted by the fact that his weapons are responsible for the attack on his friend's hometown.
* Stark stands up as the report continues by interviewing several refugees. Stark uses his repulser to blast at the wall, testing the capabilities. The news reporter says that all the refugees are simply wondering if anyone out there would help them as Stark blasts the glass panels off of his staircase.
* Vowing to help the people of Gulmira, Stark dons the Mark III. Stark stands emotionless as the suit is assembled around him.
* Stark flies to Afghanistan.
* **Battle of Gulmira**:
	+ In Gulmira, a Jericho missile rains down as refugees run for their lives.
	+ Members of the Ten Rings fire at refugees as they run.
	+ Abu Bakaar instructs his men to search every house, taking any women or weapons they find. A man tries to fight against the Ten Rings members, but Bakaar instructs his men to grab him and kill him. His son runs to the man and hugs him, but Bakaar rips the boy away, kicking the man to the ground. The family begs for the men to stop, when suddenly, Stark arrives, wearing the Mark III.
	+ Men fire at Stark, who punches them into the sky. Stark turns and blasts several men, killing them. Stark turns, only to be faced with men holding guns to the heads of women and children. Stark activates his targeted micro missles and takes out each Ten Rings member. The boy runs over to his father and hugs him as he looks to Stark, thankful for his help.
	+ Bakaar hides behind a wall and attempts to call for backup, when Stark punches through the wall, pulling Bakaar through it and throwing him to the ground. Stark activates his thrusters, leaving Bakaar's fate at the mercy of the refugees before flying away.
	+ Stark searches the area before spotting a Jericho nearby. A tank missile is fired at Stark, knocking him out of the sky.
	+ Stark emerges from the crater, unaffected. The tank fires at Stark once again, but Stark dodges it before firing his own missile, destroying the tank. Stark turns around and walks away, only to be faced with a barge of bullets. Stark hovers into the air and fires a laser at the men, destroying them and their weapons. Stark flies away, entering the lower atmosphere.
	+ Raza arrives, finding only the aftermath of Stark's rampage.
	+ At Edwards Air Force Base, radars pick up Stark and struggle to figure out who responded to the situation. The soldiers, unable to identify the aircraft, send two F-22 Raptors to the area. Allen requests Colonel James Rhodes.
	+ Stark continues to speed through the air.
	+ Rhodes arrives and is briefed on the situation. Rhodes calls Stark and asks if Stark knows anything about the weapons depot that was destroyed. Stark lies as Rhodes continues his questions. Allen gets a visual on the aircraft, revealing it to be a man-sized aircraft. Rhodes asks if it belongs to Stark, informing him that it will be blown out of the sky. Stark simply tells him that he has to go.
	+ The F-22 Raptors converge on Stark, who evades to the side. The Raptors begin chasing Stark, reaching supersonic speeds. A Raptor fires a missile, and Stark destroys it with his flares. The raptors fire at Stark until he deploys flaps, slowing his speed as the planes pass him. Stark hangs onto the bottom of one of the Raptors as he calls Rhodes and the pilots claim the bogey is gone.
	+ Rhodes answers the phone, revealing to Rhodes that the aircraft is actually a suit that Stark is wearing. The Raptors begin using evasive maneuvers to disengage Stark, who falls into one of the Raptors wings, sending it crashing down. The pilot ejects, but his parachute does not deploy, so Stark flies over. The second pilot starts to attack, but and activates the parachute and leaves, saving the pilot.
* Rhodes picks up the phone, making sure that Stark is okay before calling him crazy. Rhodes asks what he should tell the press, and Stark replies that he could call it a training exercise.

#### 18th

* James Rhodes gives a press statement about yesterday's incident involving an F-22 Raptor, calling it a training exercise adding that the pilot was uninjured. Obadiah Stane watches the report.
* Tony Stark returns to his mansion and has his mechanical arms begin dismantling the suit. Pepper Potts heads downstairs, finding Stark struggling against the arms. Stark remarks that it is not the worst thing she has caught him doing. Worried, Potts asks if she is seeing bullet holes in his suit.
* Stane arrives at the Ten Rings Base and meets with Raza. Stane comments that Raza would not have the scar on his face had he killed Stark back when they kidnapped him. Stane asks to see the weapon before following Raza inside.
* Inside, Raza shows Stane the reassembled Mark I. Stane looks at it in awe, until Raza mentions that Stark had perfected the design. Raza tells Stane that they have a common enemy in Stark. Raza offers Stane the suit as a gift in exchange his own iron soldiers. Instead, Stane activates his Sonic Taser, incapacitating Raza.
* Stane's men manage to capture Raza's guards and hold them hostage. Stane exits the tent, ordering his men to collect the suit and kill everyone there, including Raza.
* Stane sets up a lab underneath the Arc Reactor at Stark Industries Headquarters, requesting the top scientists to work on his new prototype armor, based on the Mark I's design.

#### 24th

* Pepper Potts enters Tony Stark's garage and finds him working on the Mark III. Stark asks her to go to Stark Industries Headquarters and hack into the main computer system and access the shipping manifests. Potts asks what Stark intends to do with the information, so Stark answers that he intends to find and destroy his weapons. Potts refuses to help him put himself in danger. Stark retorts that there is nothing but his mission, prompting Potts to quit.
* As she walks away, Stark questions Potts, asking her why she stayed with him after years of helping him to reap the benefits of destruction and is choosing to walk away now that he is trying to protect people. Potts tells him that Stark will end up killing himself. Stark sits down, saying that he should have died, believing that this is the reason. Potts walks over and comforts him.
* Potts goes to Stark Industries Headquarters and enters Obadiah Stane's office. Using Stark's USB, she hacks into the computer, uncovering proof of Stane's collaboration with the Ten Rings. Potts begins downloading the files when Stane enters the office. Potts hides the download progress while Stane comments that he believes Stark lost part of himself in that cave. Potts agrees that Stark is complicated before discretely grabbing the USB and leaving. Stane opens his computer to find that his files have been stolen.
* As Potts leaves, she is greeted by Phil Coulson, asking about their appointment. Potts tells him to follow her, asking to meet in Coulson's office.
* Stane rushes into his lab as William Ginter Riva tries to tell him that the technology for miniaturizing the Arc Reactor does not exist. Stane yells at him, saying that Stark was able to build it in a cave with a box of scraps. Riva apologizes for not being Tony Stark.
* Stark answers a call from Potts, but is unable to talk to her as Stane uses his Sonic Taser to immobilize him. Stane reveals that he was the one who ordered the attack on him as he removes Stark's Arc Reactor. Stane asks if Stark truly thinks that an idea he has is his before unplugging the magnet from the reactor. Stane admires the reactor and threatens Potts before leaving.
* Potts calls James Rhodes, filling him in on Stane's betrayal. Rhodes asks where Stark is, so Potts asks him to check his mansion. Potts leads Coulson to Stane's lab.
* Stark, now suffering from cardiac arrest, struggles to reach his garage, trying to reach the present Potts had given him: his original Arc Reactor. Stark crawls along the ground until he reaches the table, Stark falls, unable to reach it. Dum-E grabs it and gives it to Stark, who praises Dum-E.
* Stane looks at the Iron Monger Armor before putting in Stark's Arc Reactor, activating the armor.
* Rhodes reaches Stark's mansion and finds him on the ground in his garage. Rhodes checks on Stark, who asks where Potts is, warning that five agents will not be enough.
* Potts, Coulson and several agents arrive to arrest Stane. Potts leads the men to Section 16, where Coulson uses a Pick-Lock Device to open the door. Stane hears this and dons the armor.
* Stark dons his Mark III Armor as Rhodes watches, amazed. Rhodes asks how he can help, and Stark tells him to keep the skies clear. Rhodes looks at the Mark II, planning to wear it sometime in the future.
* **Duel of Los Angeles**:
	+ Coulson leads his men, as well as Potts, into Stane's lab. They encounter the Mark I, confused by its small size. Potts investigates the chains hanging from the ceiling as Stane emerges from the darkness as the Iron Monger, scaring Potts. Potts runs for her life as Stane attacks the agents, killing them.
	+ Stark arrives in Los Angeles and asks J.A.R.V.I.S. how much power the Mark I's Arc Reactor has, J.A.R.V.I.S. reveals that it was never even designed for sustained flight.
	+ Stark calls Potts, telling her to get out of there, but his warnings are interrupted when Stane emerges from beneath the ground. Stane loads his minigun, preparing to kill Potts, when Stark arrives, flying into him and knocking him onto the nearby highway. Cars swerve to avoid Stane's hulking suit. One family's car stops in front of Stane, who picks up the car to attack Stark with, Stark demands he put the car down, before diverting his power to his unibeam, blasting Stane and catching the car. J.A.R.V.I.S. informs Stark that only 19% power remains, as Stark struggles to set the car down. The family drives forward, running Stark over.
	+ Stane jumps over to Stark and hits him with a motorcycle, knocking Stark into a car. Stane stomps on Stark, yelling that he built Stark Industries from nothing and that Stark will not stand in his way as he throws Stark into a bus. Stane fires a missile at the bus, causing it to explode. Stark catches himself int he air using his hovering ability. Stane compliments the flight capabilities, showing his own. Stark instructs J.A.R.V.I.S. to take him to maximum altitude.
	+ Stark accelerates higher above Los Angeles as Stane follows and Potts watches.
	+ At Edwards Air Force Base, soldiers notice the fight and prepare to send jets, Rhodes dismisses them, telling them that this is simply a training exercise.
	+ Stark reaches maximum altitude as he loses power. Stane claims his suit is more advanced, but Stark asks how Stane solved the problem, confusing him, before his suit freezes over and falls to the ground. J.A.R.V.I.S. reveals that the suit is on 2% power as he brings Stark back to the ground.
	+ Stark lands on the ground, and begins removing his suit as he talks to Potts, but Stane suddenly attacks him. Stark tries to retaliate, but realizes he had taken his gauntlets off. Stane picks Stark up and begins crushing him. Out of desperation, Stark ejects his flares, and the smoke causes Stane to drop him. Stane admits that this was clever as Stark calls Potts, telling her she needs to overload the industrial Arc Reactor.
	+ Potts reaches the industrial Arc Reactor control panel as Stark gives her instructions. Stark is cut off by Stane lunging at him. Stark dodges and jumps onto Stane's back, where he begins tearing out wires, severing Stane's targeting systems. Stane throws Stark onto the window above the Arc Reactor.
	+ Potts flips various switches as she prepares to overload the reactor while Stark fights Stane to buy her time. Potts yells for Stark to get off the roof as she hovers her hand over the button. Stane opens his suit as he comments on his enjoyment of it. Stane fires at Stark, breaking the glass and scaring Potts while Stark hangs on to the roof.
	+ Stane comments on the irony of Stark trying to rid the world of weapons by creating the most powerful one yet. Stark yells for Potts to push the button. Potts tells Stark that he will die, and Stark yells for her to push it anyway, so Potts overloads the reactor, which expels a tremendous amount of energy upward. Stane is killed by the detonation of Howard Stark's industrial Arc Reactor as Stark is knocked to the side before passing out from fatigue. Stane falls to the ground, causing the industrial Arc Reactor to explode.
	+ Stark lies on the ground as his Arc Reactor struggles to reactivate. Potts calls out for Stark.
	+ The conflict is seen by the public, and the press name the mysterious hero "Iron Man."

#### 25th

* A press conference is held, during which James Rhodes reports that the incident the night before was simply a training exercise in which a large robotic suit malfunctioned and caused damage to the Arc Reactor, adding that a member of Tony Stark's security team stopped the robotic suit.
* Stark reads the newspaper, and, believing "Iron Man" to have a nice ring to it, adopts the name. Phil Coulson hands Stark note cards, telling them that it is his alibi, asking that he sticks to it. Stark asks about Stane, and Coulson confirms that the cover story is that Stane was on vacation and that his plane had crashed. Stark expresses his confusion over the alibi, and Coulson assures him to stick to it. Potts thanks Coulson for the help, and begins to say the agency's name, Coulson cuts her off, revealing that they are now simply called S.H.I.E.L.D..
* Potts helps Stark put on his jacket as they joke about the alibi story. Stark asks if Potts thinks about the night that they danced, but Potts points out that after they danced he left her there. Potts smiles as Stark goes to give his statement.
* Rhodes introduces Stark. Stark tries to explain what the alibi story says, but is interrupted by Christine Everhart asking if Stark really expects everyone to believe the story. Stark says that it would be outlandish to believe that he was a superhero, adding that it would not be possible due to his list of flaws. Rhodes tells Stark to stick to the cards, but Stark decides to reveals the truth, that he is Iron Man. The crowd erupts into questions as Everhart sits, stunned.
* Anton Vanko dies in poverty in Moscow, as his son Ivan vows revenge on Tony Stark and builds his own portable Arc Reactor to power a body harness armed with energized electric whips.
* That night, after breaking into his home, Nick Fury approaches Stark and asks him about joining the "Avengers Initiative" in defense of a bigger universe.

### November

#### 4th

* Barack Obama is elected President of the United States of America.

## 2009

### January

#### 20th

* Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.

### March

#### 2nd

* The U.S. military scans northeast Africa for Bruce Banner.

### November

#### 5th

* After eventually heading to South America, Bruce Banner starts to look for vascular plants that could inhibit radiation and therefore, find the key to cure his condition. He has another incident turning into the Hulk, his final incident for 6 months.

#### 6th

* As the United States Army follows the new lead on Bruce Banner, tracing from Africa to South America, Banner travels to Rio de Janeiro.

#### 8th

* Bruce Banner contacts Samuel Sterns for help in developing a cure. They communicate using code-names of "Mr. Blue" and "Mr. Green". Acting on a suggestion from Mr. Blue, Banner researches Amazonia Tracheophytes for a lead on the cure.

#### 10th

* Ivan Vanko finishes work on his own Arc Reactor and powers up electric whips, as part of a revenge plan against Tony Stark for his father's betrayal.

#### 11th

* Banner studies calming techniques at a nearby temple, gets a job at a soda bottling factory, and begins to teach himself Portuguese.

### December

#### 16th

* Iron Man is named Time magazine's Person of the Year 2009, beating out Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

## references

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 The Incredible Hulk
2. ↑ 2.000 2.001 2.002 2.003 2.004 2.005 2.006 2.007 2.008 2.009 2.010 2.011 2.012 2.013 2.014 2.015 2.016 2.017 2.018 2.019 2.020 2.021 2.022 2.023 2.024 2.025 2.026 2.027 2.028 2.029 2.030 2.031 2.032 2.033 2.034 2.035 2.036 2.037 2.038 2.039 2.040 2.041 2.042 2.043 2.044 2.045 2.046 2.047 2.048 2.049 2.050 2.051 2.052 2.053 2.054 2.055 2.056 2.057 2.058 2.059 2.060 2.061 2.062 2.063 2.064 2.065 2.066 2.067 2.068 2.069 2.070 2.071 2.072 2.073 2.074 2.075 2.076 2.077 2.078 2.079 2.080 2.081 2.082 2.083 2.084 2.085 2.086 2.087 2.088 2.089 2.090 2.091 2.092 2.093 2.094 2.095 2.096 2.097 2.098 2.099 2.100 2.101 2.102 2.103 2.104 2.105 2.106 2.107 2.108 2.109 2.110 2.111 2.112 2.113 2.114 2.115 2.116 2.117 2.118 2.119 2.120 2.121 2.122 2.123 2.124 2.125 2.126 2.127 2.128 2.129 2.130 2.131 2.132 2.133 2.134 2.135 2.136 2.137 2.138 2.139 2.140 2.141 2.142 2.143 2.144 2.145 2.146 2.147 2.148 2.149 2.150 2.151 2.152 2.153 2.154 Iron Man
3. ↑ Big Giant Tree 0
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Avengers
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Iron Man 2