Warning! Spoilers for Avengers Annual #1 by Marvel Comics
In the quest to stop the Infinity Stones from falling into the wrong hands, Iron Man just rediscovered they are their own greatest enemies. In Avengers Annual #1 by Marvel Comics, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark try to track down the Soul Stone, but after learning it bonded with a synthetic person, they are forced to fight projections of themselves. The battle reveals Iron Man and Captain America are most vulnerable against each other.
Captain America and Iron Man usually fight together as of the Avengers, as both heroes typically take a leadership role among the superteam. However, following the events of Marvel's Civil War, Steve and Tony fought against each other over disagreements about the Superhero Registration Act. The pair engaged in some epic battles over the conflict, coming to frequent blows. The event ended with Captain America being assassinated after he turned himself in. Now, Marvel Comics is revisiting the pair's tense past.
In Avengers Annual #1 by Jed MacKay, Travel Foreman, Jim Campbell, and VC's Cory Petit, Iron Man and Captain America discuss the current Infinity Stones bonding with people. create projections and fight Captain America and Iron Man. After seeing projections of Wolverine, Juggernaut, and other heroes and villains get defeated, Multitude summons constructs of Cap and Iron Man.
The projections prove to be the perfect counter to Captain America and Iron Man. Multitude even notes, "no one can take them -- except one another," as their friendship makes them vulnerable. After the projections put up quite a fight against Steve and Tony, Multitude leaves them after discovering his purpose to find synthesis next to other Infinity Stone-wielders.
Captain America and Iron Man might have only fought projections of themselves, but Multitude showed that two of Marvel's greatest heroes are weak against each other. He used their past to fend them off and escape. Now, Iron Man and Captain America will need to work together to ensure the three remaining Infinity Stones don't fall into the wrong hands. Otherwise, fighting projections of themselves will be a minor problem to what comes next. Avengers Annual #1, part of Marvel's Infinite Destinies crossover event, is in comic book stores now.
