Issue(s): War Machine #8
Cover Date: Nov 94
Title: "Friendly fire!"
Credits:
Scott Benson & Len Kaminski - Writer
Gabriel Hardman - Penciler
Pam Eklund - Inker
Mike Marts - Assistant Editor
Nel Yomtov - Editor

Review/plot:
(Since this is currently my only issue of War Machine, a quick note: Gabriel Hardman is credited for this series under the pseudonym of Gabriel Gecko.)

A lot of this issue is flashback, reviewing the contentious relationship between James Rhodes and Tony Stark. It's well documented, with footnotes and full sequenced flashbacks (i.e. not just a vague splash page). The review of the history, though, makes a point opposite of the intended one, at least from my perspective. The idea is that Rhodey is sick of being Stark's sidekick, but it's clear from the provided scenes that Rhodey has always been anything but. He's never been Stark's lap dog - they fight constantly about methods and just about everything else. Maybe it's splitting hairs, but i'd say the real issue is that Rhodey doesn't want to live under Stark's shadow. In other words, no matter how obviously different he is than Iron Man, people are always going to think of him as a second-rate Iron Man. But the truth is that that's not something that Rhodey (or Marvel) can escape from as long as he's wearing a suit of armor built by and looking like Iron Man.

After the flashbacks, War Machine puts on his armor and heads to Stark Enterprises to confront Stark. Bethany Cabe, head of security at SE, tells War Machine to keep it civil, but she's prepared for it not to be. When Rhodey meets with Stark, Stark isn't looking good, and he tells Rhodey that he wants the War Machine armor back, saying that it's because Rhodey has demonstrated no regard for international law or the sanctity of human life after events in this series. Rhodey refuses to return the armor, so here comes the fight.

The Mandarin watches the fight through his magic orb.

Whatever other changes the Mandarin has gone through, he hasn't lost his penchant for self-narration.

While this is happening, War Machine's supporting cast - the employees of Worldwatch - fret about it and wonder about War Machine's relationship with James Rhodes.

There are only a few pages devoted to the fight due to the copious flashbacks, and the story will continue in Iron Man #310.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: A scene of Rhodey putting on his armor to go confront Stark takes place concurrently with a similar scene in Iron Man #309. Continues directly in Iron Man #310. Note that this is not technically part of the Hands of the Mandarin crossover, although it's a prelude that leads into it directly.

References:

• One time Stark and Rhodey fought was in Iron Man #192.
  
• We saw how they met in Iron Man #144.
  
• Rhodey became a replacement Iron Man in Iron Man #170.
  
• As Iron Man, Rhodey beat the Mandarin in Iron Man #179-180.
  
• Rhodey walked away from Stark after learning that he faked his death in Iron Man #291.
  
• War Machine helped Worldwatch get evidence of the Cortena Mass Burial in War Machine #6. Rebecca Bergier gets a call from reporter Trace Miller regarding the offer/threat to cover Worldwatch that he originally made in War Machine #5.
  
• Iron Man was seen drunk (thanks to VOR/TEX) in Iron Man #309.
  
• Mandarin lost his hands in Iron Man #275.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Hands of the Mandarin TPB

i´ve always found the codename "War Machine" pretty akward. Stark supposedly stopped manufacturing weapons years ago. but then he builds an armor for Rhodey and choose a name whose implications are clear and unfortunate.

Confronting his past selves hasn't gotten the Mandarin to adopt a beter sense of style I see.

I actually liked Mandarin's armor from Acts Of Vengeance.