Episode #3 - Data In, Choas Out
Original Airdate 24th September 1994

The Mandarin and Justin Hammer have taken control of Stark satellites, using them to inflict a disaster and leading the public to believe that Stark is to blame. Modok also begins a plan to take control of Jim Rhodes mind in hopes of using him to frame Tony.

Credits
Story By: Ron Friedman And Stan Lee Screenplay By: Douglas Booth
Music By: Keith Ammerson
Animation By: Rainbow Animation Group
Guest Starring: Robert Hayes as Iron Man, James Avery as War Machine/Jim Rhodes, Casey Defranco as Julia Carpenter/Spider-Woman, John Reilly as Hawkeye/Clint Barton, James Warwick as Century, Katherine Moffat as Scarlet Witch, Ed Gilbert as The Mandarin, Jim Cummings as Modok, Neil Dickson as Dreadknight, Dorian Harewood as Whirlwind, Chuck McCann as Blizzard, Dorian Harewood as Backlash, and Tony Steedman as Justin Hammer

Review: This episode actually had something of a plot, which was rare in itself, for this season. Once again, it turned out to be The Mandarin, and all of Forceworks is once again shocked to find it was him and Modok behind the devious plot. It’s clear the writers have no clue what to do with any of the characters. Either take them seriously, or completely throw any logic out the window. Mixing them makes for some horrific cartoons (must… resist dig… at… The Batman…)

The conspiracy plot was the most intriguing part of this episode almost by default, because the fight scene was really, really lame. As was War Machine’s and Modok’s mind control subplot. It also made for some horrendous voiceovers, with Jim Cummings inexplicably voicing some of James Avery’s lines. Damn weird…

When a show is 3 episodes in, and they all suffer from the same problems, lack of character development, unoriginal plots and really cheesy dialogue, it’s a wonder anyone returns to watch. From a company that produced shows like Spider-Man and X-Men, you have to wonder just what the hell was happening at Marvel when they green lit this tripe. I suppose there’s always the fact they get the money from the action figures, but you’d think someone would at least attempt to make the show watchable.

This episode also had a huge screw up in it’s own continuity. Already! Mandarin proclaims it’s the first time he’s met Iron Man face to face, and despite the fact he was there when Iron Man first appeared. Stupid screw-ups aside, this had potential to be a pretty good episode, but once again, lousy characterisation, a poor script and a rehash of the same ending we’ve seen since the beginning of the series prevented this from happening.

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