Machine Man #3 (1984)

Hassle has escaped from imprisonment by Baintronics and is fleeing from a Killer-Bot in a Floater but suspects that her escape might have been much simpler than it should have been and that she is likely being tracked. She manages to evade the pursuing Killer-Bot while Doctor Cyclobe watches on a screen at Stark Enterprises Headquarters. He suggests to Sunset Bain, Arno Stark, and Miles Brickman that she is being tracked and will lead them to the other Midnight Wreckers and Machine Man. Arno Stark mentions his intention to rid the world of the Wreckers and Machine Man once Hassle rejoins with them at Sanctuary. Meanwhile, the Midnight Wreckers and Machine Man have been captured and are being transported to Sanctuary, a futuristic floating city. They are escorted to their quarters upon arrival and await a meeting with the Ancient Wrecker. Machine Man, still under the influence of the disruptor device continues to rattle off advertising catch-phrases until the other Wreckers decide to remove the device. Machine Man becomes irate at being treated as less than human when he regains awareness but they apologize and insist he has become someone they can trust and a member of their pack. Suddenly, Gears Garvin, an old acquaintance of Machine Man arrives referring to himself as the Ancient Wrecker and seeking to reconnect with his old friend. Back at Stark Enterprises, Miles Brickman continues to be inconsolable at the realization of Machine Man's reemergence and fears the repercussions it entails. Sunset Bain decries his fears as baseless while Jocasta arrives to inform them that Arno Stark plans to launch his attack on Sanctuary imminently. The Midnight Wreckers are meanwhile attending a social gathering on Sanctuary while Machine Man gets a recap of the events that led Garvin to his current status including the disappearance of Machine Man and Jocasta and the death of Peter Spaulding on one fateful evening. Hassle suddenly arrives to Sanctuary much to the delight of Brain and he intends to inform her of his feelings for her when an alert begins to sound indicating the attack by Iron Man and his Iron-Bots. The Wreckers grab some idle Sky-Cykes to engage the bots in battle and Machine Man flies out to do his part but is recognized and attacked by Iron Man. They become locked in a combat of competing technology and Machine Man is ultimately able to overwhelm Iron Man. Machine Man leaves the scene of the battle to help Brain stabilize the damaged mechanisms that keep Sanctuary afloat. He used couplings built into his fingers to help despite the energy overload it triggers and is able to save the city. Afterwards, Machine Man suggests that the only way to deal with the ongoing conflict is to take the fight to Sunset Bain herself.