the American criminal the Sandman, who had just been beaten by the Hulk earlier. The Hulk destroys the Mandarin's desert base and the Mandarin sends the Sandman into a hot vat, turning him to glass. The glass later shatters, and the Sandman has to recover slowly in the Mandarin's satellite den. When the Mandarin next attacks Iron Man, he employs an android in the Hulk's likeness rather than the real Hulk. The Mandarin sets up a makeshift base of operations in the United States, and attempts to discredit Tony Stark publicly. Holding Iron Man captive for the fourth time, the Mandarin tries to learn if Iron Man is actually Stark, but Stark fools him with a rubber mask over his own features. His plans thwarted, the Mandarin tries to kill Stark's then-girlfriend, Janice Cord, but the Mandarin's betrothed Mei Ling saves her at the cost of her own life. The Mandarin's Avengers The Mandarin's Avengers (or the Avatars of the Mandarin) is a fictional group of villains appearing in Marvel Comics. The characters work for their leader, the Mandarin, and are most famous for their role in the Iron Man and War Machine comic book series. This group was first glimpsed in Iron Man #309 (Oct. 1994) and was seen in full in Force Works #6 (Dec. 1994). The characters were created by Len Kaminski (writer), Tom Morgan (artist), and Nel Yomtov (editor). Avatar characters and abilities Ancestor – Draws on his ancestor's strength to increase his size and powers. Deluge – Has a liquid body form and control over water. Foundry – Fire shoots from his eyes and he can morph his hands into weapons. Lich – A skeletal monster who uses his claws and strength. Old Woman – Controls the elements through her staff. Q'Wake – Superhuman strength and shock power. Sickle – Representation of China, he possesses strength and a scythe. Turmoil – The servant to the Mandarin that is an incarnation of the storm. Warfist – Superhuman strength and martial arts skill, along with a spiked club for a weapon. New bodies Returning to China, the Mandarin seeks a means to increase his rings' power, and learns of the legendary Eye of Yin, a talisman of power created by an ancient group of Chinese sorcerers. The Mandarin manipulates the Royal Family of the Inhumans who, at the time, live in the nearby Himalayan Mountains of Tibet,