The Beetle was one of many villains who responded to Tony Stark's plea for help, not wanting to have his armor (based on Stark's own armor designs) to fall under the control of A.I.M., as Stark's had done. Though initially distrusting of the plan, he agreed to accept Stark's modifications, reasoning that "a few years in the clink beats certain death." He participated in the assault on Justin Hammer's mansion alongside the other villains, but when he opted to turn on Stark, he was promptly defeated by Wonder Man.