These three issues of Iron Man are part of the “Crash & Burn” storyline, in which Tony Stark has to defend himself and Stark Enterprises against allegations of illegal behavior due to Stane International, which Stark absorbed as part of a bad deal with Justin Hammer (in issue #283). Over six issues, Tony faces a number of challengers seeking redress for the activity, starting with Deathlok in issue #301, then Venom, the New Warriors, and Thunderstrike in the issues covered here. But of course, our focus will be on Captain America, who stops by to lend an ear when Tony needs it. No epic Captain America-Iron Man throwdown here, dear readers—just two friends having a chat, which nonetheless gets heavy at times.
At the end of issue #302, Tony’s faithful assistant Mrs. Arbogast alerts him to his next appointment, about which she apparently does not want to give further details.
Or maybe Cap’s overcoat “disguise” finally worked.
Most of the “action” takes place in issue #303 after Tony gets dressed for the Star Wars convention and wonders why Cap didn’t bring his Chewbacca outfit.
Seriously, though, Cap appears here as a friend, knowing all too well what it feels like to have everyone against you—but Tony Stark and Stark Enterprises do not enjoy the benefit of doubt with the public that the Sentinel Liberty does.
Cap draws a parallel between their roles in society and the similar expectations people have of them because of it, and then Tony inadvertently invokes another of their similarities.
But this gives Cap an opportunity to mention his recent health problems, confirmed in Captain America #425, which he takes in stride and with admirable perspective born from his well-known humility. He also has a chance to ask Tony for some advice
This leads Tony and Cap in deeper territory, beginning with an ironic musing about their secret identities, which both later abandon, but is nonetheless a major point of contention during the fight over registration over a decade later. However, here they think of their superhero identities as separating them for their roles so others can take over, which Cap thinks of in terms of continuing the heroic mission, while Tony considers it in more self-interested terms of establishing a personal legacy (while at the same time acknowledging the absurdity of the idea).
The discussion naturally leads to their successors, with Cap regretting the Commission’s choice of John Walker and committing to choosing his own (which he finally does twenty years later). Tony points out that doing so doesn’t guarantee success either, referencing his contentious relationship with Jim Rhodes since he took over as Iron Man for a time, starting in issue #170.
Cap adds “so angry” as the scene shifts to Tony remembering being attacked by the New Warriors (who also played a significant role in the Civil War to come, of course). As it finishes, Tony silently affirms Cap’s comments about the “younger generation”:
When the focus returns to the two Old Warriors, Tony cuts off their conversation but offers to buy Cap dinner, which Cap takes him up on in issue #304. Before we join their meal, though, Tony again recalls his battle with the New Warriors (who were joined by Thunderstrike), inspiring more dour comments about the youths to Captain Sweater—who defends them this time around, reviewing some Avengers history in the process. (They would have similar qualms about the Young Avengers many years later, which they would later regret after this new class also proved themselves worthy.) This leads to the current state of the Avengers, with the main team becoming more extreme and the West Coast team having disbanded on Tony’s orders.
We can assume Tony is referring to Force Works, which will be starting up soon as a successor to the West Coast Avengers.
We end with Tony asking Cap how he keeps his spirits up, and when he quotes Tony’s words back at him, Tony doesn’t like how they sound coming from Cap, which takes the conversation in an unusual direction (and frustratingly ambiguous as far as what exactly they mean by “faith”).
Keep going, guys, please! But alas, this is the end of Dinner with Tony and Steve. All in all, not the cheeriest exchange between Tony and Steve, but at least no repulsors were fired or any shields thrown!
ISSUE DETAILS
Iron Man (vol. 1) #302, March 1994: Len Kaminski (writer), Kevin Hopgood (pencils), Steve Mitchell (inks), Ariane Lenshoek (colors), Phil Felix (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Venom Epic Collection: The Madness.
Iron Man (vol. 1) #303, April 1994: Len Kaminski (writer), Kevin Hopgood (pencils), Steve Mitchell (inks), Ariane Lenshoek (colors), Phil Felix (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Iron Man (vol. 1) #304, May 1994: Len Kaminski (writer), Kevin Hopgood (pencils), Steve Mitchell (inks), Ariane Lenshoek (colors), Phil Felix (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Not yet collected (but all three should eventually appear in Iron Man Epic Collection volume 19).
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Iron Man #292 and Captain America #414-415 (April-May 1993)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #425 (March 1994), Captain America: The Medusa Effect (March 1994), Avengers #372-374, Darkhawk #37, War Machine #1, and Warlock and the Infinity Watch #26 (March-May 1994), Daredevil #326-328 (March-May 1994), Captain America #426-427 (April-May 1994), Punisher War Journal #65-66 (April-May 1994), and The Incredible Hulk #417 (May 1994)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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