The following spring, the Iron Man is still trapped, and a hill has grown over him, along with grass and plenty of sightseers. One afternoon, a family comes to picnic on the top of the hill. Without warning, the ground below them begins to shake, and the father dismisses it as a distant earthquake. Moments later, the ground below them splits in two, and the Iron Man’s hand emerges from within it. The family rushes to their car and speeds away without stopping or looking back. The Iron Man climbs out of the hole with the picnic blanket on his head and goes in search of fencing and other pieces of metal to consume.

The farmers discover that the Iron Man is back and find him resting among some trees. Upon seeing his rusty body, they decide that he is definitely some sort of monster. Not knowing what else to do, the farmers decide they must call in the army’s help, but Hogarth has an alternative plan. He talks to the Iron Man directly, promising not to deceive or harm him and assuring him all the metal he could want, including rare varieties. The Iron Man stands up and follows the vehicles to the nearby junkyard, and Hogarth explains that he can stay there and eat all the metal he wants.