Super Blog Team-Up: Things Are a Little Different Around Here...

Doug: Welcome to the 5th quarterly edition of the Super Blog Team-Up, a massive collaboration across the blogosphere and podcastosphere (say what?). We're glad you've dropped in, and if you're visiting from another site and are making your inaugural journey to the Bronze Age Babies then we say "Welcome!" Don't be a stranger -- come back often and get in on the conversations. Most importantly, leave us a comment!

Doug: This time around, the topics du jour are multiverses and alternate realities. As you may or may not know, this blog is pushing six years of publishing history, so we've dealt with these sorts of things on many occasions. As you may also know (a quick peek at our masthead should have been the first clue), we're taking our annual vacation from new material and are instead featuring some classic posts from our backlog. Wanting to stay true to ourselves, then, we're going to direct our readers to a "greatest hits" series of comic book reviews that should satisfy anyone's multiversal appetite. NOTE: Feel free to leave comments either on this post or on all of the posts linked below. We have a "recent comments" widget on our sidebar that will direct visitors to today's action. NOTE #2: We've only linked you to the first issue in each storyline. You should be able to navigate through the remainder of the series by using the "You might also like" feature at the end of each post.

Avengers vs. the Squadron Supreme for the Serpent Crown (Avengers 141-144, 147-149)

Memorable scene - Wanda being possessed by the Serpent Crown and flat-out talking nasty to the Vision. Vizh took out his frustrations by phasing through Hyperion's chest.

Key comment - Karen: Beast served as a mouthpiece for Englehart to make some social commentary. It would probably be considered heavy-handed now but considering where the national psyche was at in 1976, I think it fit in perfectly. "We commit the most outrageous acts...and you go right along, pretending not to notice!" Actually, much of that speech still resonates today.

The Fantastic Four Deal With Thing 1 and Thing 2... and Arkon! (Fantastic Four 160-163)

Memorable scene - Alicia relates her story and asks how it is that Ben is now with her -- he assures her that he'd been in the Great Refuge with the rest of the team. Alicia is very upset, and produces a scrap of the other Thing's shirt as evidence of what she'd gone through. Ben gets an idea, and calls up Crystal on the omni-viewer. Of course Quicksilver is right by her side, and abrasive as ever. Ben brushes him off and asks Crystal for Lockjaw's services. No sooner is the connection cut than the big pooch appears. Dimension-hopping time, friends!

Key comment - Karen: This illustrates again why I have never liked Reed Richards. Besides lobotomizing his son and treating his wife like crap, he rules the FF with an iron fist! "I own 51% and controlling interest -so what I say goes" -that's just typical of Mr. Big Brain. Oh sure, it may turn out he has something up his sleeve, but he's gonna put everyone through hell before he's done.

Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man

Memorable scene - Looking through the book with a discerning eye, trying to find all of the "corrections" done to Ross Andru's art.

Key comment - Doug: I guess, looking back on what must have gone on in those smoke-filled rooms at the meetings between Stan and Carmine (and all of their other assistants), Gerry Conway did a good job with what he had. I mean, there aren't any risks at all taken here -- everyone's in their firmly entrenched characterization, neither company's character really gets the upper hand over the other's (although I'd certainly argue that Ock got the short end of the stick in the bad guy dept. -- he comes off looking pretty inept), and even the supporting casts are pretty vanilla. But I keep coming back to -- what would I have expected?

The Last Superboy Story - The Greatest Hero of Them All (Legion 37-38, Superman 8, Action Comics 591)

Memorable scene - The Legion is invited to the Kents for dinner while they wait for Clark to return home. Ma stuffs them with a big country spread, and suddenly Clark walks in. The team is really excited to see him, as again -- they'd thought he never existed (in spite of their own memories). But Clark's reserved, and quickly invites the Legionnaires to the basement to talk while Ma cleans up the kitchen. Clark distracts them by directing their attention to a shelving unit with statuettes of the Legion members. But while their backs are turned, Clark pulls out a device that looks like the Phantom Zone projector; instead, it's a Time-Stasis ray and freezes the teen heroes in their tracks.

Key comment - Doug: For my money, this was all very poorly imagined, executed, and bordering on plain ol' stupid. As Superboy had never existed on Earth-2, and as the Legion was going to be kept around (although from the post-Crisis onward, endlessly rebooted), I failed then and do now to see the necessity of this "housecleaning". While DC through the years has had many corners of their universe supported by rabid fan support, the Legion seemed to hold an almost cult-like loyalty among its adherents. This seems to have been a kick in the teeth and a "We don't care" from editorial toward longtime Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes fans.

Deathlok the Demolisher (Astonishing Tales 25-28, 30-32)

Memorable scene -The Deathlok series (which ran from Astonishing Tales 25 to 36) was set in a dystopian future, ruled by corrupt military and corporate leaders. Colonel Luther Manning is killed in combat but brought back to life as a hideous cyborg (for some reason, his face always takes me back to that grade Z 50s horror flick, I Was A Teen-Age Frankenstein!) to do the dirty work of Major Simon Riker. Riker had Manning rebuilt with steel-re-inforced limbs and a computer brain. In fact, he had surgeons keep only a small portion of Manning's brain, supposedly the part that made him a brilliant tactician. However, Manning retains his personality and is able to assert dominance over the computer mind, and break free of Riker's control. In this issue, we see him working as a freelance mercenary, cutting down two men in cold-blood. The story of how he became such a ruthless killing machine is told in flashback. Deathlok was one of the first of that wave of anti-hero characters (including the Punisher, who also debuted in 1974) who would change the face of comics forever.

Key comment -This issue gives us the origin, but there would be so much more to follow. It just scratches the surface. Especially compelling was Manning's struggle to find his wife and kid - although with predictable results. The concept may not seem so novel now, but back in 1974, believe me, it was. Sure, we had The Six Million Dollar Man on TV, but Steve Austin was a pretty normal looking guy, leading an appealing life. Not so for Deathlok. I think Robocop probably owes its existence to Deathlok, and it surely has been an influence on other works.

The Spider-Man Newspaper Strip

Memorable scene -  JJJ and his paper have paid the way for Dr. Doom to address the United Nations at a world conference on terrorism.  Yep -- invite a totalitarian dictator and renowned terrorist himself to discuss how to bring that phenomenon to a close.

Key comment - Fred W. Hill: The Spidey strip was in the local paper my dad subscribed to, so I got to read the first few years worth of stories. Certainly fun but eventually I got bored with it, even when I was still gung ho on the montly comics. Spider-Man is much better suited for comic books than strips, IMO. Stan, however,is very wise in keeping the strip separate from what's going on in the comics -- I have a hunch that having Aunt May on the verge of death and Pete making a deal with the devil to save her at the cost of having his marriage to Mary Jane cease to have ever existed would strike most of that dying breed of regular newspaper readers as spectacularly stupid storytelling. The sort of idiocy Stan strove to avoid when he was mostly in charge of Marvel during the Silver Age.

The Brave & the Bold, and Super Sons Stories of Bob Haney (Earth-H?)

Memorable scene - And then... things turn zanier yet.  The Flash, realizing that the power of light and radiation caused a chink in Bork's armor, grabs the totem once again and begins towing it -- right into the sun!  No transuit, no protective aura, nothing.  Just running.  Into the sun.

Key comment - Inkstained Wretch: That Bob Haney plot ... wow... just, umm, wow ... running to and from the sun? ... I am speechless...

Jack Kirby's Last Boy on Earth - Kamandi (Kamandi Archives, volumes 1 & 2)

Memorable scene - Kamandi himself is a cipher. He leaves his underground bunker (Command D -get it?) where he lived with his grandfather, to explore the world above, a world he had only known through stories and microfilm records. When he returns to his home he finds his grandfather killed by invading wolf-men. He decides to continue his explorations, but there never seems to be any rhyme or reason to his travels. He never expresses a personality beyond being something of a hot-head. There's no emotional life to the character. I'm not saying every comic character has to be a Peter Parker and cry in his beer every issue, but there has to be some sort of inner life, something going on that drives the protagonist and makes the reader take an interest in them. There's just nothing there with Kamandi. He's a blank slate. He seems to exist only as a vehicle to move from one place to another, from one idea to the next, so that different concepts can get shown off. He has no stake in anything.

Key comment - Despite all of this, I do find Kamandi oddly compelling. I'm even considering buying the second Archives edition. Part of it is just this desire to see if anything really evolves out of  this beginning. There's so much potential for story-telling. But without a central character to care about, it's just so much fluff. Kamandi (the book) is like a fast food snack when it could be a great four-course meal. It's kind of fun but ultimately it doesn't satisfy. I'm hoping that later in the series it turns around and gains some substance.

Only Time Will Tell -- X-Men: Days of Future Past (X-Men 141-142)

Memorable scene - ...and as Wolverine sought to intervene, new team leader Storm swept him from the fray. Mad, claws drawn -- not gonna fight that way, said Ororo.

Key comment - Karen: It's interesting in this future sequence that Rachel says she's not certain that what Kate does in the past will definitely change their own time stream -it might just create a different timeline. Isn't this always the problem with time travel stories? Can you really change things?















Doug: Thanks again for coming by today. If you left a specific comment on one of our classic posts, we're grateful. But if you'd care to leave some general thoughts here on multiverses and alternate realities, we'd love to hear that as well. Come back soon, and be sure to patronize the other great blogs and podcasts in today's SBTU.

Amazing Spider-Talk/Chasing Amazing/Superior Spider-Talk: Spider-Man Reign

Chasing Amazing - The Case Against Spider-Man Reign

Superior Spider-Talk - The Case For Spider-Man Reign

Between The Pages: A Tale Of Two Cities On The Edge Of Forever

Firestorm Fan:Firestorm on Infinite Earths -- Countdown Arena

Flodo's Page: The Ballad of Two Green Lanterns

The Idol-Head of Diabolu Podcast: Martian Manhunter Multiversity

In My Not So Humble Opinion: The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong

The Legion of Super-Bloggers: Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes

Longbox Graveyard: X-Men #141 & 142: Days of Future Past

The Marvel Super Heroes Podcast (i.e. part of Rolled Spine Podcast): Epic Comics’ Doctor Zero

Mystery Vlog: Marvel & DC's Secret Crossover: Avengers #85–86 (1st Squadron Supreme)

Superhero Satellite: Marvel Comics' Star Comics Line: “Licensed Reality and Parallel Properties”

Ultraverse Network:Altered Reality: The Ultraverse Before and After Black September

The Unspoken Decade (2 posts):The Ghost in the Machine: Robocop versus Terminator

...and: 5 Batmen, 1 Superman, ZERO HOUR

The Mighty Marvel Try-Out Book: Avengers 71

Avengers #71 (December 1969)
"Endgame!"
Roy Thomas-Sal Buscema/Sam Grainger

Doug:  Karen and I thought it would be fun to do another series of "Marvel Firsts", although this one's sort of a do-it-ourselves.  Of the books we're going to review during the rest of September, only Marvel Spotlight #5 is actually contained in the Marvel Firsts: the 1970's series of trade paperbacks (again -- get these if you haven't already!).  It's interesting because we are certainly featuring characters (and one team - today) that were big in the '70's; however, three of our heroes perhaps enjoyed their greatest popularity in the 1990's.  So, let's get on with it and check out Roy Thomas' first dabbling with... the Invaders!

Karen: Much like how Roy would do a "preview" of the Defenders with his "Titans Three" issues of Sub-Mariner, where he teamed Namor with the Hulk and the Silver Surfer, this issue shows how long the idea for the Invaders must have been bumping around in his fair-haired noggin. Thank goodness it finally came to be in 1975.

Doug:  We open in Garrett Castle, where Dane Whitman (better known to us as the Black Knight) descends a set of stone steps to the Brazier of Truth.  He has a torch in hand, and needs to light it so that he can get the answers to pressing questions.  Sir Percy of Scandia, the original Black Knight, is summoned in a sort of weird seance.  Sir Percy bids Dane listen, and shows him what has gone before.  The Grandmaster and Kang the Conqueror have engaged in a contest of champions for the fate of the Earth.  Kang chose as his warriors his enemies, the Avengers.  To combat Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Grandmaster created a team known as the Squadron Sinister.  Hyperion, Nighthawk, Dr. Spectrum, and the Whizzer battled the Avengers across the globe.  But the Black Knight interrupted the battle between Goliath (nee Hawkeye) and the Whizzer in the streets of London.  This wild card, in the eyes of the Grandmaster, negated the game and so another scenario for sport was crafted.  But Kang's heart was not in the battle, only in the outcome.  For what he really hoped to gain was a way to restore full life to the comatose Ravonna, his true love.  Now that the Knight knew these details, he felt better equipped to further assist his heroic allies.

Karen: It's funny, I tend to think of the Knight as being a very basic hero with minimal abilities, but he's got this whole magical background, what with communing with the spirit of his ancestor. This was drawn well, just as you'd expect. Kang's pining for Ravonna also reminds me, in a different away, of Dr. Doom's softer side, where he was always trying to save the soul of his dead mother. Just another effort by Lee, Thomas, etc. to add depth to their villains I suppose.

Doug:  Cut to the 41st Century,where Kang and the Grandmaster await the beginning of their "endgame".  Kang monitors his latest team of champions, consisting of the Vision, Yellowjacket, and the Black Panther.  These Avengers have been dropped through the timestream and have landed in 1941 Nazi-occupied Paris.  They approach German guards and despatch them handily.  However, the tension mounts and then explodes as fireballs scatter the Avengers.  Emerging through a hole in time and space step Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, and the Original Human Torch!  And what's worse -- they think they're fighting emissaries of the Nazis!  So it's game on in war torn France, as "Okay, Axis -- Here We Come!" meets "Avengers Assemble!"

 

Karen: I love that bottom panel with the two trios squaring off. I'm sure they chose to use Cap's triangular shield to differentiate him from the modern day Cap, but I think he only used that in his first issue. That's probably been retconned a dozen times over by now. In any case, it works. Subby also has slightly different trunks than we're used to- they're not scaled, and they're darker, with green highlights.

Doug:  Back in Garrett Castle, the Black Knight knows he cannot go into the past to assist his friends in Paris -- no, instead he must find a way to go into the future.  Dane Whitman is one with his ebony blade -- yet it was in the hands of the Avenger Goliath when the Grandmaster transported the Avengers to the 41st Century.  With the help of Sir Percy, the Knight concentrates and through just a little medieval magic emerges two millennia (and then some!) into the future.  As fate would have it, Whitman arrives in the very chamber the Avengers are being held in some sort of mental stasis -- and his blade is on the floor right in front of the unconscious Goliath!  Suddenly Kang's guards burst in, but  the Black Knight makes short work of them.  Now in possession of the ebony blade, and hearing a damsel in distress, the Black Knight cleaves a wall of the chamber to reveal Janet van Dyne Pym -- the Winsome Wasp!

Karen: This reminds me of the much-more drawn out sequence during Under Siege when Dane was captured and couldn't summon the sword to him. I hadn't realized before reading these two books that he could utilize the sword this way, as a sort of transportation method. It's interesting that he goes crashing through a wall to find Jan, as he'd develop an attraction to her later on. But what's up with that ugly checkered outfit she has on? That has to be one of the least appealing suits we've seen her in.

Doug:  To Paris we're returned, and match-ups have been drawn:  Cap squares off against the Panther, which is cool since T'Challa had replaced Cap on the Avengers' active roster just about 20 issues prior.  YJ and Subby duke it out, and in the best match-up -- physically and certainly symbolically -- the Vision tangles with the Torch.  The Avengers are reluctant to go all out, which is interesting as I think I'd put my money on the WWII heroes in the battle.  But as you might guess, the lesser-powered Avengers use guile and surprise to gain the upper hand, never harming their 1940's counterparts.  Hank and T'Challa finally decide that in order to win and solve the Kang problem, they have to truly defeat Cap and company.  They concoct a plan that the "Invaders" never see coming -- the intangible Vision flies low and then accelerates through the WWII boys, partially solidifying as he does.  We all know what that does...

Karen: The displays of fighting skills and agility between Cap and the Panther are exciting. There's nothing like watching two combatants whose main gifts are their athleticism. YJ and Namor seems like a terrible mismatch, as Subby has it all over YJ in raw power (watch him punch through a brick wall!) but YJ has some tricks up his sleeve -namely insects, and lots of them.The critters annoy Subby so much he flies off to find the nearest body of water, buying YJ a brief respite. The Vision and Torch match-up makes my head spin - are they different beings who've shared the same body? Is this the future 'Torch' returned to face himself, or is it more like his ancestor? It also seems appropriate that T'Challa is the one who takes the initiative and comes up with the plan to win. Why in the world didn't we see him leading the Avengers at some point?

 

Doug:  Meanwhile, in the future Kang immediately claims victory, but the Grandmaster says "not so fast"--  the first match involving the Squadron Sinister had ended in a stalemate due to the interference of the Black Knight.  So Kang cannot claim a full victory -- the Grandmaster instead makes him this offer:  Kang can be the master of life or death.  Pick one -- save the life of his beloved Ravonna, or kill the Avengers.  And wouldn't you know that at that very instant the Avengers enter... and they aren't happy.  But Captain America makes Kang a startling offer -- send the Avengers back to their own time and all will be forgiven.  Yeah, right -- that's not exactly how guys like Kang operate.  He thinks momentarily about Ravonna, and then like any egomaniac, assumes that he will himself eventually find a way to save her.  So it is the power of death that he chooses!

Karen: Kang was so close to choosing life for Ravonna -but his utter hatred of the Avengers wouldn't let him do it.  And you're right about the egotism -again, all very Doom-like. 

Doug:  We've said it 1000 times before around here -- if you're a super-baddie, and you're going to off your main enemy, JUST DO IT!!  What's all the cat-and-mouse business?  You guessed it -- Kang toys with Cap and the Panther, and even Thor.  Then he puts a hurtin' on the whole team, dropping them where they stand -- on the very edge of death!  But what he didn't count on was that the Black Knight... isn't an Avenger!  Kang's beside himself, and the Knight takes advantage of his confusion.  One home run swing of the flat side (natch) of the ebony blade, and Kang's down.  The Knight asks how he was able to do it so easily, and the Grandmaster explains that Kang had mastery only over the Avengers -- so the Knight was not under that "plan".  As Kang lay there moaning and groaning, the Grandmaster just decides to leave, sending the Avengers back to 1969 as he goes.

Karen: I know, realistically it makes no sense, other than the idea that they want their enemies to suffer so they can gloat. When you're dealing with enormous egos like this, and not common thugs, perhaps it can be forgiven. Besides, it's more exciting than a bullet to the brain. I liked how Panther and Cap charged in, and Thor protested that he should be in the vanguard! These Avengers were not short on bravery. The whole 'flat-of-my-blade' thing is tiresome but it's the problem you accept when you decide to use a sword-wielding hero in a modern super-hero setting. Unless you're fighting monsters or other non-human creatures you're stuck with non-lethal solutions, and it's somehow just less satisfactory. Although I can't complain about the Knight's look -always thought he was a groovy-looking guy. 

Doug:  Conan never needed no stinkin' flat of his blade.  Anyway, back in our "present", the team shares relief that their ordeal is over.  They also heap gratitude on their longtime ally, the Black Knight.  T'Challa suggests it first, and Thor runs with it -- the Black Knight is offered, and accepts, membership in the Avengers!  And then we get one of the iconic images of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, as Sal Buscema and Sam Grainger treat us to a pretty nifty pin-up to close the issue.

Karen: It's a happy ending, with a gorgeous pin-up. Those were the days, huh? Besides the heroes pictured (nine altogether), we still had Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch floating in and out of the roster. Basically eleven Avengers, not counting Hulk, who I wouldn't at this point, nor Swordsman (although both would show up for Avengers #100), nor Wonder Man, who was still considered to be dead. I really like the idea of the Avengers being the elite super-hero group, with a limited roster. I wouldn't have minded seeing it stay within about 20 heroes total. Today more characters are Avengers than aren't. We've got Secret Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, Double-Secret Probation Avengers.... it just goes on and on until there's nothing special about being an Avenger. Give me one team, and one team only. Like this one.

Doug:  I loved this story!  I generally like Avengers tales where Kang the Conqueror is involved, and this one really didn't disappoint.  A huge kudo to Roy Thomas for his scripting of the battle between "the Invaders" and the team that was sent to 1941 Paris.  It's been well-documented that the Golden Age comic books were heavily influential on a young Thomas, and he really shows his love by virtually reproducing the sort of dialogue we'd have seen way back when.  I also want to dote on the art -- those of us who loved Sal Buscema's tenure on Captain America, that would come a few years hence, get a nice taste of what that would look like.  Karen and I were privileged to receive a comment from Sam Grainger's daughter on the BAB last week, and I'll toss additional kudos his way for the inking of Sal in this story -- top-notch stuff.  This is just a really solid issue from that peak on which you look down one side at the Silver Age, and the other toward the Bronze Age.  Oh yeah -- and Spider-Man and Wolverine aren't ever going to be Avengers in my Marvel Universe!

Melt With You: Defenders 14

Defenders #14 (July 1974)
"And Who Shall Inherit the Earth?"
Writer: Len Wein
Artists: Sal Buscema/Dan Green

Doug: Welcome back to the conclusion of our Defenders/Squadron Sinister 2-parter. You can refresh your memory of Defenders #13 by clicking here. When we left our heroes, the non-team had been encased in a transparent globe. The alien Nebulon had come to the rescue of his allies, the Squadron Sinister, who had been dispatched by the Defenders. We pick it up here.

Doug: Nebulon wants to off the good guys, but strangely Hyperion talks him out of it. Doc Spectrum and the Whizzer think he's crazy, but Hyperion insists that the Defenders must live long enough to know why they are going to be killed. We then get a look into the muscled one's backstory. He was from a subatomic world which was destroyed. Sent adrift across the cosmos, he was captured and enlarged by the Grandmaster to be a pawn against the Avengers. Fighting the mighty Thor, Hyperion was defeated when Thor used Mjolnir to imprison the Grandmaster's champion. However, the process reverted the growth process and Hyperion was shrunk back down. Again adrift in space, he floated along until encountering the ship of Nebulon. Nebulon sent a "grapple-beam" to haul in the globe imprisoning Hyperion. Once inside Nebulon destroyed the globe, and Hyperion reverted once again to his full human size. They then had a conversation.

Karen: Boy, Hyperion is a real cold-blooded killer, isn't he? Not only does he want all of Earth to die, he wants to make the Defenders suffer by seeing it all happen! I also like the backstory and the fact that once again, Thor's hammer can do just about anything. Shrink a guy and encase him in a snow globe? No problem!

Doug: Yeah, Hyperion's a real doozy; that is, until you get to the Whizzer. Nebulon described himself as an intergalactic prospector, searching for materials that would ensure his world's continued existence. Having thus far failed in comparison to his co-workers, he was interested when Hyperion offered to sell him a world that would suit his needs -- Earth. The Defenders protest loudly, as does Nighthawk; Hyperion scoffs and explains that he does not care. Nebulon, he argues, is powerful enough to transport the Squadron to other-dimensional worlds untold. And here is where I somewhat cryptically questioned Nebulon's goals in last week's post. Now that we know he needs certain mineral resources to export to his own planet, it seems strange that flooding the Earth would be the solution to that issue. It just seemed like a lot of work, and I additionally wondered why Nighthawk was needed to create the big laser-deal. If Nebulon can create these impenetrable globes, transport people across dimensions, and travel inter-stellarly, then what the heck did the Squadron "need" Nighthawk for? Because it sets up his redemption and transformation, I suppose...

Karen: Realistically, once Hyperion showed Nebulon the location of Earth, I wouldn't think the alien would need any of the Squadron. He could have cast Hyperion back in his globe and just destroyed the icecaps himself. But yes, then we wouldn't wind up with Nighthawk's change of heart.

Doug: As Nighthawk pops off to Hyperion, Nebulon takes matters into his own hands and transfers Nighthawk to the Defenders' spherical prison. The Whizzer, who comes across as a total wingnut, moves forward and demands the heroes' blood. He's rebuffed again by Hyperion and when he says that one more word, he gets "Buscema-blasted". Nebulon then sends the prison sphere into the atmosphere at Hyperion's request for suffering. Once aloft and rising, the Defenders struggle to break out. Spells, punches, Dragonfang strikes -- none of it works. It's Nighthawk who suggests that all power be concentrated in one spot, and lo and behold -- it works! But, once free our heroes notice that it's a long way down! Dr. Strange envelopes everyone in an aura of his making that preserves their oxygen supply (is there nothing the good Doc cannot do?), and the team gets back on terra firma.

Karen: "Buscema-blasted" - nice! The Whizzer is definitely a loon, and Hyperion's back-hand is properly dismissive. The whole "let's hit it together" idea was one you used to see a lot of in comics, but perhaps not so much any more. I noticed that Sal's outer space backgrounds look like his big brother's, with all the little crescent moons floating around. It doesn't make much sense but I always bought it!

Doug: Once down, the primary goal is the destruction of the laser cannon. The Defenders attack, but Nebulon creates an icy giant (looking an awful lot like Ymir). He creates two pages of havoc for the Defenders, who attack singly (will these hero-types never learn?). Valkyrie discovers that hacking off a limb does no good, as it just grows back. Finally, the Hulk picks up the giant and hurls it right into the path of the cannon. End of giant. Nebulon realizes that he's taken the Defenders far too lightly, so decides he must face them alone. Hyperion protests, but is rebuked. Nebulon metes out some punishment to each Defender, but once the Doc gets hold of him... Nebulon's knocked off-balance, then down, and says he's starting to lose his concentration. Wait, what? Ah, all is not what it seems...

Karen: It's ironic, after their escape from the bubble, which required team work, that these heroes all go back to fighting solo. I guess some people never learn! Then again, Dr. Strange isn't exactly leading them. I mean, Cap would've been telling them where to strike and when and that giant would have been done in minutes. But in any case Hulk does eventually get the job done. And what was Nighthawk thinking? Hulk and Sub-Mariner both crash into the thing and get swatted away, so he, powerless, tries the same tactic? Doc does redeem himself a bit when the team goes after Nebulon himself, but being the Defenders , they don't really listen to him!

Doug: Last week I commented that Nebulon was a "good-looking super-villain" -- by that I meant he had that David Lee Roth thing going with the hair, the Doc Savage skin, and the Cockrum-era Star Boy costume. What says "1974" like that? Well, all is not what it apparently seemed. Suddenly Nebulon morphs into the nastiest worm/octupus-looking thing -- he's just flat-out U-G-L-Y!! Calling himself the "Celestial Man", he's drooling like Jabba the Hut. However, he does clear up my mystery-of-motive (see above): In this form, we learn that Nebulon is from an aquatic people, hence the need to flood the Earth before he could make use of it. Ah -- good work then, Len Wein! Nighthawk surveys the situation and quickly determines that there is no way the Defenders can defeat the combined might of this new Nebulon and the Squadron. Feeling that Nebulon is the greater threat, Nighthawk ascends the laser cannon and unleashes it on Nebulon. The power is too great for him to absorb and he succumbs -- in a big way. The Squadron turns tail to collectively run, but as they do Nebulon implodes, apparently killing them with him. Nighthawk is hurt in the blast, and lies near death.

Karen: Nebulon in his true form reminded me of every H.P. Lovecraft story I've ever read. That was fairly trippy stuff coming from Sal. I was happy to discover that the plot to flood the Earth did actually make sense and was not Len Wein having a brain fart. Despite seeming ineffectual earlier in the story, Nighthawk shows his value here by swiftly deciding to use the laser cannon against Nebulon. Although he is gravely injured, the blast did destroy his costume, so that has to be counted as a small victory.

Doug: But why would anyone lie near death when Dr. Strange is around? In one of the "we've got to use all of our life-energies" scenes, Strange draws the Defenders near him, and requests that each person will part of their life force to him. He, in turn, channels this energy into Nighthawk. Nighthawk quite suddenly awakens, and after shaking off the cobwebs offers to join the Defenders (as you said, we are the beneficiaries that Strange chose not to revive the costume!). Strange explains that it's not like that, but is interrupted by the always-diplomatic Namor. Subby says "let him join" because he's out, and when he returns, yada yada yada. So as Namor flies off in a huff, Hulk, Val, and Strange welcome Nighthawk into the fold. Question -- does he become the first permanent member of the non-team?

Karen: The life force stuff, another comics cliche. But I didn't mind it, not really. But wasn't it silly at this point for Dr. Strange to keep protesting that the Defenders were not a team? Come on! Namor's rant is just so typical of him and another reason why he al ways straddles that hero/villain line. He just doesn't play well with others. But Nighthawk, despite his lack of power, will become a vital addition to the team. As for your question, I'd say Valkyrie probably gets my vote as the first permanent member of the Defenders. She was around from issue 4 and put up with all of their crap and hung in there for years!

Doug: This was a quality story from start to finish. Good plot, interesting and challenging villains, a new hero joins the team, and superb Bronze Age art. I really liked reading this, for me the first time ever. These early issues of the Defenders are a lot of fun, with an out- of-the-ordinary cast and offbeat baddies, to be certain. Fun, fun!

Karen: Agreed, these two issues were the best reviews we've gotten to do in a while. My only wish is that Klaus Janson had inked this issue too; it didn't have the flair of the previous issue. But still, a great Bronze Age read.

Rest In Peace, Joe Kubert.  Thanks for the memories.

Non-Team vs. Faux-Team: Defenders 13

Defenders #13 (May 1974)
"For Sale: One Planet --Slightly Used!"
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Sal Buscema
Inker: Klaus Janson

Karen: Yup, we're actually doing a Defenders review. And not just one -we'll follow up with the conclusion of this tale next week. Looking back at this title, one realizes just how good it really was. Starting out with Steve Englehart at the helm, switching to Len Wein with issue 12, but with the fabulous Sal Buscema the whole way, providing a very solid look to the non-team. I have to say, I love Klaus Janson's inks on Sal. They give true weight and depth to the art. Sal Buscema's Hulk is the one I recall fondly from childhood, not Herb Trimpe's, and it's mostly because of the Defenders. I just wish Sal had done the cover. The Kane cover is OK but I'd like to see what Sal would have done.

Doug: As long as you raised the issue of Klaus Janson's inks, I've always felt that his embellishing provides a grown-up look to the pencil art. His feathery line is not unlike the work of some of the Filipino masters who would grace the pages of Savage Sword of Conan, for example. My source for this material is Essential Defenders, volume 1, so the B&W pages really lend themselves to a full appreciation of Janson's (and Sal's -- let's not leave him out!) work. I'd add that, for myself at least, while the absence of color can leave a somewhat "wanting" feeling when reading these Bronze Age tales, what is gained is a purity apart from the oft-muddy coloring techniques of that era. In an Essentials, one never has to worry about colors bleeding from page to page, or worse yet, being off-register.

Karen: I'll be scanning from the Masterworks, so the color may be a bit pumped up! This issue is notable for introducing a soon-to-be-Defender: Nighthawk. Created by Roy Thomas as a Batman-avatar for his JLA take-off, the Squadron Supreme (here it's Sinister), the character sported one of the funkiest get-ups ever, including a mask complete with a tiny little beak! Thankfully that would change in a matter of a few issues, and he'd get a very stylish dark blue outfit. The bodysuit is not too bad, except for the baby blue color, but that beak and the rust-brown cape are terrible. But we're going to have to persevere through this trainwreck of a costume for these two reviews.

Doug: Talk about standing out like a sore thumb! And I've always really enjoyed the rest of the Squadron's costumes. I particularly like the homage in color scheme of the Whizzer to his Golden Age forebear, and Dr. Spectrum's outfit always seemed very sleek and classy. Although Hyperion is the stand-in for the Man of Steel, his suit always evoked the Big Red Cheese in my mind. But all were solid creations, and I especially enjoyed when the roster expanded in Avengers #141, and again in Avengers #147.

Karen: I had never thought about that before, but you're right, Hyperion does look more like Captain Marvel than Superman. But with Lex Luthor's red hair! As far as I know the Squadron Sinister only had these four members, unlike their alternate universe counter-parts. If I recall correctly, Whizzer joined the Thunderbolts and became Speed Demon, but was still a lunatic.

Karen: Our story starts with a quiet night at Dr.Strange's place. It's a little too quiet for Valkyrie and Hulk, who are bored to tears by Doc's lesson on shrunken heads. Just in time, the front door comes crashing in, and Nighthawk appears, saying he has business with them. Of course, Hulk automatically lunges for "Bird-Nose." Nighthawk nimbly leaps out of the way, only to have Valkyrie attack him. But Nighthawk manages to trip Val up too. He tries to tell them he needs to talk with them, but the two hot-heads are having none of it. Finally Doc intercedes and wraps Hulk in the unbreakable Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Hulk finally calms down, as does Val. Then Nighthawk starts his tale.

Doug: Ah, yes, the ol' "I want to have a civil conversation with you so I 'm going to blow up the front of your house" routine. Sheesh -- talk about your comic book entrances! Question for the Hulkophiles out there: Can anyone inform me about the Hulk's status with Banner during this period? It seems to me that since the Hulk is just sitting in Strange's mansion, bored to tears, that his pulse rate would slow down and he'd revert back to his Banner form. Thoughts? And really, come to think of it, Banner was never really in any Defenders comics that I can recall -- seems like he was in full Hulk-mode all of the time. One last thought here -- the movie version of the Hulk that we witnessed earlier this summer would have caught Nighthawk and plucked him. Just sayin'.

Karen: Our mysterious bird-man received a letter that threatened to out his secret identity unless he went to an observatory at midnight. Flying there in his hawk-plane (really) he soon discovered who his blackmailers were: Hyperion, the Whizzer, and Dr. Spectrum -his former partners in the Squadron Sinister. All three of them were presumed missing or locked away. But they all got help, from the same source. And that 'help' suddenly appears in the room: a towering golden-skinned being who calls himself Nebulon, the Celestial Man. It turns out Nebulon is the one who freed the Squadron members and restored their powers. Nighthawk smells a rat and asks what's Nebulon's end of the bargain. A frantic looking Hyperion says that he sold him the world! At this point, Nighthawk has had it and starts to walk out on the group, wanting nothing to do with them. But Nebulon shoots a ray at him that paralyzes him. They say they need him back in the group, and Nebulon refuses to release him until he says he'll stay. Grudgingly, Nighthawk accedes. He asks the others, with all their super-powers, why they would need him. We don't hear the answer but by his shocked expression, and statement to the Defenders that it was the "most cold-blooded plan I'd ever heard" you know it's pretty terrible. Nighthawk's stunned look here is well-done, particularly with the coloring effects.

Doug: Nebulon's a good-looking, mysterious villain, and I liked the way his appearance and voice were described. I think so often we, in our own minds, try to "hear" how characters talk, sound, etc. It was certainly fine to get a little help with this guy -- I felt it enhanced his introduction. I have another question on Marvel history, and I guess I need to go back and read the Squadron's first appearances in the Avengers: when does the "alternate Earth" aspect of their history come into play? Certainly by the time we reach the #140's of the Avengers that's all there, but was it at this time? I find it missing here, unless I'm not being observant enough. I know Hyperion's from a sub-atomic world, but I also know that Dr. Spectrum was doing some facetime as an Iron Man baddie, too.


Karen: Well, between my memory and a little Google-based assistance, here's what I've put together: the Squadron Sinister appeared first in Avengers #69 (1969) and were created by the Grandmaster to serve as his champions against Kang's champions, the Avengers. The Squadron Supreme made their debut in Avengers #85 (1971). The Sinister guys were always on "regular" Marvel Earth, while the Supreme gang was always on an alternate Earth. But Marvel has had a distressing habit of confusing them on comic covers, like Avengers #141.

Doug: Well, I certainly appreciate that information -- and yes, it's indeed confusing. Offline, I even threw this out to Karen: The next appearance of the Squadron Sinister is in Giant-Size Defenders #5 (April 1975), which predates the already oft-mentioned tilt in Avengers #141 (November 1975). Further, come back next week to see what Hyperion says about alternate dimensions, et al. and how this adventure ends, and you may see why I am so confused!


Karen: But despite agreeing to the Squadron's plan, Nighthawk's conscience won't allow him to go through with it, which is why he's talking to the Defenders. You see, he'd tried going to the Avengers first -who wouldn't? - but that effort failed. It seems the Squadron, fearful of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, had arranged with Nebulon that they should become invisible and intangible whenever the Avengers were near. But even though Nighthawk couldn't speak with Captain America or Iron Man, he overheard them discussing their recent meeting with the Defenders, and so Nighthawk came to his second choice group! Although Val is still annoyed that Nighthawk blew down the front door, Doc is willing to hear him out, and wants to know what the Squadron's ultimate goal is. Nighthawk explains that his former allies, as part of their deal with Nebulon, plan to melt the ice caps and put the whole world underwater! They are building an incredibly powerful laser that will do the job. Doc wonders how the Squadron thinks they will survive, and Nighthawk answers that they are all so far gone that none of them seem to care. This struck me as being a bit chilling. Nighthawk asks if the Defenders will help him, and just as Dr. Strange says yes, Nighthawk cries out in pain. It seems the Squadron has found him. There's a sudden flash of light and he's gone.


Doug: Although Nighthawk is obviously a Batman stand-in, he has some similarities to one Simon Williams as well, doesn't he? I thought Wein's inclusion of the Avengers and the plot device that rendered them non-factors was a good detail to include. The Marvel Universe was a sweeping thing back then, wasn't it? Concerning the Squadron's plan, I thought it odd -- given Nebulon's big reveal that's coming later -- that this plan factored into the overall equation. It just didn't jibe in the big picture. More on that later. I thought this story was also interestingly dated by a) the population of the world only being 3 1/2 billion people and b) obviously global warming was not yet at the tip of anyone's tongue, as melting ice caps are almost a daily thought in our times.

Doug: Didn't you think Nighthawk went "kablooey"? I was surprised when he turned up a few pages hence, as Sal's pictures were showing me an unpleasant end for our feathered friend/fiend.

Karen: After seeing Nighthawk disappear, Doc is more determined than ever to stop the Squadron. Knowing they'll need all the power they can get, he astrally travels to Namor, the Sub-Mariner, and asks for help. But Namor is in one of his moods, and refuses to help "surface dwellers." Doc isn't taking no for an answer though, and he magically transports the raging sea-king to them. Namor is ready to tear Doc a new one, but Valkyrie intervenes and explains what's happening. Thankfully, the hot-headed Atlantean calms down and agrees to help. There's a nice bit here where Hulk says he's glad he doesn't have to smash "fish-man" and remarks on his "funny clothes." This was right after Namor got his fancy blue-black suit.


Doug: Namor is the longest scratched record in comic book history, running on 75 years now, huh? I enjoyed that Doc Strange basically said "shut up, you're coming" and yanked him off Hydrobase. Funny stuff -- a bit of comedy from the Doctor. In regard to this band of heroes, Dr. Strange had somewhat the same role as Cap did with the Kooky Quartet -- I mean, keeping the tempers of Namor, Val, and the Hulk in check had to be worse than Quicksilver and Hawkeye (shoot, he was a Defender too for a time!) on their most obnoxious days! Those personalities make team books a lot of fun.

Karen: Cyclops had to keep Wolverine (and briefly, Thunderbird) in line in the all-new, all-different X-Men. It's hard being the leader.

Doug: It was good to see Namor in his Reed-designed oxygen outfit (for lack of a better name for it) -- I know you prefer the green Speedos, but I'm all about practical. And a crown prince strutting his stuff in nothing but a mankini will always lose out in my mind.

Karen: I just always thought Namor looked like he was wearing some whacky black leather outfit. Besides, fewer clothes make sense underwater! Now at full strength, the team heads for the Arctic Circle. From high above, Namor is the first to spot their targets. Down on the ice below, the Squadron is making preparations before they fire off the gigantic laser. Nighthawk is there too -not dead, but imprisoned inside a huge sphere. Nighthawk swears he'll get out and stop them, but the Whizzer scoffs at him -until he sees the Defenders zooming their way. Hulk comes down like a meteor straight for Hyperion, but the super-powerful alien punches him away. Hulk admits that "masked man is almost as strong as Hulk!" which was a pretty rare thing for the "strongest one of all" to say! The two briefly debate who is stronger, and then rush head on at each other, resulting in a panel showing silhouettes of pure raw energy. Very nice.

Doug: Sal Buscema has two "stock images" that he uses in almost every book he draws, but I never tire of them. One is the head-on clash of which you write; the other is the "holy crap, that backhand has really sent me reeling!" fly away shot. Love 'em, love 'em! Every time I read an issue of the Defenders, I always ask myself why I didn't read more Hulk books. I think part of it has to do with all of the funny nicknames he came up with, and how even in the midst of a rage he'd defer to Strange or Val.

Karen:I always seemed to enjoy Hulk in Defenders more than in his own title, too.Karen: Dr. Strange avoids the energy constructs of Dr. Spectrum, while Sub-Mariner finds it very hard to hit a foe as fast as the Whizzer. Namor comments that even Quicksilver was not this fast -Pietro never got any respect! Subby flies off, prompting the Whizzer to chase him. The speedster goes flying though when Sub-Mariner pops out from a hiding place and throws him, causing the Whizzer to complain that he's not fighting fair. While all this is going on, Valkyrie tries to cleave open the force sphere holding Nighthawk, but to little avail. But just as her fellow Defenders appear to be about to defeat each of their foes, a beam of violet light captures them all in another large force globe. Nebulon suddenly appears and tells his captives that he has no wish to harm them. Hulk of course responds that he will smash him, and Doc says they will protect their planets, so Nebulon quickly changes his tune: they've given him no choice but to destroy them!

Doug: A very nice cliff-hanger ending, and sets this up for a nice finish!

Karen: By Jiminy, this was just a rip-roaring good comic! The art is fantastic, it's a fast-paced, high-stakes story - can you tell I had a great time reading it? One of the things I loved about Defenders was getting to see Hulk in a team environment. He was the biggest loose cannon on a team of loose cannons! With him and Namor around, you never knew what would happen. It gave the Defenders a dynamic unlike any other group at that time. I can't wait to get to the next issue!