Defenders #1
Title: “I Slay by the Stars!”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank Giacola
Editor: Stan Lee
The Hulk is walking along in New Jersey when Namor falls out of the sky in front of him. Hulk runs over to see how he is and recognizes him as his old friend. Hulk tries to help Namor but finds that he can’t touch him. Hulk shouts at Namor to wake up. When Namor still doesn’t move Hulk decides that he must find help. Hulk suddenly remembers that Dr. Strange was Hulk and Namor’s friend in the Defenders. Hulk figures Namor needs a doctor, but remembers that he doesn’t like Strange right now. Hulk figures that he doesn’t have many friends and so they come before his enemy Dr. Strange. Hulk goes in search of Strange. Hulk makes it to New York. Hulk says that he hates the city and wishes he were back in the desert.
In his home, Strange is searching for the cause of this ominous feeling that he has. Strange tells his Crystal of Agamotto to return to its place as he hears a commotion outside his home. Strange goes outside to see that people are running from the Hulk. Hulk says that he must find Strange. Hulk sees Strange and starts to say that he will smash, but then he remembers why he is there and tells Strange that Namor needs his help. Strange and Hulk disappear. Strange is using spells of levitation and invisibility to get them to Namor unnoticed.
Strange inspects Namor and says that though Namor seems alive and unhurt that he is surrounded by a mystical barrier that he has never encountered before. A voice introduces itself and a form takes place saying that he is Necromandus. Necromandus says that it is good to see the three of them there, but that he arranged it that way so it isn’t a surprise. Strange tells Necromandus to step forward so that they can see him. Necromandus says that his features are unimportant, but that what is important is that he is given his powers by the Undying Ones (who are ruled by the Nameless Ones). Necromandus says that it is the same Undying Ones that wanted an idol that Strange and Namor kept from them. Strange cast Namor out of the dimension of the Nameless One as he realized that the fight was not winnable. It was then Hulk who was cast into the realm of the Night-Crawler by disciples of the Nameless Ones. The battle destroyed Night-Crawler’s dimension and cast Hulk, a rebel to the Nameless One’s followers, and Night-Crawler into the Nameless One’s dimension. The rebel sacrificed herself and Hulk and Strange were freed. This cost the Nameless Ones the chance to enter and suppress our dimension, but they can still grant boons to people like Necromandus. Necromandus says that he will use that power to kill Namor is one hour. He says that he brought it to Hulk and Strange’s attention because the Nameless Ones remember and hate them as well. Necromandus disappears.
Strange and Hulk turn their attention to freeing Namor. Strange tries his strongest spells but fails. Hulk tries to smash the shield, but again to no avail. Strange tries to slow down time, but fails under the strain. Because Strange used his full power to try and do this his other spells weaken. Strange’s spell that held Yandroth’s Omegatron in check is weakened, and although it is still severely slowed the Omegatron’s clock starts again. Strange says he is tired and decides that there is nothing he can do now. He decides to meditate to regain his full power before Necromandus returns. Hulk says that he never tires and just keeps pounding on the shield figuring it will eventually break.
After 50 minutes, and 3000 punches from the Hulk, Strange awakens. Strange tells Hulk that they must keep Necromandus away from Namor. He tells Hulk to stand guard over Namor while he places them both inside the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Hulk shouts for Strange to let him out because Namor just sank into the ground. Strange realizes there must be caverns below and tells Hulk to follow him down the cave. Hulk tells Strange not to tell him what to do and that he is sick of that. Strange says that Namor is depending on them. Suddenly a giant monster pops up and says that it is the Demon of the Dark. Hulk leaps into the demon’s face and starts pounding. Hulk says that he is sick of being confused and is happy to have an enemy to fight. Hulk tells the demon to get up, but it is already unconscious.
Strange and Hulk
get to the bottom of the tunnel to find Namor lying on a
sacrificial altar. Necromandus holds the knife and above them
both floats an smoke image of the Nameless Ones. Strange says
that the evil is too thick, and that his magic will not work.
Strange says that it id up to Hulk now. Hulk says that the man is
too puny for him to fight, but suddenly the astral powers align
and the dwarfish Necromandus is transformed into a powerhouse.
Necromandus attacks Hulk and Hulk fights back. The stars are
nearly in place and Necromandus takes his enchanted blade and
stabs it into the Hulk’s chest. Strange notices that Namor
is breathing within the shield. Strange fills the shield with
water and Namor awakens. The shield is weaker from within and
Namor shatters the shield. Necromandus stabs Hulk in the back and
is about to kill Hulk when Namor interferes. Hulk falls to the
ground and as his vitals slow Hulk turns to Bruce Banner.
Necromandus grabs Namor and presses him to the ground. The stars
are but a fraction of a moment until they are aligned. Strange
grabs Necromandus’ arm to hold it off. Bruce Banner wakes up
unhurt because of the magical nature of the attack. He jumps on
Necromandus as well. The stars pass from being in alignment to
being out of alignment. Necromandus returns to his dwarf form and
teleports away.
Strange asks Namor to tell them how Necromancer defeated him and dropped him from the sky. Namor says that it was not Necromandus, but that the Silver Surfer did it to him. Strange says that he thought the mystery was over, but it seems to be just beginning.
Dr. Strange's Defenders Review: 9.5 out of 10.
I give Sal a big 5 out of 5 for his extraordinary artwork. The only thing that keeps me from giving the writing a perfect score is that this issue seems to establish the Hulk’s near futile role in this book. He can’t break the shield around Namor, and Necromandus beats the crap out of him. The only thing Hulk really does is beat the Demon of the Dark (a fight that could have easily been taken out and lasted only a few panels). The team’s dynamic is really working in this issue. Hulk hates Strange, but he seeks him out anyway. They work together despite not wanting to. A classic…
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