Defenders #11
Title: “A Dark and Stormy Knight”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Frank Bolle
Colors: G. Roussos
Editor: Roy Thomas
continued from Avengers #118
Dr. Strange, the other Defenders, and the Avengers are all back on Earth. Strange says that they have finally defeated Dormammu, and that now they hold the power of the Evil Eye. Thor struggles to hold Loki in place and says that it was a magnificent feat that was accomplished today. Panther says that if it wasn’t for Scarlet Witch’s second hex that they would all be under the thumb of Dormammu. Nick Fury says that he and SHIELD were on their last legs, and that humanity owes Scarlet Witch big thanks. Wanda says that she doesn’t want humanity’s thanks, or anything else from humanity. She says that she did what she did as her duty as an Avenger. Fury stumbles for a minute and says that then they should talk about the Defenders. Strange says that they will not. Strange treats Fury’s mind to forget everything about the Defenders. Strange tells the Avengers that the Defenders wish to remain a secret, and that he is going to treat everyone’s mind to forget them except them. Iron Man says that Strange is an honorable man, and that they will go along. He also thanks Strange for letting them remember. Strange says that if they ever meet again that he would rather skip the battling. Strange then combines his power with that of the Evil Eye to undo all the damage done by Dormammu and teleport the Defenders away.
Strange and the others arrive in Strange’s home. Strange says that he hopes that they all agreed with his decision to let the Avengers remember, but that he didn’t consult with them because he wanted to get back and help Black Knight as soon as possible. Surfer says that he did the right thing. Strange says that before he could only send a mental contact to the Black Knight, but that now aided by the power of the Evil Eye he will send himself. Strange’s body becomes a statue, as the Black Knight’s is, while his astral form leaves to go to the Black Knight.
Strange’s astral forms speeds along like a comet through limbo. Strange thinks that it is ironic that Dormammu sought to deceive them into thinking that the Evil Eye would help the Black Knight when in fact that is exactly what is happening. Strange finally arrives at the point where he contacted Black Knight, but he is shocked to find that the Black Knight is no longer there. Strange wonders how this could be since only a mystic force of incredible magnitude could have spirited him away.
Hawkeye sits back in Strange’s house thinking about what he wants to do next. Valkyrie says that she doesn’t see what the problem is. She says that he has a place with them. Hawkeye says that he left the Avengers to prove that he could do it on his own so it doesn’t do him much good to move from one roster to another. Hawkeye says that even though he likes the Defenders that he isn’t doing what he set out to do. Hawkeye says that he was also really liking the idea of fighting Iron Man, and that now that he knows he was wrong the Defenders shtick seems kind of sour. Namor says that he understands Hawkeye’s point and says that being in a group is not the best way to prove his worth. Namor says that he too plans on leaving the Defenders when Strange and the Black Knight return. Surfer says that Namor always says that there are no Defenders. Hulk sees Strange’s astral form return, but notices that he returns alone. Strange’s body reanimates and he starts to tell the others about his discovery when they are all suddenly teleported out of the room.
Hulk wants to know what is going on here. He
looks around him and says that this is the desert where Ross and
the Hulkbusters live. Hulk says that they want Ross to capture
Hulk. Strange says that this is not America, but that it is the
Middle East. Namor says that what is more important is
“when” they are. He notes the catapult and the
non-polluted air. Suddenly Surfer spots the Black Knight coming
right at them. He says that he doesn’t know how they got
there, but that they are a sight for sore eyes. Black Knight
tells them to prepare themselves because this is the 12th
century, these are the Crusades, and that the Arabs are
attacking. Strange says that this isn’t their war, and he
tells everyone to wait while he immobilizes everyone with a
spell. Hulk says that Magician always gives him orders, but that
he is sick of orders and sick of waiting. Hulk says that he wants
to fight and hits the ground. The other Defenders are forced to
fight. Strange sees an enormous gnome coming for them. One of the
Arabs says that this is Temax, and that he guards Allah’s
faithful. Strange and Surfer both blast Temax, but they have no
effect. Hulk says that lights from hands aren’t good for
fighting. Hulk says that they don’t even make sense. Hulk
says that he knows what makes sense and it is his fist. 
Hulk punches
Temax, but Temax doesn’t even feel it and swats Hulk away.
Strange says that Temax handles the Hulk with ease and that they
should stop fighting not for their opponents’ safety, but
for their safety. Strange teleports the Defenders away.
Miles away, Strange says that the Arabs won’t find them there. He says that they now have time to learn of the story behind their predicament. Black Knight explains that because of a spell by Merlin, that was cast at the time of Camelot’s collapse, his ancestor the original Black Knight lives again in him. Black Knight says that they are on a quest to find and fight Modred, the man who murdered his ancestor. Black Knight says that Modred died centuries ago, but that his essence lives on and can appear anywhere at any time. Strange asks if he is here now. Black Knight says that Modred is right in the middle of King Richard’s Crusade to recover the holyland from the Mohammedans. Black Knight says that everything is chaos because of Modred’s essence, and that the King is actually an Arabian prisoner. Richard’s brother, Prince John, has taken command and plans to desert the king as part of an alliance with Modred. Black Knight says that is why he is here. He says that he was plucked from limbo, and that the Defenders must have been swept up in it too.
That night the Defenders walk by the guards around Richard’s prison by dressing up as priests. Strange says that he, Namor, and Hulk will work to destroy the sorcery that opposes them. He tells Surfer, Hawkeye, Valkyrie, and Black Knight not to delay in their attempt to free the King. Val says that they won’t. As Strange, Namor, and Hulk leave, Black Knight says that he thinks that Val sounded a little overconfident. He says that Surfer is the only one of them that has any real power though she does carry his ebony blade. Hawkeye and Surfer defend Val and say that she got it fair and square because Dane Whitman’s body is all stone back on Earth. Hawkeye thinks that he hears something, but when he looks back he fails to see the Giant Gnome watching them.
Strange notes that of all the corridors that they have walked down that only this one’s floor is not covered in sand. Strange says that humans would scatter sand, but that an earth spirit would absorb it. Namor says that is very clever. The corridor ends at a large door. Hulk rips the door open so they can go on. Strange says the Hulk did a good job, and that he is glad that even though Hulk doesn’t like him that he has gotten into the spirit of their endeavor. Namor tells them both to be quiet as he hears men. The men are walking down the hallway arguing over which of them won a camel race. A fight breaks out between them, and one of them drops the torch that he was carrying. He bends over to pick it up and sees a green foot. He stands up and sees Hulk’s snarling face looking at him. The men start to shout an alarm, but Namor and Hulk knock them out. Still Hulk, Namor, and Strange hurry on in case the shouting was heard.
Val, Hawkeye, Surfer, and Black Knight hears
shouting coming from below. Surfer says that they have to
complete their mission. As Surfer is breaking open the locks,
Black Knight wonders how they made it all the way to the
King’s cell without running into any guards. Surfer emerges
from the cell with King Richard and says that he fears that his
days in captivity have weakened him. Black Knight tells King
Richard that he is safe now. Suddenly there is a loud noise
behind them. 
They turn to
see three giant gnomes waiting to attack them. Surfer tries to
blast one again, but again nothing happens. One of the gnomes
smacks Surfer and knocks him out. Hawkeye also falls to a
gnome’s punch. Val manages to hit one of the gnomes with the
ebony sword, but the gnome then grabs her other arm with
lightning fast reflexes. The gnome smashes Val against the wall.
As Val is passing out she throws the ebony blade back to the
Black Knight. She says that it is his anyway. Black Knight holds
the blade and says that he can feel the power. Black Knight says
that this is the weapon that he was born to hold. Black Knight
manages to slice into one of the gnomes, but then that gnome and
another punch Black Knight unconscious.
Namor, Hulk, and Strange walk as far as they can go and finally look down into the chamber below. There Prince John, Modred, and an Arabian mystic named Chandu are conjuring up more gnomes. Strange says that he is going to place his hope for success on the Evil Eye since when it is combined with his power that it hasn’t failed yet. The Defenders attack. Prince John asks Modred who these “monstrosities”. He says that he betrayed his brother because Modred assured him that he could guarantee his safety. Modred orders Chandu to attack. Chandu attacks and Strange realizes that Chandu is calling upon the same names that he himself calls upon. Strange is hit with the attack and drops the Evil Eye. Namor decks Chandu, but is then greeted by a gnome that materializes out of the smoke. They smash through the wall together and fall into a small body of water. Namor’s strength is restored, and when he looks to the gnome he realizes that the water is causing it to dissolve. Namor smashes his fist into the water and causes a huge splash to fly up into the castle. On the ground level, the Hulk is very confused as the gnomes dissolve before his eyes. Up in the tower, the water serves both to dissolve the three gnomes there and to awaken the unconscious Defenders.
Outside, Namor swells with pride at the assistance that he has given. Namor thinks about the fact that the Defenders fought to gather the Evil Eye, but that the day was won and the Evil Eye was left unused. Suddenly everyone sees Prince John and Modred emerge with the Evil Eye. He says that they have discovered an incredible weapon, and that all that have witnessed the battle (including King Richard) must die. The Evil Eye starts to glow, but then from the flames someone appears. Prester John, who once served Richard, comes forward and says that he is master of the Evil Eye. He holds out his hand and the Evil Eye comes out of Prince John’s hand and into his. Prester John blasts Prince John and Modred with the Evil Eye. He says that they are unharmed, but that now they are fully aware of the folly of their actions. Prester John says that since his inner senses informed him that the Evil Eye was restored that he has been searching for it because it was given into his charge. Prester John says that it is only just that he find it in the era of his birth. Prester John says that Dane Whitman, with his valor and swordplay, belongs there. Dane says that it is true and that he never felt comfortable in the 20th century, and that is why he could never get fully into being an Avenger. Dane tells Strange that he has decided to stay. Strange congratulates Dane on his decision. King Richard welcomes Black Knight if he wishes to enter into his service. Prester John says that if they are ready then that he will send them back home. He zaps them with the Evil Eye and sends them home.
Back in Strange’s house, Namor asks Hawkeye if he is leaving. Hawkeye says that he is. He says that he signed on for a specific job, and that he thought of making it permanent, but that it isn’t what he really wants. Namor says that he is leaving too, but that he will return if he is truly needed. Surfer says that goes for him as well. Hulk says that he is leaving, but that he makes no promises. Strange says that he can’t ask for anything more, and that no matter what the future brings that the record of the Defenders has been a proud one so far. They say farewell and leap or fly away. Strange and Valkyrie watch them go and Strange says that he wonders if he will ever see them again.
Dr. Strange’s Defenders: 7 out of 10
I tend to think that this issue would have been more enjoyable if I was really into King Richard, Black Knight, Modred, or Prester John. As it stands the story is decent enough if not a little tough to follow along with. Sal does another good job with the issue. Not the most spectacular, but I tell you I like the gnomes. They’re pretty cool. It would have been nice if Geo Roussous could have stuck with the gray skin color for them the entire issue though.
RETURN TO DR. STRANGE'S DEFENDERS