Defenders #13
Title: "For Sale: One Planet… Slightly Used!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Roy Thomas
A mysterious hawk-cloaked figure watches Dr.
Strange’s house. 
Inside, Dr. Strange is telling Hulk and Valkyrie about the Jivaro and their head shrinking abilities. Hulk cuts Strange off and says that he doesn’t care about heads. Hulk says that he wants to see Strange ring the bell again. Val says that she agrees with the Hulk in that while this evening has been very informative that it has been a trifle on the quiet side. As if on cue, the hawk-cloaked figure bursts through the door to the room. He says to excuse the intrusion, but that he has business with them that just won’t wait any longer. Hulk tells Bird-Nose that this is Magician’s house, and that that if he doesn’t leave that he is going to force him to leave. Bird-Nose says that Hulk will have to catch him to do that, and that he doesn’t think that he is fast enough to do that. Bird-Nose leapfrogs over Hulk as Hulk charges him. Bird-Nose asks if they are going to let him talk now. Val says that he is going to do what she tells him to do once he gets a taste of Dragonfang. Bird-Nose ducks Val’s swing. He says that they are going to listen to him even if he has to flatten all of them to make them. Nighthawk grabs Val’s cape and tosses her aside. Hulk says that if Bird-Nose has hurt girl that he is going to smash him. Strange tells Hulk to wait, but Hulk is too enraged to hear. Hulk starts to charge Bird-Nose again, but finds himself inside the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Strange apologizes to Hulk, but says that he wanted to stop him from doing something they might regret. Hulk tells Strange to let him out. Strange asks Hulk if he can calm down enough so their visitor out. Hulk says that he will calm down, but that he won’t like it. Strange says that he doesn’t ask that Hulk likes it, but only that he’ll abide it. Strange dissolves the bands. Val says that Hulk might be calmed, but that she is still angry. Strange tells her to calm down so that they can hear what the visitor has to say. Strange says that it had better be good. Nighthawk introduces himself and says that it all depends on the definition of good. Nighthawk says that he has come there to warn them of a threat possibly beyond belief.
Nighthawk says that it all started six days
when he got a letter threatening to expose his secret identity if
he didn’t show up before midnight at the Crayton
Observatory. As he landed his Hawk-Plane, Nighthawk wondered who
knew enough about his brief costumed criminal activities to
blackmail him. He says that the only three men who knew anything
were his three partners, but that they were all dead or in jail.
Nighthawk walked inside to see his three partners, the Squadron
Sinister, waiting for him. Hyperion and Whizzer were sitting at a
table. Dr. Spectrum told Nighthawk to sit down as they had
business to discuss. Nighthawk asked Dr. Spectrum how his Power
Prism was intact. He said that he read that it was destroyed when
he was battling Iron Man in Detroit. Spectrum said that Nighthawk
shouldn’t believe everything he reads. Whizzer said that
reading is bad for your eyes. Nighthawk called Whizzer a
“wise-mouthed jackass”, but said that the last time he
saw Hyperion that he was trapped inside a small glass globe.
Hyperion said that he escaped the same way they all did… he
said that they all had help. Suddenly a blinding burst filled the
room. 
When the
brilliance faded the Squadron was no longer alone. Nighthawk says
that the man wasn’t as much like a man, as he was heaven in
the shape of a man. He says that when the man spoke it was like
the ringing of a thousand crystal gongs. The man asked who had
disturbed Nebulon. Nighthawk said that he didn’t know what
was going on, but that he didn’t like it. Nighthawk asked
who this Nebulon was. Dr. Spectrum said that Nebulon restored his
Power Prism to him minus its annoying personality. Hyperion said
that he is the one that freed him from the crystal and restored
his powers to him. Whizzer said that what Nebulon is, is a
godsend. Hyperion said that with Nebulon by their side that there
is nothing that they cannot do. Nighthawk asks what
Nebulon’s cut is, and says that nobody does all that without
expecting something. Hyperion said that Nebulon had already been
taken care of. Hyperion said that he had sold Nebulon the planet
Earth. Nighthawk told them to count him out, but as he turned to
go Nebulon made it impossible for him to move. The Squadron said
that they may not like Nighthawk, but that they needed him.
Nighthawk was forced to agree to help them, and Nebulon released
him. Nighthawk asked why they needed him for that they
couldn’t do themselves. Hyperion told him the plan.
Nighthawk says that even as he listened to the plan that he knew he could not go through with it. Nighthawk says that he was needed to help construct their weapon until tonight. Nighthawk says that he tried to go to the Avengers, but that his partners were one step ahead of him. Nighthawk found that he became invisible and intangible when he got close to the Avengers. Nighthawk tried to talk to them anyway, but found he could not do that as well. Nighthawk says that he listened to Captain America talk and he was talking about them and how they had helped them defeat Loki and Dormammu. Nighthawk says that is why he came to them. Val asks why he smashed down the door then. Nighthawk says that he had been there earlier, and that he had to be sure that they would listen to him. Strange says that they still don’t know what the Squadron’s plan is. Nighthawk says that it has to do with their deal with Nebulon. They’re supposed to deliver the planet the way that Nebulon wants it, and that the way he wants it is underwater. Nighthawk says that the weapon they are building is a giant laser that, when ready, will be able to melt the polar ice caps and flood the entire world. Strange asks how the Squadron thinks they would survive something like that. Nighthawk says that he isn’t sure they care. He says that Hyperion hates this world for destroying his. He says that Spectrum would rather destroy the world if he couldn’t rule it, and that Whizzer is just plain crazy. Hulk says that he thinks they are all crazy, Nighthawk included. Nighthawk says that the Squadron is going to melt the polar ice caps at sunrise. He asks if they will join him in trying to stop them. Strange says that of course they will help. Suddenly Nighthawk starts reeling in pain. He says that the Squadron has discovered that he has betrayed them, and that there is no way to stop them from taking their revenge. Nighthawk seemingly disintegrates in front of them. Strange says that he sacrificed himself to try and save the Earth. Strange says that he trusted them, and that they must not betray that trust.
Val says that they had better hurry then if they are to make it in time. Strange says that they will go in a minute, but that this emergency calls for the full roster of the Defenders. Strange sends his mental image to the mid-Atlantic at the floating fortress of Hydrobase. Namor says that he doesn’t care why Strange has summoned him because he will not come. Strange asks if the fate of the planet doesn’t concern Namor. Namor says that his concern is there with the amphibians who have come to depend on him. He says that he doesn’t care at all for the “self-serving” maniacs from the surface. Strange says that he is sorry that Namor feels that way, but that he leaves him little choice. A mystic force surrounds Namor. Namor demands that Strange release him, but before he can finish his sentence Namor finds himself teleported to Strange’s house. Namor says that he is going to make Strange rue the day he first heard his name. Val steps in and explains the situation to Namor. She says that if the Squadron Sinister is allowed to complete its operation that all life, Atlanteans included, are sure to perish. Namor says that he sees her point and is forced to agree with her. Hulk says that is good because he wouldn’t have enjoyed smashing Fish-Man even though he is wearing funny new clothes. Val asks about the costume. Namor says that it is a long story that he would rather not go into, and that they have work to do elsewhere.
Dawn in the Arctic, Strange carries Hulk in a mystical field while the rest of them fly. Namor spots something moving on a glacier below. Below, Hyperion tells Dr. Spectrum to hurry up, and asks if he is going to have to hold the laser up all day. Spectrum tells Hyperion to be patient, and that his Power Prism can only do so much at one time. Nighthawk is trapped within a bubble. He says that they’ll all be doing time when he gets his hands on them. Whizzer says that he can talk big because he knows that he will never get out of Nebulon’s globe. Whizzer spots the Defenders coming at them. Strange tells everyone to pick an opponent. Hulk tells Strange to put him down because he wants to smash.
Hulk tells Masked Man to put the machine down and fight or he will squash him where he stands. Hyperion says that if there is any smashing to be done that he will be the one doing it. Hyperion hits Hulk and sends him flying. Hulk gets up and says that Hyperion is almost as strong as him. Hyperion says that anyone that can withstand the power of Thor’s hammer the way he has is the strongest one there is. Hulk says that he is stronger and that he will prove it. Hyperion says that Hulk is asking for this. When Hulk and Hyperion hit the impact sends shockwaves that causes the ground beneath them to shudder for miles in all directions.
Dr. Spectrum swears that if Strange will just hold still that he will make his death as painless as possible. Strange swears that he will never stand helplessly as the world is in danger. Spectrum tries to hit Strange with a giant Power Prism-created mace. The mace shatters against Strange’s Shield of the Seraphim.
Whizzer is buzzing around Namor hitting him. Namor says that he can’t even see his opponent, and that even Quicksilver was never this fast. Whizzer says that he is going to beat Namor before he can bat an eyelash. Namor flies into the air and says that if Whizzer wants him that he will have to follow him. Whizzer starts to go after Namor, but Namor was hiding in wait and grabs Whizzer’s leg as it reaches his hand. Namor throws Whizzer, but Whizzer twists in mid-air and regains his footing. Whizzer heads back at Namor.
Nighthawk tells Valkyrie to try and free him since her friends could use his help. Val strikes the bubble with Dragonfang, but it doesn’t affect it at all.
Hulk smashes Hyperion and says that he told him that he was the strongest. Strange puts Spectrum to sleep with the Vapors of Valtor. Namor smacks Whizzer and sends him flying. Suddenly Hulk, Namor, Strange, and Valkyrie are trapped within their own bubble. Hulk wants to know what is going on. Strange starts to explain, but Nebulon says, “Silence, humans… and Nebulon will be lenient with you! I have no wish to harm you… unless I am forced to!” Hulk says to let him out and he will smash him. Strange says that Hulk speaks for them all since it means protecting their planet. Nebulon says, “Then you leave me no other choice, you foolish humans, except to destroy you all!”
Dr. Strange’s rating: 8 out of 10
I love having Len Wein on the Defenders. He has a real good grasp on the Hulk and it’s more fun for me to read when I feel the Hulk is handled well. Len also does a perfect job handling Namor. Strange brings Namor against his will to come help and Namor is ready to kill Strange. I said in last issue’s review that the inker really helps make or break Sal’s pencils. Klaus Janson’s inks look fantastic. I’m not really a big Janson fan, but I have to say the work with Sal in very impressive.
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