Defenders #14
Title: "And Who Shall Inherit the Earth?”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Dan Green
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Roy Thomas
From within the bubble, Dr. Strange demands that Nebulon release them or suffer the consequences. Nebulon asks why he would free them when all they’ve done is cause him inconvenience. He says that they have already disabled those that wanted to hasten his possession of the planet. Nebulon says that instead of releasing them he is going to hasten their elimination. Hyperion wakes up and tells Nebulon not to kill them yet. Nebulon says that Hyperion is finally awake again, and asks him why he seeks to delay their destruction. Hyperion says that if Nebulon kills them now that they will never know why they wasted their lives. Dr. Spectrum asks what difference that makes to them. Whizzer agrees and says that they should just kill them. Hyperion says that they have to know why they die and what their failure means to the future of their world.
Hyperion says that it isn’t his world. Hyperion says that his world was an atom to small to see, but that it wasn’t small enough to not be destroyed when man split the first atom with a cyclotron. Hyperion says that somehow he survived and drifted in the atomic void until one day he was woken, and enlarged, by the Grandmaster to battle Thor of the Avengers. Thor’s hammer created a vortex that somehow reversed his enlargement. Hyperion was then trapped in a bubble of glazed sand. Hyperion says that he remained there until the Grandmaster departed the world. The super-powered backwash of his passing somehow sucked Hyperion up into space. Hyperion says that he floated there for months until Nebulon came by in his starship. Nebulon used a grapple beam to pull Hyperion aboard. Nebulon freed Hyperion from his prison and they talked. Nebulon said that he is from a race of interstellar geologists that survey the cosmos for various materials needed to ensure his world’s continued existence. Nebulon said that unlike the others of his race that he has been unsuccessful. Nebulon said that if he doesn’t find a mineral rich planet in the next thirty galactic units that he is going to fall from grace. Hyperion says that he owns a planet. Hyperion showed Nebulon Earth and told him of all its virtues.
Strange says that surely Hyperion must realize that by destroying the Earth that they are destroying themselves as well. Hyperion says that there are any number of dimensions that Nebulon could transport them to. Nighthawk says that they should get transported under a rock because that is where they belong. Nebulon says that is enough from Nighthawk, and since he has sided with the Defenders that he should share their fate. Nebulon transports Nighthawk into the Defenders’ bubble. Whizzer says that Hyperion is done talking, and that now he wants to see the do-gooders bleed. Hyperion says that there will be no bloodshed. Whizzer says that he didn’t get his butt kicked for no reason and he says that they waste them. Hyperion says that he said “no” and swats Whizzer. Hyperion says that death is too swift for them, and that they should be forced to drift aimlessly in space with no help for salvation. Nebulon says that it is done. He waves his hand and the bubble starts rising into space. Nebulon reminds Hyperion that time is growing short. Hyperion heads to the laser and says that they have an entire polar icecap to melt by nightfall.
Up in the bubble they are about to enter space, all the Defenders are trying to break the bubble. Nighthawk says that they should all try to center their attack on one spot. Strange says that he has been a fool, but Namor says that Strange is just human. They all strike together and break the bubble. As they fall back to Earth, Namor catches Valkyrie and Strange holds Hulk while Hulk holds Nighthawk’s arm. Nighthawk asks how they are breathing this far up. Strange says that it is a mystic aura that he conjured up.
Hyperion is melting the polar icecap. He says that the laser Nighthawk designed works well, and that it is too bad that he isn’t there to see it. Whizzer says that Nighthawk got what he deserved, and that they gave him a chance to be on the winning team. Whizzer spots the Defenders returning. Nebulon says that the annoying Defenders have returned, but that time has grown too short for the Squadron Sinister to deal with them. Nebulon tells Hyperion to tend to his laser, and that he will deal with the Defenders himself. Hyperion says that he doesn’t like it, but that Nebulon is the boss. Hulk is charging Nebulon. Nebulon lets off a blast and hits the ground. Hulk says that Nebulon can’t even shoot straight. Nebulon says that he wasn’t trying to when suddenly the icy ground grows up and transforms into a monster. The monster smacks the Hulk. Namor swoops in and decks the monster. Nighthawk runs in as well, but as the monster is reeling from Namor’s punch it swings wildly and pastes Nighthawk. Val stands on a ledge near the giant monster and hacks its arm off with Dragonfang. Seconds later the monster regrows another arm and smacks Valkyrie. Strange lets loose with a blast and then falls back. Hulk charges up and says that Frozen Man attacked him for no reason, and that makes him mad. Hulk hits the monster’s leg and knocks it right off. The monster falls backwards into the Hulk’s waiting arms. Hulk holds the monster above his head and throws the icy beast into the path of the laser that is currently melting the icecap.
Nebulon says that this is going to take more
effort than he thought. Hyperion tells Nebulon to give them
another crack at them, but Nebulon tells them to remain at their
posts. Nebulon says that he will no longer face the Defenders
through an agent as he has the power to destroy them all in one
stroke. Hulk says that Nebulon talks of power, but that he is the
strongest one there is. Hulk tells Nebulon to show him his power,
and that he will show Nebulon his. Nebulon lets loose a blast
into the Hulk, but Hulk doesn’t budge. Hulk asks if that is
all the power that Gold-Face has and says that he laughs at his
puny power. Nebulon lets loose with a double armed blast that
knocks Hulk off his feet. Nighthawk and Valkyrie charge Nebulon
from opposing sides. Nebulon asks if they didn’t learn
anything from the example of their green-skinned friend. Val says
that they need a good deal of teaching. Nebulon says that this
will be a lesson that they won’t live to forget. Nebulon
tries to blast Nighthawk, but Nighthawk dodges. Nebulon raises
his arms into the air and switches places with Valkyrie.
Nighthawk and Val smash into each other. Nebulon asks if he has
made his point. Strange says that a frontal assault is useless
and that they have to attack him from all angles at once to
divide his attention. Nebulon says that they are going to fail
again and again. He blasts Val and Namor together. Strange
catches Nebulon with a good blast. Reeling from the blast,
Nebulon strikes out at Strange and Hulk together. Nebulon says
that one blow doesn’t decide the battle and that this fight
is far from over. Namor punches Nebulon in the face and says that
they will do what it takes to shorten it. Nebulon stumbles to his
knees. Strange continues pouring it on and says that Nebulon
can’t stand long against the Bolts of Bedevilment. Nebulon
says that there is too much power and that he can’t
concentrate. Nebulon drops to the ground. He shimmers and then
starts to blur. Nebulon says that this can’t happen now when
he is so close. The Squadron Sinister starts to rush to
Nebulon’s aide, but Nebulon tells then to get back as they
must not see him like this. Whizzer says that he can’t see
anything as Nebulon is a giant radiating form. 
The brilliance
dies down and Nebulon, instead of the shimmering golden man,
stands as an enormous misbegotten monstrosity. Nebulon tells them
that at last the masquerade is over, and that they now gaze at
Nebulon as he truly is. Hyperion says that this must be a trick
or illusion. Nebulon says that the other image was an illusion,
and that he adapted it so that he might be more easily accepted
by their race. Nebulon says that his race is aquatic by nature,
and that is why the planet had to be flooded. Nebulon says that
this humanoid form can exist out of water for extended periods of
time. He says that now he will resume that form so that they can
continue their business where they left off. Nighthawk realizes
that the time to act is now. He leaps to the laser cannon and
redirects it right at Nebulon. Nebulon screams in agony. Nebulon
tries firing back, but says that there is just too much power and
that he cannot absorb it all. The Squadron Sinister stands their
ground unsure of what to do, but when they realizes that Nebulon
is beyond their help they turn to run. They realizes too late
however as they are caught up in the blast as Nebulon implodes.
Nighthawk says that he did it, but Val tells him to stop
congratulating himself and jump. The cannon was shorted out, but
before Nighthawk can leap off it explodes.
The Defenders rush to Nighthawk’s side. Namor says that Nighthawk is not moving. Strange examines Nighthawk and says that even though he is not dead yet that he soon will be. Strange says that they owe this man their lives, and says that it would be appropriate for them to sacrifice a small part of their lives to save him. Strange says that it is dangerous in the least, but asks how they can give any less to one that they owe so much. After Strange explains the procedure to all of them, in terms that even the Hulk can understand, they join hands together. Strange says to concentrate and send a small portion of themselves through him. Strange bathes Nighthawk in the glow from the Eye of Agamotto. The glow heals Nighthawk to the point where he finally wakes up. Nighthawk asks where he is. Strange explains the procedure to Nighthawk, and Nighthawk says that it is going to take a little while for that to sink in. Strange says that it was the least they could do to thank him. Nighthawk says that there is one other thing. He says that he did start out as a villain, but that if they believe in him enough to think that he can change his ways that he would like to join their team. Strange says that they would be honored to have him, but they aren’t really a group that one can join per se. Namor tells Strange to hold on a moment. He says that he suggests that they take Nighthawk on as a replacement for him. Namor says that Strange brought him there against his will, and that no man controls the actions of Prince Namor the First. Namor tells Strange not to summon him again because he will not come as an ally. Hulk says that Fish-Man flies away, but that Bird-Nose will be his new friend. Strange says that Hulk speaks for them all if he is still interested. Nighthawk says that it does. He says that becoming a Defender is very important to him, and that he only hopes he never gives them a reason to regret it.
Dr. Strange’s rating: 7 out of 10
Good story, but a little thick in the exposition. I’ve never been real strong on that whole Squadron Sinister/Squadron Supreme scenario and I prefer to just steer clear of the whole thing. I like Nebulon as a villain for the Defenders. Nighthawk’s joining the group will be a bigger event than anyone realized at the time. Nighthawk might be the most identifiable as a Defender besides Dr. Strange (or perhaps even more so). Sal does a decent job with the art though it is nothing spectacular. 3.5 to both the writing and art.
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