Defenders #15
Title: "Panic Beneath the Earth!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Roy Thomas
Dr. Strange ends the tour of his house by
showing Nighthawk his Chamber of Meditation. He shows Nighthawk
the Cauldron of the Cosmos where he sits for hours dwelling on
the mysteries of the universe. Nighthawk says that Strange
didn’t seem the type to play solitaire and asks where the
pool table is. Strange says that he doesn’t own a pool
table. Nighthawk says that he was just making a bad joke. Val
says that she thinks Nighthawk is just pouting because no one has
complimented his new outfit yet. Nighthawk says that he just had
his tailor throw it together for him. Nighthawk points out the
miniature jetpack on his back and says that it is a much easier
way to travel than his old Hawkplane. 
Val says that
she is glad that he is well equipped and that he will make a fine
replacement for her. Nighthawk says that he just joined and that
is pretty big news to lay on him right away. Strange says that it
isn’t really news to him, but that he had hoped that Val
would change her mind. Val says that she has not changed her
mind. She says that she has been distracted, but that her
decision remains. She says that she owes a debt to the girl named
Barbara, and that she cannot rest until she repays that debt by
finding out who Barbara truly was. Val says that she isn’t
sure what she should do with Aragon while she does this.
Nighthawk says that he can handle that for her. He reminds her
that under his Nighthawk uniform that he is Kyle Richmond, boy
tycoon. Nighthawk picks up the phone and calls Pennysworth. He
tells Pennysworth to buy a riding stable with plenty of privacy.
Pennysworth says that he would ask why, but that something tells
him that he doesn’t want to know. Pennyworth says that he
will take care of it immediately. Val starts to thank Kyle when
she is cut off, as Dr. Strange seems to be holding a conversation
with someone that isn’t there. Strange points to a blank
space on the wall and says that he is talking to someone.
Nighthawk says that Strange has been pulling too many rabbits out
of his hat. Strange figures that perhaps only his mystically
trained eyes can see the vision before them unaided. Strange uses
the light of his amulet to reveal a mental image of Professor X
where Strange had been pointing. Professor X asks them to forgive
his intruding, but that he is in dire need of their assistance.
He says that normally he would have others to deal with this sort
of thing, but that they are off on a secret mission that they
cannot summon them away from. He asks that they stand in their
stead against a menace so awesome that it might sweep the world
away. Strange says that they couldn’t call themselves the
Defenders if they didn’t. Professor X thanks Strange and
asks that he meet him as quickly as he can at New Mexico’s
Carlsbad Caverns. Professor X disappears. Nighthawk says that
they should get going too, but Strange says that first he is
going to summon the raw strength that he thinks they will need.
Hulk is walking around in a forest when Strange’s head appears and tells him that the Defenders need him. Hulk asks Strange what happened to the rest of his body. Strange explains that Hulk is only seeing a psychic projection. He says that he only asks that he follow him and lend the Defenders his strength. Hulk leaps along and says that if Magician needs his strength that he will come.
Strange, Nighthawk, and Val all fly from Strange’s home and before too long they arrive at Professor X’s location. Professor X says that they got there faster than he thought possible. Strange says that Xavier’s message indicated that haste was needed., but that it is good to see him again in the flesh. Xavier says that they should go deal with the evil that lurks within the caves, but Strange says that they should wait a few more moments since there is one more Defender coming. The Hulk lands near the others. Xavier says that the Hulk being there is excellent and says that they should begin. The inside of the cave is very dark, but Strange’s amulet lights the cave up so everyone can see. Suddenly an enourmous one eyed orange monster steps forward. Hulk tells “One-Eye” to leave or he will smash, but the monster doesn’t move. Hulk leaps at the monster and hits him, but the cyclops is barely phased and swats Hulk away. Val swings Dragonfang at the cyclops, but the blade has no effect. The monster picks Val up in one of its hands. Nighthawk tries to swoop in to save her, but he is snagged by the other hand. Strange says that it is up to him then. He blasts the monster with the Bolts of Bedevilment, but once again the monster isn’t affected at all. Xavier tells Strange to restrain himself and that he is going about this the wrong way. Strange says that if he doesn’t act soon that his teammates may be killed. Xavier tells Strange to let him concentrate on the beast for a moment. Xavier strains for a moment and suddenly the cyclops disippates. Strange says that it is as if the monster were an illusion. Xavier says that is exactly what it was, but before he can say who created the illusion he, Strange, Val, and Hulk are all zapped by some energy. As the Xavier and the Defenders all slump over unconscious, Magneto laughs. He asks if this isn’t exactly as he said it would be. He says that they grovel at their feet just as the entire world will grovel at the feet of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
When they wake up they are all trapped within a magnetic field. Magneto says that they need not try to free themselves because the field is strong enough to hold even the Hulk. Magneto says that others of the “oh-so-noble ilk” have stopped him before, but that this time he cannot fail. He says that mutants will take their rightful place at the forefront of international affairs because when the sleeper behind him awakens they will rule the world. Strange says that Magneto owes them an explanation. He says that the last he heard that he had been captured by the Avengers. Strange asks how he came to this place and to such power. Magneto says that the answer to that is most ironic because it was the Avengers that are responsible for what has occurred. Magneto says that he was defeated by the Vision, but because Magneto is so powerful the Avengers were unsure of what to do with him. Thor suggested that Magneto be placed in a bubble of raw energy and sent to the very center of the Earth. Because of the magnetic lines of force that surround the planet were in such perfect balance there Magneto’s powers were completely nullified. Magneto says that he was trapped for months there, but the passing of a comet affected the magnetic forces just enough for Magneto to get free (that doesn’t seem so ironic). Magneto then shielded himself with his magnetic power as he “flew” to the surface. He thought that he has reached the surface, but he soon came to realize that it was a lost cavern that he was in. Magneto says that he cave was full of the “ruptured remains of a civilization that was ancient when homo sapiens were still living under rocks”. He says that he found complex machines and vast libraries that were written in a language that was not of this Earth. Magneto stayed there for a time deciphering the language and studying the books. Magneto then discovered a secret so spectacular that he couldn’t keep it to himself any longer. Magneto says that he finally went to the surface and recruited the Blob, Mastermind, and Unus… “all mutants like myself… evil mutants born!” Magneto says that he then restored Lorelei, a mutant that he once created. Magneto says to call it a “pygmalion complex” but he says that he had grown quite fond of her. Xavier says that is a fascinating story, but that he still hasn’t told them anything. He asks what the secert Magneto learned was and who the sleeper behind him is. Magneto says that he would have thought that Professor X would have figured it out by now. Magneto says that utilizing the knowledge of the ancients that he is growing his own mutant, the ultimate mutant. Magneto says that he has much to do and excuses himself.
Xavier sends a psychic message to the Defenders. He tells them to listen to him but not to speak. He says that there only hope of escaping and defeating Magneto before he accomplishes his goals is for all of them to concentrate. Because mental energy is electrical in nature a controlled concentration disrupts the magnetic field. The Defenders, except the Hulk who doesn’t even understand what is happening, concentrate and the magnetic field is destroyed. Magneto tells the others to defeat Xavier and his “cronies” before they ruin everything.
Strange warns them to step aside or suffer
the consequences. Blob asks “Houdini” if he really
thinks that a bunch of scrawny rubes can threaten them. Hulk asks
if “Flabby-Man” is calling him scrawny. Hulk says that
he doesn’t know what scrawny means, but that if Fat-Man is
saying it that it can’t be good. Hulk says that he will
smash him and shut him up. Hulk punches Blob, but his hand sinks
right into Blob’s stomach. Blob says that he can absorb any
impact, and that anything Hulk can dish out he can give back to
him in spades. Blob punches Hulk. Val says that no matter how
many times she strike Unus that he isn’t affected. Unus says
that is why he is called Unus the Untouchable, but that
unfortunatly for her he can touch her whenever he wants.
Mastermind asks how Strange dares to attack him and suddenly
there is a monster right next to Strange. Strange blasts the
thing, but another monster appears the second the other one
disappears. Strange says that he knows that they are only
illusions, but that he can’t take the chance that he is
wrong. Nighthawk tells Xavier that they get to fight the girl,
and that Xavier had better not blink or he will miss the action.
Xavier tells Nighthawk to have a care because Lorelei is more
than she seems. Lorelei starts to sing and causes Nighthawk and
Xavier to freeze where they are. Hulk is pounding away on Blob,
but Blob says that Hulk is wasting his time. 
Blob says that
once he has rooted himself to the ground that nothing can hurt
him. Hulk says that he will uproot Blob then and see just how
strong he is. Hulk smashes the ground and sends Blob flying into
the air. Hulk punches Blob in the stomach. Strange realizes that
the best way to fight illusions is to create illusions of
himself. Mastermind gets confused and doesn’t know where to
focus his power. Strange says that was the point as he blasts
Mastermind. Xavier struggles to fight Lorelei’s control. He
manages to reach up and activates Nighthawk’s jet pack.
Nighthawk is sent hurtling into Lorelei. Val notices that Unus
grabbed her wrist and figures that he must have dropped his force
field to do so. Val sends Unus flipping into the air with
Dragonfang. Unus flies straight to the Hulk punches Unus
unconscious. Strange says that they have to go after Magneto
before it is too late. Magneto says that it is already too late.
He says that he has already thrown the switch and activated the
final procedures and that the process cannot be reversed.
The glass chamber starts to glow from within and then it begins to tremble and shudder. A burst of light causes the chamber to shatter and the Defenders have to turn their heads. Magneto tells Strange not to look away or he might miss the chance to see a miracle. Magneto tells them to look at the creature that will soon make him master of the world.
Dr. Strange’s rating: 7 out of 10
I’m not a big fan of the story. I’m just not a mutant guy. I was under the impression that mutants were born and not made though. Could be my mistake. The funniest part of the book to me is when Strange says that he feels that Magneto owes them an explanation. Like Magneto owes Strange anything. “Well you’ve captured me now, so I am due one explanation”. Magneto feels overly sinister and bent on his label of an “evil” mutant. All he is missing is a Snidley Whiplash mustache to complete the façade. Writing gets a 3 out of 5. It’s not a bad story, but it just didn’t do much for me. Buscema looks great here and I can’t get over how good Janson’s inks help him look.
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