Defenders #18
Title: "Rampage!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Dan Green
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Roy Thomas
Dr. Strange, Nighthawk, and Power Man stand face to face with the Wrecking Crew. They stand there looking at each other until a squad of police cars, with sirens blaring, arrive at the scene. Wrecker says that they should have figured that a building falling down would bring the police. Wrecker tells Thunderball to take care of them. Thunderball says that he has been waiting for a chance to test his ball and chain out on a moving target. Thunderball hurls his weapon. Strange tries to erect the Shields of Seraphim to protect the cars, but Thunderball’s ball and chain simply moves around the shield and then moves back into its original course and strikes the squad car. The other cars keep coming, and so Wrecker says that they are asking for this. Wrecker tells Piledriver and Bulldozer to finish the cops. Strange says that he wants this stopped. Wrecker says that he hates to shatter Strange's illusions, but that he isn’t stopping anything. Wrecker smashes his crowbar into the ground and breaks a water main. The pressure knocks Strange, Nighthawk, and Power Man off their feet. Wrecker tells Piledriver and Bulldozer to get moving. They said they stayed around in case he needed them, but that since he doesn’t that they will go. Bulldozer charges right through one of the cars, and Piledriver smashes one with his fist. Piledriver says that they should go before they send in the heavy artillery. Bulldozer says that he agrees. They go to leave, but bounce off an invisible barrier trapping them. Wrecker says that if they concentrate their attacks together that they can shatter it. Strange says that while the Wrecking Crew does that that they will be smashing the Wrecking Crew. Wrecker says that they think that they got them, but that all they are going to get is dead. He says that they gave them a chance to walk away alive, but now they are going to have to be carried out.
In Cobbler’s Roost, Vermont, Valkyrie walks along feeling alone. The Defenders had offered to help her, but she decided that she needed to do this alone. Val isn’t sure where to start, but she feels that if she ever hopes to find the woman Barbara that she was transformed from that it will be here. A man spots Valkyrie and thinks to himself, “After all these months… it can’t be… not her! I’d better phone the boss… and fast! He’ll wanna know about this!”
Back in Manhattan, Thunderball hurls his
ball and chain at Luke Cage. He says that he has heard of the
Hero for Hire, but that whatever he is getting paid that it
isn’t enough. Power Man says that he always to be Hank
Aaron. He uses a steel girder and smacks the ball away. He says
that he used to be a “three sewer stick ball man” when
he was younger. Power Man thinks to himself that it is lucky that
the girder took most of the impact. While Thunderball is waiting
for his ball and chain to return to him Power Man smashes into
Thunderball and then has to duck under the ball and chain.
Piledriver punches Luke Cage in the back and says that he
isn’t going to miss him. Piledriver pulls his fist back and
is about to level Power Man when he is hit by the shovel portion
of a digging crane. Nighthawk says that his father taught him how
to use the rig, and Power Man says that when Nighthawk sees his
father to tell him that he owes him a big favor. Bulldozer says
that no one “bushwhacks” his “amigos” and
walks away from it. Nighthawk swings the steel hook at Bulldozer,
but 
Bulldozer plows
right through it and then right through the rig itself. Nighthawk
leaps from the rig as it collapses. Bulldozer tells him to fight
like a man. Strange says that to fight them all one needs is
power and that he has it in abundance. Piledriver says that
Strange isn’t the only one with power. Piledriver hits the
ground, but Strange just floats into the air. While he floats
there, Wrecker comes up from behind and wallops Strange.
Nighthawk and Power Man help Strange up, and Strange says that
the cloak took most of the impact. Thunderball asks why they
persist in this. Strange asks what choice they have. Wrecker says
that they can leave or die. Strange asks why they think that they
can destroy them. Cage says that they just look like a couple
muscle bound creeps. Wrecker says that they possess the power of
the gods.
Not long ago, Wrecker stands in his prison fatigues with his three inmate friends. Wrecker says that the power of the Asgardian Norn queen lies dormant in his crowbar. He says that he has been hiring guys to keep track of it for him, but that now it is his again. The others ask him what the big deal about the crowbar is. Wrecker says that they know his reputation and that he used to be able to hold his own against Thor, but that Thor short-circuited his powers on the subway’s third rail. Wrecker says that he is sure that the power is still inside the crowbar, and that he is willing to share it with them if they are game. They all decide to grab hold of the crowbar and asks what they have to lose. Wrecker says that they only have their lives to lose because if the lightning doesn’t release the power they will all be fried. Lightning hits the crowbar and the four convicts are transformed. Thunderball says that not only aren’t they dead, but that he feels stronger than ever. Wrecker says that they are his partners and that from now it is the Wrecker and his Wrecking Crew.
Wrecker says that there isn’t anything that can stop them. Power Man says that they will see about that, but Strange says that there is no more need for violence. Nighthawk asks him what he means. Strange says that their powers are magical in nature and that he is the master of magic as the Sorcerer Supreme. Strange starts draining the Wrecking Crew’s power out of them and into Strange. Though it pains him to do it, Strange continues pulling their power off of them. Suddenly, Strange reels in pain. He says that something is assaulting the mystic barrier that he is maintaining.
Outside the mystic barrier, Hulk is pounding on the wall made of nothing and telling it that he has come to help his friends. Hulk says that he thought that they had betrayed him, but now he knows that he is wrong. Nighthawk and Cage rush to stop the Hulk from pounding on the barrier, but Hulk finally pounds the barrier hard enough to knock Dr. Strange unconscious. Strange falls over. Wrecker says that he is out, and that they have their powers back. Wrecker tells the Crew to hit them hard. Bulldozer starts to charge Hulk, but Hulk just smacks him and knocks him unconscious. Wrecker comes up behind Hulk and chokes Hulk with his crowbar across his neck. Wrecker says that they are looking for something in the wreck, and that they aren’t leaving until they find it. The crowd watches in terror as the Wrecker is seemingly choking the Hulk to death. Wrecker tells Hulk to give it up and that nothing can withstand his power. Hulk says that he hears Wrecker, but that the doesn’t believe him. Hulk flips Wrecker off of him and towards Power Man. Power Man decks Wrecker and sends him hurtling towards Piledriver. They collide and plow into the wall together. Wrecker says that they are making monkeys out of his Crew, but that they aren’t going to make a monkey out of him. Wrecker is about to hit the unconscious Strange. Nighthawk says that sounds like Wrecker’s style, but he sets Strange aside and leaps into the air. Wrecker’s crowbar hits the pavement. Nighthawk dives into Wrecker and kicks him in the head. Wrecker says that was a nice try, but that it isn’t happening. Wrecker tells Nighthawk to stand still while he splits him open with his crowbar. Piledriver says that Nighthawk isn’t worth it, and that he barrier that was stopping them from leaving is down. Piledriver says that they can come back for Thunderball’s gizmo later. Wrecker says that he doesn’t like the idea, but that Piledriver is probably right. Wrecker strikes the ground and blows everyone off their feet. Wrecker, Piledriver, and Bulldozer start to run. Wrecker asks Thunderball why he isn’t coming. Thunderball says that he found it. He says that it must have been unearthed during their battle. He says that he promised that they would find it. Wrecker tells Thunderball to stop talking and open it up. He says that if it contains what Thunderball said it would that they will be unstoppable. Thunderball opens the case and discovers that it is empty.
Dr. Strange’s Defenders: 8 out of 10
Love the fight, the fight scenes, the match ups, and the Wrecking Crew origin. All good stuff. Sal does a great job pencilling this battle. The only thing that kinda bummed me out was that the Hulk, who has been minimally effective as a Defender in general, has now become an impediment to his team. The Valkyrie aside could have been a little more involved as well, but still a great issue as far as I’m concerned.
RETURN TO DR. STRANGE'S DEFENDERS