Defenders vol. 2 #1
Title: “Once More the End of the World”
Writer: Kurt Busiek and Erik Larsen
Artist: Erik Larsen
Inker: Klaus Jansen
Colors: Gregory Wright with Color Arts
Editor: Tom Brevoort
In San Francisco Patsy Walker finally finishes up a very long book tour. As she walks down the street everyone is ignoring the homeless man on the ground. Patsy’s demon sight kicks in and notices something not quite human about the man. She helps him up. Patsy takes him to get something to eat inside “Tommy’s Joynt Sandwiches Cocktails”. As the man eats soup he says that not many people would have stopped for him. He says that now he has a chance to reach mother. Patsy says that it is wonderful and asks where his mother lives. The man corrects her and says that he isn’t going to reach his mother.
Three weeks later in Washington DC the sky is full of a fleet of Toad Men ships. They just appeared. When Andrews Air Force Base sends out a squadron against them the Toad Men start to shoot the jets down. Bruce Banner is walking down the street and recognizes the ships. He hulks out. Hulk, naturally, says that he is going to smash the flying things. Hulk leaps up onto one of the ships. He recognizes the Toad Men as the Toad Man screams in shock. Hulk says that he hates “Ugly-Men”.
At the same time in Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange’s astral form returns to his body from strengthening the barriers between our dimension and several hostile dimensions. Strange tells Wong that he is weary, but instantly senses that something is wrong. Wong tells Strange about the Borers from the Negative Zone that have invaded the city and are chewing through buildings. Dr. Strange says that this is something that the Avengers or Spider-Man should be dealing with. He says that he has important things to do. Wong says that Strange can’t mean that, but suddenly Strange senses a mystical threat and since that is his department he flies out the window. Strange comes face to face with the Night-Crawler. Night-Crawler says that Strange will tell him how he came to Earth or he will destroy this dimension. Wong worries that Strange’s lack of human contact is making him aloof.
In Atlantis, Namor is expressing his outrage over the pollution and the radiation they receive from the surface world to Vashti and Namorita. Suddenly Namor hears a disturbance. He swims out and says that this better not be from the surface world. The disturbance is being created by “faceless stone beings” as they drive the Atlantean army backwards. Namor flies in and starts fighting the Mindless Ones from Dormammu’s dimension.
In Hawaii, Silver Surfer is talking with Alicia Masters. Alicia is telling Surfer that she isn’t coming with him on his sojourn into space. She says that Earth is her home. Surfer says that they aren’t going forever, but Alicia tells him that she has a European tour with her work coming up. Suddenly Surfer is attacked by Quasimodo. Surfer sends Alicia back to earth in a protective cocoon. Quasimodo says that his sentiment will be his undoing.
Back in Hawaii Hulk demands to know why “Ugly-Men” are attacking him. The Toad Man says that they didn’t even know they were on Earth. The Toad Man says that they were supposed to be attacking the Kree stronghold Trellnax-3. Hulk wonders if the Toad Men didn’t want to come there who brought them there.
Yandroth sits in Port Promontory, Maine fishing. He lifts his hand and makes a magical gesture and Warlord Kaa and his shadow warriors are attacking Alpha Flight in Ontario. He twitches his hand again and a squad of Living Erasers are in Tokyo fighting Big Hero Six. One more gesture and Genosha is invaded by the Lizard-Men of Tok. All the while, behind Yandroth in a lighthouse, Patsy Walker is being held in chains. Patsy fights off the spell keeping her unconscious. She transforms into Hellcat and escapes her chains. Hellcat discovers that Yandroth is holding Gaea, or Mother Earth, captive.
In New York atop Richmond Enterprises, Kyle Richmond lands his helicopter and exits with a blond haired woman. A swarm of reporters start asking him questions. One asks him about his new collection of “mystic trash” and his consulting with mystics. The silent blond haired woman, his head of security, holds the reporters at bay as he makes his way inside. Inside Kyle gets a phone call from Hellcat in Maine who just swam to freedom. She says that she needs help there, “A-level” help. She says that she can’t get through to the Avengers because her ID card is back with her things in San Francisco. Kyle turns on the television and sees the Avengers battling Gorgilla. Kyle says that the Avengers might not be able to make it, but he is going to get Hellcat help. Kyle calls out for Papa Hagg. Moments later Papa Hagg is enacting a spell. Kyle tells Hagg to make sure to get “all four”.
Suddenly Hulk, Dr. Strange, Namor, and the Silver Surfer are teleported to Point Promontory. Namor tells Strange that he wants no part in his Defenders reunion, and that he has to protect his kingdom. Strange says that this isn’t his doing. Namor insults the Hulk and the fighting begins. Silver Surfer breaks up their fight by shooting a cosmic blast between them. Namor and Hulk are about to turn their anger upon Surfer when Hellcat interrupts. She explains how Yandroth is responsible for the worldwide chaos. Suddenly Yandroth appears. The Defenders are all unimpressed with his arrival.
Yandroth reviews his appearances and says that the reason he wanted to destroy this realm is because he isn’t even from this realm. He is from another realm that he cannot get back into. He trapped Gaea so that he could harness her power to summon the Ravagers of Creation. Four giant elementals come forth- One fire, one air, one water, and one earth. The Defenders go forth to fight the Ravagers, but tell Strange that it isn’t because he told them to. Hellcat leaps at Yandroth, but Yandroth punches her away. The Ravagers dominate the Defenders and come together. They reach their arms out together and begin the end of the world. Hulk gets back up and attacks his earth Ravager. Strange realizes that they don’t have to keep all four Ravagers apart, but that they only need to keep one separated. All four of the unite against the earth Ravager. The other three enact an incomplete spell and all four Ravagers disappear.
Yandroth lies dying on the ground as the Defenders go right back to fighting and bickering with each other. Yandroth remarks that they beat him again, and that they did it even though they hate each other. Yandroth says that he can think of no greater punishment for them all and curses them as he dies. Gaea goes free. Namor says that this is just the last ravings of a madman. Strange says that it might be more than that as Yandroth wielded great power as he died and that there might be something to this curse. Strange suggests that they go to his house to investigate. None of the others think that this is a good idea however, and they take off.
Back in New York, Papa Hagg tells Kyle Richmond that the curse is very real and that this isn’t over. Kyle says, “Really? Cool…”
RETURN TO DR. STRANGE'S DEFENDERS