Defenders vol. 2 #6
Title: “Rumble in the Sky”
Writer: Kurt Busiek and Erik Larsen
Penciller: Erik Larsen
Inker: Al Gordon
Colors: Gregory Wright and Tom Smith’s Color Arts
Editor: Tom Brevoort
The Bi-Beast bids the Defenders welcome. Hulk immediately attacks Bi-Beast. Dr. Strange tries to tell Hulk to stop. He says that they just arrived and don’t know who is friend or foe. Hulk says that “Funny-Head” always attacks him and so Hulk is going to attack him first. Strange asks why he bothers. Namor says that they are there trying to reason with an imbecile. Namor says that he will not be held responsible for what he does if this continues much longer. Hulk asks Bi-Beast why he won’t fall. Bi-Beast hits Hulk back and says it is because he does not want to. Bi-Beast says that though Hulk’s power is impressive it is but a fraction of Bi-Beast’s power. Bi-Beast’s punch knocks Hulk off the Sky Island.
Namor and Strange just look at each other. Strange says that when the curse is lifted that the Defenders will help Namor. Namor says that it is a hollow promise and that his people are suffering now. Strange says again that surely Namor sees that just as he was taken away from Atlantis by the curse so would they all if they were all in Atlantis. Namor says that he doesn’t even see why they are there.
Bi-Beast starts to get up and says to his skull-brother that he doesn’t know how or why the Hulk attacked him. Suddenly the curse goes into effect and Hulk is returned to the Sky Island with the other Defenders. Hulk says that he likes the curse right now as he attacks Bi-Beast again.
Namor wonders why the Silver Surfer isn’t there. Strange says that it does bear investigation. He says that Surfer may be dead or that the curse may have certain limits. Namor says that he can’t help but envy Surfer.
Hulk and Bi-Beast are still fighting when Red Raven and his people show up. Red Raven demands that Bi-Beast stops fighting. Hulk keeps hitting Bi-Beast so Strange puts Hulk in a ball of the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Strange introduces himself. Red Raven introduces Strange and then tells him that he is not welcome and to leave. Strange says that a curse prevents them from leaving until a threat to the world has been neutralized. Red Raven says that they will leave or face the wrath of the Avian race. Strange says that it isn’t by choice that he is staying. Suddenly Nighthawk, Valkyrie, and Hellcat arrive via Papa Hagg’s spell to follow the curse. Red Raven is ticked that even more intruders have arrived. Strange says that they are the last of their teammates. Strange suggests that Raven just let them look for the threat so they can leave. Red Raven says that he isn’t going to just give them free rein. Namor yells at Red Raven for being “bullheaded and arrogant”. Namor says that he will have to defeat Red Raven again. Red Raven explains to Namor that the Red Raven he fought was just an artificial being, like the Bi-Beast, though it believed itself to be real. When the fake Red Raven thought “his” people died he committed suicide, but the people were all still safe in suspended animation. He says that when Diablo revived the artificial Red Raven that it started the true revival. Red Raven says that since then he and his people have built this new Sky Island. Red Raven says that if there is a threat that his people will find it for them. The Defenders don’t care for it, but are forced to accept the terms.
Dr. Strange says that the Hulk has quieted down now so he will let him out. As soon as the spell is lifted Hulk knocks out Strange with a punch. He says that nobody does that to him, even the dumb magician. Hulk attacks Bi-Beast again. Namor tries to pull Hulk off, but Hulk punches Namor into a wall. Hulk turns back to find Valkyrie. Valkyrie points out that she isn’t attacking Hulk, and that the only one who wants to fight is Hulk. Hulk puts his hands down, but adds, “Sword-Girl has dumb spear. Sword-Girl should have sword.” Hulk agrees to stop fighting if they will just send Bi-Beast away.
As they take Strange to the medical unit, Namor says that it is always more delays. Nighthawk tells “Subby” to relax, and that once they’re doe there he will try to talk to Strange about helping Namor. He says that after all they are a team. Namor says for Nighthawk to call him either “Sub-Mariner” or “Namor”, and that he would just as soon see the team disbanded. He asks Nighthawk why he is so proud to be a Defender. Nighthawk says that he enjoys it because it allows him to make up for his past mistakes. Namor asks why he doesn’t just join the Avengers. Nighthawk says that the Avengers are all rules and regulations. Nighthawk supposes that some of it has to do with pride since he has actually lead the Defenders, but that he would just be another face on the Avengers. Strange is diagnosed with a mild concussion.
Elsewhere Red Raven’s daughter and Kestrus aren’t finding anything wrong. Suddenly the princess spots the sigil of the Bloodraven Cult. She says that the place should be boarded up and goes to investigate. She is discovered.
Dr. Strange wakes up just as a roughed up princess returns. She tries to talk about the Bloodravens but collapses.
The Defenders smash into the Bloodravens’ temple. Dr. Strange tells them to halt, but Hulk says that it is finally time to smash. The Bloodravens try to run, but Strange discovers a bomb. Strange tells Namor and Nighthawk to grab one of the Bloodravens hoping that he might know how to turn it off. Namor can’t reach him before the curse returns him to the Sky Island. Nighthawk catches one but has to fight him. Strange manages to turn Hulk into Bruce Banner. Strange explains that they need Banner to defuse a bomb, but the Banner turns back into the Hulk. Strange keeps bringing Banner back and the curse keeps bringing the Savage Hulk back. Banner is almost finished and in the middle of very delicate work, but suddenly Savage Hulk returns and smashes the machinery.
The bomb explodes.
Dumb Magician rating: 9 out of 10
Both the writing and art are just short of total perfection. The story is exciting and the action is cool. Unexpected twists like Hulk knocking out Dr. Strange are amazing to read. The story does lag just a bit and Strange and Red Raven seem to tell each other the same thing for an entire page.
I know some people have a problem with Erik Larsen’s pencils, but this issue really shows what he can do. Hulk and Bi-Beast’s fight is drawn around the story as it happens. The art in both 5 and 6 does seem to be helped quite a bit by the new inkers. Maybe the biggest concern with Larsen’s work is the sketchy look to it, and Jansen’s sketchy inking style didn’t do it any favors. These new inks allow the power of Larsen’s pencils to shine through without as much distraction caused by “normal” scenes.
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