Defenders vol. 2 #10
Title: “Head to Head”
Writer: Kurt Busiek and Erik Larsen
Scripters: Kurt Busiek and Erik Stephenson
Penciller: Erik Larsen
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: Gregory Wright & Tom Smith’s Color Arts
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Months ago in the Kaibab Plateau of Arizona, the Headmen arrive on a spirit quest. Jerry Morgan repeats his objection to this trip, and says that this “mystic foofaraw is nonsense”. He says that their time would be better served performing real science. Chondu tells him to inject the psychogenic expander into his carapace and then be quiet. Chondu says that Morgan knows nothing of mysticism. Chondu says that he wants a human body. Morgan says that he is doing as he promised, but he still thinks… Nagan cuts Morgan off and says that they all know what he thinks, and that he hasn’t shut up for days. Ruby asks Morgan what is the unknown, but science yet to be discovered. Chondu makes contact with an incredible strong mind who is in a sea of energy. Chondu creates an opening and M.O.D.O.K. falls out. The Headmen recognize M.O.D.O.K., and M.O.D.O.K. asks if he is finally back on Earth. He says that he had gone beyond seeking power, but that he was overwhelmed and couldn’t find his way back. Nagan says that now he is back, and he owes it all to the Headmen. M.O.D.O.K. says that he is in their debt, and that he will aid them for a time, as will AIM once he takes them over again.
Back in the present, Hulk, Strange, Namor, and Silver Surfer return to Earth to find the planet ravaged. Hellcat, Nighthawk, and Valkyrie bring them up to speed. Nighthawk says that they are the only ones not under control because they had touched the idol. Nighthawk says that they have to do something right away. Namor says that now they can see how he feels knowing that Atlantis has been taken over by Attuma. Hulk says that Fish-Man complains too much, and that he is sick of him. Surfer says that if they are gonna start fighting that he is going back out into deep space. Strange says that Surfer is right, and that they don’t have time for discord. Strange strengthens the mystic thread that protects Nighthawk, Hellcat, and Valkyrie so that it now protects them all. Hulk says that now they’re going to go smash the monster.
At the Headmen’s Manhattan base, Orrgo stands on top of it continually emitting hypnotic energy. Inside, Jerry Morgan re-introduces himself to his junior high school tormentors. Morgan says that while they all tormented him the one thing that got him through it was that he knew one day he would make them pay. Morgan says that unfortunately for them today is that day. Morgan uses a gas to shrink all his former tormentors down to a tiny size. Morgan then releases two tiny dino-beasts that he bred. As the dino-beasts crunch away, Morgan says that he will have to think of a punishment for all the women that refused to go out with him. Nagan asks one of the AIM scientists if they can seal him off from the room Morgan is in because he is trying to concentrate. Nagan solves all traffic congestion by deciding when people are allowed to leave their homes. Nagan moves on to the problem of global warming. Chondu is performing magic trying to create a new body for himself. Chondu tries another spell, but his subject dies just like all the others had. Chondu orders that more scrolls and grimoires be brought to him now that Orrgo had them brought together. Chondu says that he will not rest until he has tried every spell, and he has a new body. From another part of the complex, M.O.D.O.K. watches Ruby Tuesday hooked into the world’s most powerful computers. He says that she is charting seven dimensional objects and trying to predict what their effects would be on a three dimensional world. The Scientist Supreme says that the Headmen are lunatics, and that they are wasting their time and resources. M.O.D.O.K. says that he will continue to aid them as he directed. Scientist Supreme says that these people are insane and not capable of ruling the world. M.O.D.O.K. says that AIM is not about trying to rule the world. M.O.D.O.K. says that they are devoted to pushing the limits of science, but that lately they have been complacent and become little more than engineers and weapons dealers. M.O.D.O.K. says that the Headmen think with few limits and that they will try anything. M.O.D.O.K. says that they will follow them, aid them, and observe them. M.O.D.O.K. says that if they fall that they will have a great deal of new data to investigate. An AIM agent contacts M.O.D.O.K. and says that a group of attackers are coming, and that they are unaffected by Orrgo’s mental blasts. M.O.D.O.K. says that is very interesting, and asks the Scientist Supreme if he thinks that they should notify Nagan as he is in charge. M.O.D.O.K. checks the view screen and see the Defenders charge towards the Headmen’s base. M.O.D.O.K. tells Nagan that the Defenders are attacking, and that they are not affected by Orrgo. Nagan says that he is impressed, but that he will be more impressed if they can resist what he has in mind next for them. Nagan gives Orrgo a mental command.
The Defenders stand outside the building
that Orrgo is standing upon, when a blinding light flashes. 
Suddenly the
Defenders are looking at an army of super-villains including
Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Doctor Doom, Absorbing Man,
Juggernaut, Sandman, Wizard, Venom, Mysterio, Rhino, Destroyer,
and the Abomination among many others. Hulk charges into the
Rhino and says that he isn’t worried about enemies, and that
he can smash them. Hulk says that he thought the light was going
to be trouble. Strange says that he fears that they are simply
too outnumbered to win by sheer brute force. Strange traps Rhino
within the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Hulk says that he was
smashing Rhino, and asks who he is going to smash now. Namor
tells Hulk to look around him and pick someone. Namor punches
Electro.
Inside the other Headmen gather to watch the fight. Morgan asks if the Defenders cast offs are back. Nagan says that it is all of them this time. Morgan asks why Nagan didn’t use the Avengers and Fantastic Four against them. Nagan says that it was a consideration, but that the army that he gathered has more of a killer instinct. He says that they will make short work of the Defenders. Ruby asks why they don’t just have Orrgo erase them from existence. Chondu says no and that if it weren’t for the Defenders that he would still have his original body. Chondu says that he wants them to suffer, and then he wants their bodies to work with.
Outside the battle continues. Namor punches Juggernaut while Blaastar jumps Silver Surfer. Namor says that it is Strange that none of their opponents have uttered a word. Valkyrie says that they are all held in Orrgo’s thrall. She says that they are all unaware of their actions. Val’s winged horse bangs into the Green Goblin. Nighthawk says that gives him an idea. He says that they are all so unaware that he thinks that they wouldn’t notice if they disappeared. Nighthawk explains that the big four all seem to think that ramming straight through is the best way to go. Nighthawk says that they have that covered, and says that he thinks that they could do more damage on the inside. Nighthawk, Hellcat, and Val all charge into the building. Strange tries to call out to them, but he is knocked unconscious by Absorbing Man’s ball and chain.
M.O.D.O.K. notices that those Nagan deemed “cast-offs” have pierced their defenses. Scientist Supreme asks if he should alert Nagan. M.O.D.O.K. says that he doesn’t think so. He says that they have the same data that they do, and that they are in charge.
Surfer is stunned when Strange hits the ground out cold. Absorbing Man nails Surfer from behind with the same ball and chain. Surfer is knocked straight towards Blaastar’s blast. Juggernaut holds the Hulk from behind while Abomination punches him in the stomach. Doctor Octopus has Namor wrapped up and Venom has Namor’s head in this mouth. Klaw is still waiting to attack him. Namor says that there are too many opponents.
Inside, the Headmen are cheering their seeming win. Ruby notices that there are only four of them out there, and asks if there weren’t more of them before. Nagan realizes that the others must be inside, and wonders why M.O.D.O.K. didn’t tell them.
Elsewhere, M.O.D.O.K. says to transfer all recent data and give the evacuation order. M.O.D.O.K. says that Ruby and Chondu’s experiments would give them much to investigate, and that even Nagan and Morgan’s would prove interesting. M.O.D.O.K. says that the Headmen still had Orrgo.
Nagan reaches for the idol that controls Orrgo, but Hellcat scratches him from behind before he gets it. Nighthawk swoops in and grabs the idol. Nighthawk orders Orrgo to freeze the air around the Headmen and all the villains outside.
Hulk is confused as all his opponents
suddenly freeze. Hulk figures that Dumb Magician must have did
something waving his hands and saying words. Hulk says that he
doesn’t care. Hulk laughs and says that now he can smash
even more. Hulk punches Abomination. Nighthawk tells Hulk to calm
down, and says that he doesn’t want to smash all his best
sparing partners. Strange asks what happened. Hulk says that he
does want to smash them. Strange spots the idol that controls
Orrgo. He also notices that the Star of Capistan is powering it.
Strange says that he must investigate, but that first he must set
things right. Holding the idol, Strange commands Orrgo to undo
all the damage that he has done. All the buildings are restored.
The altered superheroes are restored to themselves. Even the army
of super-villains are transported back to where they came from.
Namor says that is amazing, and says that they could use that to
free Atlantis. Strange says that they might even use it to
circumvent the curse that binds them all together. 
Strange says
that through Orrgo they could prevent all evil acts from
happening, or even from being considered. He says that they could
make it a world without fear, hatred, or evil. He says that they
could make it a world that had no need for Defenders. Hellcat
smacks the idol out of Dr. Strange’s hands. The idol falls
to the ground and breaks. Namor asks Hellcat what she has done.
Nighthawk asks at what cost would their plan be enacted.
Nighthawk asks if they would really do away with free will and
independent thought. Nighthawk says that they are starting to
sound like the bad guys. Strange starts to say that he disagrees,
but he is interrupted by a now no longer controlled Orrgo. Orrgo
says that he is enraged, and that never has one of his race been
treated this way. He says that he is going to devastate this
planet. Hellcat reminds Orrgo that his people have been here
before, but that every time humans defeat them. Hellcat asks if
he is sure he wants to fight them. Orrgo decides that he will
leave, but adds that his people will not return until humanity
has been destroyed and replaced.
Namor says, “Finally it ends. Now we liberate Atlantis.” Strange says, “Of course, Namor… of course”. The Star of Capistan floats into Strange’s hand.
Dr. Strange’s rating: 8 out of 10
The writing is 4.5 out of 5. Man this issue really works. Nagan does exactly what I would think he would do. If you controlled everyone on Earth why wouldn’t you send all the big gun villains after your opponents. I love how M.O.D.O.K. manipulates everything from behind the scenes. He picks his moment and goes. I love the foreshadowing of how the “cast-offs” can’t figure out why the Big Four are behaving the way that they are. Sal and Erik do a good job, but there is too much going on in this issue. Larsen’s pencils are also a little gooney looking for my taste. Still the image of Strange’s face as he talks about changing the world to suit their needs is downright sinister looking.
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