Defenders vol. 2 #11
Title: “Vengeance”
Writers: Kurt Busiek and Erik Larsen
Penciller: Erik Larsen
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: Gregory Wright & Tom Smith's Color Arts
Editor: Tom Brevoort
(Note: This issue has the dialogue from events that already happened running concurrently with the actual events of this issue, but for the purposes of clarity I’m going to do them chronologically. So the first portion of this review will be a strategy meeting with the Defenders followed by the actual attack).
Namor says that they can’t wait any longer to liberate Atlantis. Strange says that they need a plan. He says that Attuma and his troops have held them off once before, and that even with the Surfer’s power that they must not act rashly. Namor agrees but says that they must make haste. He says that having his people oppressed by Attuma for even hours more is unbearable to him. Valkyrie and Nighthawk say that they understand and that they won’t let him down. Nighthawk tries to get Hulk involved. Hulk says that he doesn’t care about Bunny-Skull. He says that he just wants to smash Tooth-Face. Surfer says that they need to cut the small talk and get to making the plan. Strange says that it is important that they don’t underestimate their opponent, and that as long as Nagala has the Serpent Crown that they will be unable to take them by surprise. She may even know when they are coming down to the minute. Namor says that it should be a frontal assault then. Nighthawk says that it has to be quick as well so that the “heavy-hitters” aren’t pulled away again. Strange says that there are other ways to surprise their adversaries. Strange says that Attuma might be prepared for the Defenders, but that they don’t have to meet his expectations. Strange suggests that if the Hulk were to attack Piranha instead of Orka, and Namor were to attack someone else. Hulk cuts Strange off and says that he will smash Tooth-Face. Nighthawk tries to tell Hulk to listen to Strange, but Hulk just repeats that he will smash Tooth-Face. Strange tries to explain that they are trying to confound Attuma so if Hulk attacks Piranha… Hulk cuts Strange off and says that he will smash Tooth-Face. Strange sighs and says that they will try to explain it again later. Strange says that he will fight Sea Urchin, and that for the moment they will assume that Valkyrie will attack Piranha. Strange says that Silver Surfer should be able to take down Tiger Shark quickly. Strange suggests that Hellcat’s powers should let her keep Nagala busy for a while. Strange says that Namor will attack Attuma’s barbarians. Namor asks if his power wouldn’t be better served against Attuma. Strange says that Nighthawk will engage Attuma. Nighthawk says that Strange must not like him much. Strange says that there is a method to his madness. Strange says that Hellcat’s abilities that she learned in Hell should let her resist Nagala’s powers, and that Strange has faith in Nighthawk’s abilities. He says that they are buying them time. Strange says that he will deal with Sea Urchin and that it should not take long.
Hulk says that he will smash Tooth-Face. He says that he fought Tooth-Face before, but that the stupid curse made him go away. Hulk says that he will smash Orka good this time. Namor asks if he is to be content with Attuma’s hordes. He asks what about his vengeance. Strange tells Namor to have patience and that all will be clear shortly. He says that he doesn’t think it will take Val or Surfer very long to defeat Piranha and Tiger Shark. He says that each victory will allow them to concentrate greater power elsewhere. Strange says that Attuma’s hordes seem limitless but that they will overcome them. Hulk says that he will smash Tooth-Face. Strange says that Nighthawk and Hellcat only have to keep Attuma and Nagala occupied. He says that the idea is to have the less powerful Defenders occupy the most powerful foes while the other foes are defeated. Strange says that once the field is clear they will be able to concentrate on those remaining. Strange says that if he is going to defeat Nagala that he must do so without interruption. Strange says that while he engages Nagala that the Surfer can use his power cosmic to take the oxygen out of the water around her. Strange says that it won’t affect him because he will be breathing magically. Nighthawk asks what he is supposed to do. Namor tells him to lead Attuma on a chase and lead him right to him. Namor says that they should go, and that maybe Hellcat can convince the Hulk of the wisdom of their plan. Hellcat tells Valkyrie that when this is all over that she has to go and call her parents. Val says that she doesn’t know. Hellcat says that she can’t keep avoiding this. Val says that it isn’t that easy.
The Defenders swim towards Atlantis. Attuma and his Deep Six are waiting for them. He asks them how they hope to succeed where they failed so miserably before. Tiger Shark says that it is just like Nagala predicted. Orka says that the Hulk is his. Attuma says that they will destroy them. Hulk screams that he will smash Tooth-Face and rushes Orka. Strange and Namor try to call out to him, but Hulk just bulldozes ahead. Hulk decks Namor in the face. Valkyrie attacks Piranha. Surfer blasts Tiger Shark while Hellcat engages Nagala. Namor swims into the barbarians. Nighthawk decks Attuma in the face. Attuma laughs and says that the Defenders must have lost their minds to attack him this way. Hellcat dodges Nagala’s blast.
Sea Urchin tries to blast Strange, but Strange simply enacts a spell and Sea Urchin is left in the water without his battle suit. Valkyrie says that the mortal is going to drown without his armor. She tells Strange to do something. Strange reluctantly puts Urchin in a protective bubble though he says that he thinks that it is more than he deserves.
Hulk punches
Orka in the face. Hulk says that he is the strongest one there
is. Orka says that he draws his strength from the surrounding
whales, and that all he has to do is call out to more whales and
become more powerful. Hulk says that Tooth-Face needs fishes to
get strong, but that he doesn’t need fishes he only needs to
get mad. Hulk punches Orka and breaks two of the teeth that
surround his face.
Namor continues fighting Attuma’s hordes. Valkyrie lays into Piranha, and Surfer blasts Tiger Shark. Strange and Surfer are helping Namor wipe out Attuma’s barbarians. Nighthawk runs from Attuma. Hellcat leaps over Nagala’s blast and says that if she were a guy that she would have been neutered. Nagala finally figures out that her spells seem to slip off her form without affecting her. Nagala builds a magical cage around Hellcat and traps her. Hellcat says that she doesn’t suppose that she could just surrender. Nagala says that Hellcat’s only option is death. Nagala throws a blast, but it is blocked by Strange’s shield. Nagala says that Strange is going to regret that. Strange says that he doubts it. Surfer and Namor swim at Nagala, but she repels them. Strange says that he can deal with Nagala. Nagala says that Strange has no inkling of the crown’s power. Nagala passes out as Surfer drains the oxygen from around her. Strange removes the Nagala’s crown. Strange, Surfer, Hellcat, and Namor offer to help Hulk with Orka, but Hulk tells them to go away. Hulk says that he will smash Tooth-Face alone because he is the strongest one there is. All the teeth are broken around Orka’s face, and he says that he is going to call more whales. Hellcat asks if they are just supposed to leave Hulk. Surfer says that Hulk has faced many foes without their help. Namor says that he doesn’t care as long as they don’t hurt Atlantis.
Nighthawk is still running from Attuma.
Nighthawk passes by Namor. Val, Hellcat, and Strange are fighting
barbarians. Attuma realizes that the others have all been
defeated. Namor says that as their commander Attuma belongs with
them. With Namor’s first punch, one of the “ears”
on Attuma’s head breaks off. The next blow shatters half the
helmet off. The third blow knocks the helmet clean off his head. 
Namor’s
fourth punch knocks Attuma unconscious. Attuma hurtles into a
rock.
In Atlantis, the people all hail Namor while Namor hugs Namorita. She says that is was so terrible. Namor says that it is over now. Namor says that even though the curse did not take them away this time that it is still a danger. Namor says that they need to prepare for that eventuality. He says that there must be repairs and fortifications, and that they need to institute better guard patrols. Namor says that when he does disappear again that there needs to be a smooth transfer of power. He appoints a Council of Three. He says that Namorita will represent the Royal House, Seth will represent the Atlantean military, and Andromeda will represent the common people. He says that they will act as one in his absence. Strange says that to help out he will create a magical ward-ring that will alert Atlantis if anyone approaches with evil intent, and that what’s more the spell will work within Atlantis so that if anyone within the walls plans evil they will be exposed. Nighthawk sarcastically says that it would be easier if they just did that to the entire world. Surfer says that is true. Strange says that he hadn’t thought of that, and Namor says that maybe they should. Hellcat says that they can’t do that, and Nighthawk says that he was kidding.
The trumpets blow and Namor introduces the Defenders to the people as friends of the Realm Eternal. The people all cheer. Surfer says that he finds this adulation unsettling. Namor says that Atlantis endures and that it will never again be endangered. The people all cheer Namor, Atlantis, and the Defenders. Later the team sits at a feast. Namor thanks them for helping him restore peace. Nighthawk says that is what being a part of a team is all about. Hellcat asks if they ever eat anything but seafood there. Namor says that tomorrow they work on breaking the curse, but that tonight is for celebration. Valkyrie is about to start making excuses about why she doesn’t want to contact her parents, but Hellcat tells her not to give her that look. She says that when they get back to New York that she has to call them. Hellcat says that they just defeated an army of bad guys, and asks how bad it could be. Suddenly Hellcat realizes that the Hulk isn’t there.
Hulk and Orka are still battling. Orka keeps calling more whales. Hulk says that he doesn’t care how many fishes Tooth-Face gets he says that he is going to smash him all the same. Hulk says that he doesn’t need fishes, and that the madder he gets the stronger he gets. Orka asks if they just can’t call it a draw.
Dr. Strange’s rating: 9 out of 10
I wish there were a way that I could have done this issue in the way that it is written. The conversation they had prior to the fight is much funnier as it is introduced while seeing how things actually turned out. After the delaying all the way back to issue #2 it is good to see Atlantis freed (although as a villain lover I was secretly rooting for Attuma, Tiger Shark, and Orka). The battle with the Hulk and Orka is funny as Hulk exists in his own world. More foreshadowing in this issue makes me excited for the issues in the immediate future. Larsen does an excellent job on this his last issue of the Defenders. The battle scenes all work good (which is always his strong suit), but the occasional non-detailed drawing that usually plagues his work is barely seen in this issue. While I am anxious to see the new art, Erik’s contribution to the title and his love of the Hulk will be missed.
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