Order #4
Title: "Norrin’s Rib”
Writers: Jo Duffy and Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Bob Layton
Colors: Gregory Wright & Tom Smith’s Color Arts
Editor: Tom Brevoort
The Order fights against Locust. Namor is fighting Locust himself and asks Strange if mutated, cybernetically directed insects is really worth their time. Strange says that the curse apparently thought so, and that he agrees with it. Strange says that if Locust’s plan went unchecked that it could have caused widespread ecological disaster. Hulk squashes a bug and says that what Strange is trying to say is that Locust is a “nutcase geek loser… but a dangerous nutcase geek loser!” Surfer says that he is dangerous no longer as Hulk just squashed the last of his giant bugs and he and Strange have disposed of the rest of his insectoid army. Hulk stands with his foot on Locust’s chest. He says, “Yeah… and one more good squish’d take care of him… forever. But you namby-pambies won’t go for that, will you?” Namor says to just leave Locust alone, and that he just realized that this is the first time the curse has transported them anywhere in a week. Namor says that their plan must be working. Hulk says that if they keep this up that there will be nothing left for them to do. Hulk remembers that he never got around to “thawin’ out any of those winged chippies we got in cold storage up at our Citadel… an’ baby, the Hulk is in the mood for love! Let’s go.” Strange says that Hulk means that. Namor says that he is repellent, and Surfer agrees that it is unacceptable. Strange and Surfer blast Fixit from behind and drop him unconscious to the ground.
Back at the Citadel, Strange and Surfer keep Hulk trapped within a green bubble. Hulk is shouting that they are “miserable, filthy, back-stabbing…” Namor says that they never should have allied themselves with this degenerate. Surfer says that he had thought that Fixit was like his other self. Strange says that they made an error in judgment, but that they will just acknowledge it and correct it. Strange says that Hulk is a multiple personality and that there have been many incarnations of him over the years, and that just as they transformed him initially that he and Surfer can find a more suitable incarnation of the Hulk. Namor says to hurry up and do it because while he has “always been a match for the behemoth’s strength, but he strains against the prison you have placed him in, and should he break free…” Surfer says that Hulk will not break free and that he doesn’t need to be afraid. Namor starts to object, but Strange tells them both to be silent. He says that the curse is resisting them, but that the Star of Capistan, which Strange has adopted as his amulet after the Eye of Agamotto had failed him, burns with a darker, wilder fire and that he, at least, is not afraid. Fixit says that Strange should be because no matter what he turns him into that he will still be there and that he won’t forget. Hulk says that he will come back and tear out their bones with his bare hands and crush them to powder. Strange tells him to be gone, but now within the bubble sits the savage Hulk. Hulk struggles to realize what is going on, but then he remembers how Dumb Magician and Shiny Man made him hurt and go away. He remembers how they hurt his friends. Strange says that this won’t do at all.
In Manhattan, in the home of the wealthy Reginald and Malicia Parrington, which also serves as the Defenders’ new headquarters, Bunnyhopper appears on the screen and tells the Defenders that they did a great job on their recruitment drive. Nighthawk thanks Bunnyhopper and says that he will take praise from anyone who brews coffee this good as he pours himself a cup. Malicia says that they stocked the refreshment system with only the best. Reginald asks Samantha if she and her friends are having fun. Valkyrie says that this is no game and asks them if they are there for a purpose. Reginald says that they were going through some old volumes in the library and thought they would like to see something. Nighthawk says that they can use all the help they can get, but when he takes what Reginald has he sees a picture of a naked child. Valkyrie realizes that they are her baby pictures. Hellcat says that she thought her mother embarrassed her as much as possible. Nighthawk says that they are kind of busy right now and that all the need is Papa Hagg. But before Nighthawk can finish him sentence, Papa Hagg appears on a snowboard and scatters snow everywhere. Reginald is stunned, but Hagg says that they can’t expect him not to finish his best half-pipe he ever did. Nighthawk says that they wouldn’t want to interrupt his fun. Nighthawk says that they did what he said and got female counterparts for Hulk, Namor, and Strange, but that when they asked him what they were going to do about the Surfer he just disappeared. He asks if Hagg got his answer yet. Hagg says that he thought of it while free styling in the Alps. Hagg says that he will explain it all to them. After Hagg tells them, Hellcat says that it sounds rough but do-able. She-Hulk says that they should get to it, and that they have to save the planet from their loved ones, and their loved ones from themselves. Malicia asks why they want to fight the Order when the Order is promising peace, protection, cleaner air, and an end to the dangerous effects of unregulated entertainment. Reginald says that they are conquering them. Malicia says that is just male ego talking and asks what is so bad about that the Order wants for them. Val says, “What’s bad, Mother, is that they’re imposing it. The world is run by adults… and for good or ill, we chart our own course, make our own decisions, shape our own future. Taking care of a child… protecting her… that’s parenting. But doing the same to an adult, or a world… however benevolent you mean to be, if you deny them any choice in the matter… that’s tyranny. Slavery. Prison.” Malicia stammers for a minute, but Hagg says that they are done there and teleports them all to the Citadel.
At the Citadel, at the unoccupied throne a swirl of shadows begins to form. The mist becomes a smoke and the smoke begins to take form. An evil grin and two glowing eyes begin to be seen.
Elsewhere in the
Citadel, the savage Hulk screams his frustration. Surfer says
that the Hulk is free and lets off a blast at him. Hulk says that
he doesn’t want to rule the world or hurt his friends. Namor
says that he recalls someone saying that the Hulk wouldn’t
get free. Surfer says that he recalls someone saying that they
were a match for Hulk. Surfer and Namor each grab one of
Hulk’s arms. Hulk says to let him go, and Strange tells them
to do so and come to his side at once. Hulk smashes the wall and
says that Fish Man thought that he was as strong as Hulk, but
that he was wrong. Hulk grabs Namor by the neck and says that he
is the strongest one there is. Strange and Surfer strike together
and the savage Hulk is transformed into the Professor. Professor
tells Strange that was nicely done. Strange says that it seems
that they have succeeded and asks if he is correct in assuming
that Hulk is now the Professor… “the one that combines
the superb intellect of the human… Dr. Robert Bruce
Banner… with the full strength of any of the behemoth’s
incarnations.” Professor says that he prefers to think of
the others as incomplete versions of himself. He says that they
made a wise choice, but that he isn’t sure that Namor will
agree. Namor says that he is didn’t like the tactics used,
but that he is not displeased with the result. Strange says that
Professor is a new incarnation, but that he is not a separate
being. Strange asks Hulk his views on the Order. Hulk says that
given the circumstances that if someone has got to rule the world
that he can’t think of anyone he’d rather see do it
than him. Strange says that he realizes that the “neon
paradise” that his other self chose isn’t to his taste
so he could change it for him, but Professor says that his
environment doesn’t matter. Surfer and Namor says that
theirs does and both take off for their quarters. Namor says that
after the battering he took because of the surprise that a rest
would be welcome. Surfer says that he is likewise weary. Surfer
says, “…situated above the world, at the border to a
dimensional rift and warded round with Strange’s shields, we
may rest… secure in the knowledge that we will slumber
unmolested.”
The other Defenders watch from the shadows.
Nighthawk says that the coast is as clear as it ever will be, but
to remember that they don’t want to get caught. Nighthawk
asks Clea if she is ready. Clea says that she isn’t looking
forward to this, but that she will do it. Namorita says that none
of them wants this and She-Hulk and Hellcat agree. Val asks if
Clea’s spell will really protect them from Strange’s
detection. Clea says that it wouldn’t against the Eye of
Agamotto, but that the Star of Capistan is more about power than
sight. Nighthawk says that they need to do this fast. Hellcat
says that she hates doing this to the Surfer, but She-Hulk says
that her heart isn’t bleeding for the three of them and that
they are tormenting and exploiting the mentally ill. Namorita
asks if that means that She-Hulk’s cousin isn’t
responsible, but that hers is. Nighthawk tells them to save it
until after the job is done. They walk into Surfer’s
quarters where he lies sleeping. Val lines up her sword to stab
Surfer, but Surfer wakes up. Surfer decks She-Hulk and Val, but
Nita hits Surfer. She-Hulk and Val manage to pin the still
exhausted Surfer while Nighthawk calls for the mystic knife. Clea
takes the knife and plunges it into Surfer’s side. Val says
that Clea seemed to strike at random, but that it hit exactly
where Hagg instructed. Clea says that it is because of her
sorcery, and Nighthawk says that they need to finish this. Clea
recites a spell and as she draws the mystic blade from
Surfer’s side, Surfer seems to be bleeding light. The light
takes the from of a golden woman. Nita says that it is a woman
made of light. Clea says that it is Surfer’s female
reflection. Nighthawk mentions that he is rich and handsome under
his mask, but Hellcat yells at him. She-Hulk asks the woman if
she is all right. The woman says that her name is Ardina. She
says that she is new, but that she knows many things. Ardina asks
why she is. She-Hulk explains that four powerful and usually
heroic men have gone mad and have conquered a planet they were
meant to protect. She-Hulk says that they need Ardina to help
stop them. Ardina says that it sounds like a good idea that she
was created then. Strange, Hulk, and Namor enter the room.
Strange says that he doesn’t know how they breached his
wards without detection, but that there will be consequences.
Nighthawk sees that Hulk is green again. Namor asks Surfer if he
is all right and fit to see action. Surfer says that now that he
is awake that his power stores should suffice. Namor tells Surfer
to join them in meting out punishment. Nighthawk tells them to
get out in the open air, and Hellcat says that the gals know what
they have to do. 
She-hulk
confronts the Hulk and tells him to snap out of it. She says that
she will buy him a butter-crunch hot fudge sundae that he likes
so much, but Professor tells her not to patronize him and that it
won’t work. Ardina and Surfer face off. Surfer wonders if
killing Ardina will return his energies to him. Namor pulls on
Nita’s wings and Nita says that only another sub-mariner
would know how much that hurts. Clea tells Strange that once they
were bonded as man and wife, but Strange says that she left,
turned her back, and that today she stabbed one of his allies in
his back. Namor hits Nita and says that this is how he deals with
a traitress. Surfer blasts Ardina and says that she is more
durable than he expected, but for her to get away. Hellcat and
Nighthawk are hit by Ardina’s hurtling body. Val says that
was low and that Hellcat and Nighthawk aren’t superhuman.
She says that she heard bones break with that impact. Hellcat
says that it is her arm and a couple of ribs. Clea says that this
is the second time that Kyle was almost murdered by those he
tries to help. Clea says that Strange is no husband of hers and
slaps Strange’s face. Strange says that he has lost all
patience with this, and that this time he isn’t just going
to send them home. Strange waves his hand and the Defenders
disappear. Hulk says that it is good that they are gone and asks
Strange where he sent them. Strange says, “Across the
dimensional gulf, at random. Why? Do you care?”
Nearby at the throne, the shadowy substance continues taking form.
At the Parrington’s, Hagg says that now the Defenders are gone and that they will see if the Earth lives or dies.
The Order’s Mandate: 7 out of 10
Some of the aspects of the book I really enjoyed. The inclusion of the rare Hulk villain Locust to be one of them. I really enjoyed the Hulk’s transformation from gray to savage to Professor. Professor does seem like the most like the others in the Order. I also like the Hulk and She-Hulk squaring off, but I would have liked to see more of the fight. What I didn’t really like was the creation of Ardina. Nova is already a counterpart to the Surfer and I would have preferred to see her resurrected than the creation of a “shade” of Surfer. Still the foreshadowing of the coming villain was also well done. Jurgens does a good job with the issue, but I just don’t really enjoy his style much.
RETURN TO DR. STRANGE'S DEFENDERS