Marvel Feature #1

Title: “The Day of the Defenders!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Penciller: Ross Andru

Inker: Bill Everett

Editor: Stan Lee

Wong brings Dr. Strange his tea as Strange sits by the fire. The witching hour is approaching and Strange begins to hear his name being called. At first he thinks that Wong is still calling him, but Wong doesn’t know what Strange is talking about. Wong says that all he hears is the final chiming of the clock. Strange tells Wong to leave him and to admit nobody until Strange summons him again. Strange sends out his astral form to follow the summoning. Dr. Strange follows it to a hospital. Strange’s astral form floats into a room. He recognizes the conscious, yet silent man, as Yandroth. The doctors are talking and Strange overhears that a truck hit Yandroth, but the doctors are wondering why the man seemed to smile when they told him that he wouldn’t survive the night. The doctors decide to let the man die in peace so they walk out.

As soon as they leave Yandroth asks Dr. Strange if he heard what they said about his dying in peace. Yandroth says that if they knew how he really planned to die they would tremble where they stood. Yandroth tells Strange about how he was falling through endless universes. He tells Strange about a universe that changed his mind about magic. Yandroth was empowered by this Strange universe. Yandroth found a way back to Earth and with his new ideas he used science and magic to build the Omegatron. He tells Strange that he has engineered his own death and that upon his death the Omegatron will activate. Yandroth says that Omegatron can defend itself with weapons and by inducing hallucinations. Yandroth says that the Omegatron will be active for five hours and then it will detonate every nuclear stockpile on Earth. Yandroth slips off into a coma. Strange says that he recognizes the signs and that Yandroth will never awaken. Strange floats out and uses a little power to command the doctors to go try and save Yandroth, hoping that Omegatron isn’t activated. The surgeons fail to save Yandroth and he dies. Strange overhears the doctors saying that it is a shame the man died so far away from his home. The doctor says that the only identification the man had was a mailing address in Point Premonitory, Maine. Strange realizes that is his only hope.

Strange’s astral form re-unites with his physical body, and Strange starts to fly towards New England. Strange thinks to himself that he doubts magic alone could halt Yandroth’s Omegatron. Strange finds Namor and calls out to him. Namor walks to shore and greets Strange. Strange says that though they have only met briefly Strange gained a measure of respect for Namor’s strength and courage. Strange says that he has a need for both. Namor says that he is looking for his lost father and his vanished heritage. Namor says that he must not allow any quest to come before that. Strange says that he won’t be able to continue his quest if the world is destroyed. Strange fills Namor in on what is happening. Namor says that he will help and suggests that the Silver Surfer and the Hulk might be able to help them as well. Strange uses the Eye of Agamotto to locate Surfer. Strange and Namor watch Surfer fail in another attempt to break out of the Earth’s atmosphere. Surfer falls to Earth unconscious. Strange says that though he senses that Surfer isn’t too hurt he would not be up and around in time to help. Strange thinks about summoning Thor, but that he is probably elsewhere. Strange locates the Hulk walking along. Hulk is near enough so Strange sends out his astral form to bring the Hulk to them.

Hulk is walking along. Strange uses his power to cause the Hulk to fall. Hulk says that somebody pushed him and tried to make him look stupid. Hulk says that he will find that someone and smash him. Strange muses to himself that he wishes the “brainless one” could see him. Hulk shouts at Strange’s astral form that Strange is the one who is brainless. Strange realizes that Hulk can see him in his astral form. Hulk tries to crush Strange with a tree, but the tree passes right through Strange’s form. Strange says that Hulk cannot hurt one who isn’t there. Strange uses reverse psychology and says that he is leaving and Hulk had better not follow him. Hulk says that he is going to follow. Hulk follows Strange back to his body. Hulk is about to smash Strange with a rock, but Namor deflects the boulder while Strange rejoins his physical form. Strange then quickly traps Hulk in a lightning cage. Hulk promises to listen so Strange removes the cage. Strange promises that if Hulk comes with them that they will fight many glorious battles. Hulk says that he sees no glory in fighting, but that Hulk will go with them if they want to be his friend. Strange says that he will and Hulk leaves with Strange and Namor.

At Point Premonitory, Strange casts an illusion on himself so he will appear as a businessman when he asks an elderly couple for directions to the new building. The couple directs Strange to the new lighthouse three miles down the road. When they arrive at the place Namor says that this looks like no lighthouse he has ever seen. Hulk asks why they don’t go in so Strange shows them the energy shield that surrounds the lighthouse. Strange says that Namor and Hulk must go on ahead and destroy the shield for him. Namor says that he is no man’s servant, but that he will do what he knows must be done. Strange tries to apologize, but Namor dives into the sea to strike through the water. Hulk says that Namor can swim, but his way is through the front. Hulk throws a rock through the electrified fence. He then climbs out of an acid pit and walks into a wall of flame-throwers. Namor swims right up to the lighthouse and smashes down the door. As Namor walks down the hallway the walls begin to close in. Namor says that the trap was made for lesser fish (no lie) and pushes the walls apart. Hulk ducks below the fire and rips the flame-throwers off. Hulk smashes through the wall.

Outside Strange decides that it is time for him to get involved. Strange sends his astral form into the lighthouse. Strange struggles through the wall to come out face to face with the Omegatron. Omegatron welcomes Strange’s astral form and says that it has been expecting him. Omegatron tells Strange that he has helped him to bring about the world’s end. Omegatron tells Strange that when Hulk and Namor both strike him that he will speak his maker’s name and use their power to start the nuclear cataclysm. Just then the Hulk plows through the wall. Strange’s astral form quickly flies to see that Namor has also reached the other end. Strange must forget that Hulk can see him because he quickly flies out to his body so he can tell them not to try and destroy Omegatron. Strange enters through the holes that Hulk made and tells them not to attack the machine. Namor figures that this is just one of the illusions that Strange warned them of. Hulk and Namor move to attack Strange, but Strange quickly erects a psycho-shield. Strange then uses the Eye of Agamotto to cause Hulk and Namor to see each other as illusions of enemies. Hulk sees Namor as a monster, and Namor sees Hulk as Llyra. Namor and Hulk lunge at each other.

Omegatron says that Strange’s desperate ploy won’t work for even the vibrations of Namor and Hulk’s battle will give him enough power to trigger the nuclear weapons. Strange says that he won’t allow that. Strange senses that Omegatron cannot be destroyed as the science and sorcery that birthed him were too strong, but that he has another idea. Strange slows the time around the Omegatron to a near standstill. Hulk and Namor no longer see the other’s illusions and stop fighting. Strange tells them what happened. Hulk says that he is going to be alone now. Namor says that it is probably best that they split up because together they nearly destroyed the world though they were trying to be the world’s defenders. Strange says that the name Defenders sounds like a good team name if they ever team up again. Hulk says that he doesn’t want to team up ever again. He says that he was in a group, the Avengers, once and that he didn’t like it.

After Hulk and Namor depart Strange causes the lighthouse to appear as a now defunct lighthouse so that no one stumbles upon the Omegatron and starts the destruction of the world again.

Dr. Strange’s Defenders Review: 9 out of 10

What can you say about an issue as classic as this one? Fantastic set up and classic delivery. You can already see the “anti-team” theme show through. The only real critique of the book is that Ross Andru’s pencils are very sketchy and Bill Everett’s inks don’t clarify it nearly enough. Still very visually impressive.

Title: ”The Sub-Mariner and the Icebergs”

Note: This story is reprinted from the 1950’s, no artists are given credit for the story.

Two guards enter the Sub-Mariner’s room and report that ships of the surface are coming from the north. Namor takes the information to the emperor. Namor tells the emperor that he is sure that they have come to male war with them. The emperor tells Namor to be patient and to see what the strangers want.

Namor leaves mumbling about the emperor’s decision. He says that he is going to protect their people even if he won’t. Namor swims out and meets with his cousin Namora. He tells them that they are going to go push some icebergs around. Namor has a few submarines push the icebergs around and closes around the surface ships. The surface men send out the demolition crew to dynamite the icebergs. Atlantis rocks with the shockwaves of the explosion.

Namor heads back to the emperor. He says that Namor was right and sends Namora to the surface men’s ship to engage in a little sabotage. Namora is discovered and grabbed up by one of the men aboard the ship. They drop a note in waterproof ink, connected to a wrench, that they have captured Namora. Namor suspends the attack and swims to meet with the surface men.

Namor asks why they have taken his cousin. The man says that he only did so to be sure that he would be able to talk to Namor personally. He says that they are not warships, and that they are only there to find uranium. Namor apologizes and takes his cousin back with him.

Prince Byrrah isn’t satisfied with Namor’s report and starts swimming at the ship with a “dangerous-looking package”. Byrrah connects the high explosive to the ship, but before he can ignite the fuse, Namor grabs Byrrah’s leg. Namora interrupts them and says that the commander has a new note for them. The movement of the icebergs has caused an underwater avalanche. They head to the emperor and he has the city evacuated. Byrrah thinks that it was all a ruse, but after the explosion occurs he realizes that they might have all been killed.

Namor takes Byrrah to give thanks to the surface people. They wish the commander well on his expedition and set out to restore their city.

Dr. Strange's Defenders review: 6 out of 10

Uhhhhh, okay. Why was this story here? The art is kinda cool, but the story is pretty whacked out.

Title: “The Return”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Penciller: Don Heck

Inker: Frank Giacola

Editor: Stan Lee

Dr. Strange, who has given up his mystical powers and is now known as Stephen Sanders, walks the streets of Greenwich Village thinking about his old life as master of the mystic arts. Sanders walks by his house when it suddenly occurs to him that the house appears as if he were still living there. Sanders recalls that he told Wong to board up the house after he left it. Sanders enters the house finding the door unlocked.

Steven Sanders comes face to face with Wong. Wong recognizes his face and summons “Dr. Strange”. “Dr. Strange” comes out in a blue mask. Dr. Strange and Steven Sanders argue about who is the rightful Dr. Strange. The masked Strange says that if this man is the real Dr. Strange then he should perform some magic, but the real doctor cannot as he renounced his powers. “Strange” attacks Sanders, but Sanders dodges the attack. Sanders leaps at Strange with his coat, but Strange traps Sanders in a spell of levitation. Strange is about to deal with Sanders very harshly when Wong tells Strange that the man is obviously deluded and that he shouldn’t be dealt with so harshly. Strange says that Wong is right and cancels the spell of levitation, but does so to try and get Sanders to break his neck on the fall. Sanders flips and crushes a coffee table instead. Strange puts Sanders to sleep until he can deal with him. Strange and Wong go off to eat dinner.

While he is under Sanders mentally contacts the Ancient One and has his powers restored. Ancient One says that if he restores his powers to him that Strange cannot renounce them again. The restored Strange tricks the other by pretending to leave his astral self behind while he flies around the masked Strange. The masked Strange turns to grab him, but finds that the Strange behind him is the astral form. The real Strange attacks the masked Strange before he can raise his defenses again. Strange takes off the imposter’s mask to reveal that he is really Baron Mordo. As Wong is apologizing to Strange, Baron Mordo teleports away.

Dr. Strange’s Defenders Review: 6 out of 10,

Average story, decent art.