|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 25, 2018 22:28:55 GMT -5
Defenders #26 Creative Team: Steve Gerber-Writer, Sal Buscema and Vince Coletta-artists, Karen Mantlo-Letterer, Irene Vartanoff-colorist, Len Wein-editor Synopsis: Jack Norris and Valkyrie are having a chat, on a cliffside...  Jack wants to live together again and pleads to Barbara; but, Val says there is no more Barbara within her and she feels nothing for him. he forces a kiss on her and Val basically tells him that if he tries that again he will probably need to seek work in a harem (my interpretation, anyway).  They are interrupted by an earthquake and Val rescues Jack from the fall (should have let him drop) and heads back to the Kyle Richmond's Nassau riding academy. Nighthawk confirms other disasters plaguing the area and says Doc is right: it's all the Guardians' fault. Vance's presence is creating temporal distortions, due to the presence of he and his younger self. The space dudes reject the idea...  I'm with the Hulk on this one! Doc reiterates and the tv shows that the ship has been discovered, with the Army surrounding it and reporters filming everything. Young Vance and Martinex emerge and Doc decides to take matters in his own hands and magics the ship and the duo to the grounds outside the academy (which is acting as their headquarters, thanks to Nighthawks little set-up, hidden inside the buildings). After greetings and reunions, the GOTG set about repairing their ship, while Vance Astro gives the history of his world, without telling young Vance it is Earth. The Ozone Layer was depleted from the use of aerosols and skin cancer became an epidemic, in 1982. Full body suits were a temporary solution, though cybernetics became a more long-term one. Wars broke out over dwindling foodstuffs and Vance's sace mission was the last hurrah for NASA. A nuclear meltdown devastated half the country (Vance hides that it was the US) and the US, USSR and Red China formed a Confederation of Nations, in response. Peace was interrupted by a Martian attack...  Earth was conquered; but, freedom fighters, led by an ex-gladiator, named Killraven, fought back. They defeated the Martians and the next 500 years were a period of turmoil, with techno-barons ruling. They were defeated and a new World Federation was set up (don't know if wrestling was involved, though). They went to the stars and colonized the other worlds of the solar system, genetically modifying the people to survive in their environments. They went interstellar, than developed teleportation between worlds. Vance turned up on Alpha Centauri, 1000 years after he left and was met by his own people. The Badoon attacked and conquered Earth and the colonies, leading t our heroes meeting and forming the GOTG. They stole one of the last starships of the Terran fleet and continued fighting, later aided in retaking New York by Captain America and Ben Grimm (in MTIO #4 and 5). Young Vance starts blubbering about how it could happen there and old Vance tells him that history can change. Doc then sends the crying brat home to mommy and daddy, after giving him a magical mindwipe. Val and Jack show up and Charlie and Hulk have finished the bodywork (via fists) and Martinex has the life support systems repaired, so Doc can magic them into space. Jack tries to talk Val out of going and grabs her arm and she basically tells him to take a permanent hike and ...... Doc magics them into space and through time (take that Doctor Who!) and they see the Badoon on the viewscreen. Thoughts: That's a bit more like it! After an inauspicious start in GS Defenders #5, Gerber gets things back on track. He also officially ties the Guardians into the alternate future of Killraven and the War of the Worlds (which was going strong, at the time, with awesome P Craig Russell art). Meanwhile, Jack Norris is a complete tool. I could sympathize with the guy, if Gerber didn't make him out to be a complete whiny jerk, which just gets multiplied over time. Next up, the debut of Starhawk. And he doesn't look much like Stallone!
|
|
|
|
Post by beccabear67 on Aug 26, 2018 15:59:15 GMT -5
There was some interesting early environmental preservation preaching in this issue. I'll bet this is where a lot of young readers would've come across material about the ozone layer, or was it in the news then because of aerosol spray cans? One thing I don't understand is Vance Astro being in the same time and space as his earlier self (even if his earlier won't remember it as Doctor Strange erases his recent memories) is causing natural disasters. Why would he get even closer to his younger self and interact with him, wouldn't that upset the natural order more, or does Doctor Strange wiping his kid self's mind make that not happen, in which case would the earlier natural disaster type things have happened either? Arggh... these timey-wimey things! In later comics Vance has to stay out in space presumably for the same reasons of upsetting things/his younger self.
Valkyrie is an interesting character here, she repels her husband but then being noble saves him right after.
Not sure tying in with Killraven's, and I think also Deathlok's, future is so wise, but he done did it, so it's as official as Marvel comics get.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 26, 2018 22:19:46 GMT -5
There was some interesting early environmental preservation preaching in this issue. I'll bet this is where a lot of young readers would've come across material about the ozone layer, or was it in the news then because of aerosol spray cans? One thing I don't understand is Vance Astro being in the same time and space as his earlier self (even if his earlier won't remember it as Doctor Strange erases his recent memories) is causing natural disasters. Why would he get even closer to his younger self and interact with him, wouldn't that upset the natural order more, or does Doctor Strange wiping his kid self's mind make that not happen, in which case would the earlier natural disaster type things have happened either? Arggh... these timey-wimey things! In later comics Vance has to stay out in space presumably for the same reasons of upsetting things/his younger self. Valkyrie is an interesting character here, she repels her husband but then being noble saves him right after. Not sure tying in with Killraven's, and I think also Deathlok's, future is so wise, but he done did it, so it's as official as Marvel comics get. The bionics does suggest Deathlok; but, Gerber doesn't make as explicit a connection as he does to Killraven, who we see with his band of Freemen. The ozone layer was in the news, at the time, with scientific evidence that fluorocarbons from aerosol sprays, coolants, and other industrial and commercial uses had eaten away significant chunks. Lily Tomlin hosted Saturday Night Live in 1975 and 1976 and on one of those shows, during her monologue, she made a joke about resenting losing the Ozone layer, just so we could have Pam (I used to have the SNL comedy album, from that time frame). It was pretty topical. Dr Strange pretty much points out that this future is a potential one; but, not a definite one; so, tying things to the other future-set titles wasn't that perilous. Marvel used that out quite a bit, vs DC, who pretty much had it set in stone that the Legion exist in the direct future. The distortions make some sense, though Marvel was never consistent with this. Ben Grimm meets his younger self, in MTIO #50 and gives him a cure, which only creates an alternate timeline. There are no temporal issues there. Later, when the Guardians turn up in MTIO #69 (post Korvac Saga, in the Avengers), Vance is seeking out his younger self, creates further disruptions, and unleashes young Vance's psychic powers. Older Vance's timeline isn't changed; but, younger Vance is set on the path that leads to the New Warriors and Avengers. Time travel stories in continuing series just makes for headaches, over time, unless you have a really obsessive editor to keep things straight. It's part of why I preferred DC's looser continuities and parallel Earth's to Marvel's attempts to keep thing unified, which usually resulted in headaches of things like the mess with Phoenix/Jean Grey, or all of these alternate futures, which isn't that different from the parallel worlds. Marvel writers complained about DC's parallel worlds, when they jumped ship; but, I found the DC Earths far easier to keep track of than which alternate future was which, in Marvel's universe (especially X-Men). |
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 27, 2018 0:02:12 GMT -5
Defenders #27 Creative Team: Gerber, Buscema, Coletta; Joe Rosen-letterer, Al Wenzel-colorist, Len Wein-still hanging in. Synopsis: The Captain America is in orbit above Earth and the defenders and Guardians are about to beam down...  However, they have been spotted by the Badoon, and their commander, Droom, orders them not to be blasted from the sky (Say whaaaaaa?) Instead, when he detects their transporter, he flips a switch and a counter beam hits their paths, sending them in pairs, to other parts of the galaxy. Martinex's jaw hits the deck and Dr Strange is confused, too. Jack Norris, who is on board, starts losing his s@#$. Meanwhile, Val and Vance materialize in a swamp, on some distant world, They are immediately attack by some scaly and hairy females....  (Holy Darwin turned upside down, Batman!) Vance gets gang jumped and is being dragged under the swamp water, while Val swings her sword and gets weaker and weaker, as if she is wounding herself. Vance unleashes a bolt of psychic energy (his dormant psychic abilities were unleashed during his 1000 year voyage, don't you know?) and he rescues Val, who is dazed and confused....  They stumble around and are greeted by a glowing man, who bids them to follow. Back on the Captain America, Martinex confirms that the transporter was working properly (Aye cap'n, she works a boony site, ya ken?) and Jack is still freaking. Doc whammies him, locking him in place, then has an idea about how to find the missing heroes. Hulk and Yondu materialize in the middle of what looks like a medieval street party, and everyone is toasted! They try to talk to the locals but they are all foreigners and jabber in foreign tongues. They hear a scream and rush off to help and find a woman surrounded by three sword-wielding attackers. Before Hulk can smash, Yondu shows why he is the one... Next thing they know, a bunch of robots turn up and Hulk gets to smash...  Hulk and Yondu get blasted by the strange ray and are stuck. In space, Doc is wired into the ship's sensors and goes all mystical...  While oc uses the Force, the Badoon's sensors are fried. On the swampworld, Vance and Val meet the glowing guy close up...  The glowing guy isn't introduced; he just gets all messianic, talking about being the light and he heals Val. Yondu and Hulk are brought before the local Caligula and are sentenced to fight in the "games." On the CA, Doc is searching the far rim of the galaxy, when the ship's intruder alert goes off. Marty, Charlie and Nighthawk go investigate and find a horde of Badoon has materialized. Thoughts: Well, we have the debut of Starhawk, though he hasn't been named, yet. Already he's a bit of an insufferable Rick (spelled with a silent P). Hulk and Yondu are in for sie fun and Doc may be lost in the computer, as he plays cosmic Tron. Things just keep getting better and weirder. The lizard ladies are rally strange and Val says they look like the Badoon. Interesting mix of species traits, as they have scaly skin and hair (though it's very oily; they need a better shampoo!). The pairings are fairly well chosen, with the physical might of the Defenders matched with the more specialised skills of the Guardians (Val's sword and strength matched with Vance's psychic powers, Hulk's might and Yondu's archery and yaka arrows, which respond to his whistles). Next up, the first issue of Defenders I ever read.....
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 29, 2018 0:16:38 GMT -5
Defenders #28 Creative Team: Gerber, Buscema; Coletta and John Tartag-inkers, Joe Rosen-letter, Al Wenzel-colorist, Marv Wolfman-newest cannon fodder. Synopsis: Doc is wired into the Captain America's sensors, trying to locate th missing Defenders and Guardians, when the Baddon beam aboard, with only Nighthawk, Martinex and Charlie-27 standing between them and the vulnerable magician. Charlie somehow gained his mask, which he wasn't wearing at the end of last issue.  Martinex hits them with heat and cold blasts, Charlie beats the snot out of them and Nighthawk punches and kicks, as we are told his nighttime doubled strength is always at play, in space. Things are going fine until Bird Nose gets wounded and taken at gunpoint. The Guardians back down, just as Doc has located Vance, Val, and their new "friend," Starhawk.  Starhawk lets Val and Vance know that he is Mr Know-it-all (aka One Who Knows) and is pretty insufferable. he tells Val he knows about her inability to fight women and reveals that was why she was nauseous fighting the swamp creatures, as they were the Sisterhood of Badoon. he then reveals their city, Venesia...  Soon, the trio are met by escorts from the Queen. Back on the Captain America, the Badoon think Doc is dead, and they take their prisoners back to Earth, while Doc's astal form is watching from space. Hulk and Yondu get suited up for gladiatorial games, and a blond chick comes onto the Hulk. The games begin, in the form of a game show. Yondu is teleported onto a battlefield, where he faces robots, which he defeats, using a morningstar...  provided to him. After he wins, he is zipped back to the studio. At Venesia, Starhawk introduces the V-Team to the Queen. She tells them of the Badoon history, with their race older than the Kree and Skrulls, but technologically inferior. progress was slowed due to a genetic hatred for the opposite sex and procreation happened once in a lifespan and by force. The women were kept as slaves. The men eventually developed stellar travel and bugged off to outer space, only to return to mate. The eggs are collected and hatched in incubators on the Brotherhoood's world, with the females returned to the original planet. The Sisterhood has progressed to a peaceful society, while the Queen learns that the males burp a lot, scratch, fart, and conquer other races. Starhawk confirms this, then unveils his stallar wings and heads off to space, saying his work was done.  He notices Doc's astral form as he departs and Doc sees him. Doc magics away Vance and Val and they materialize on Earth, just in time to see, Marty Charlie, and Kyle in front of a Badoon firing squad. Out of the frying pan, into a bigger frying pan! Thoughts: This was my first issue of the Defenders (well, a friend's issue, as I borrowed it, to read). It's a pretty darn good chapter, with a bit of excitement at the start, as the guys fight the Badoon on the CA and Yondu whoops some robot hinders. Starhawk displays that he is pretty much a jerk and we get a nice info dump, which acts as a metaphor for the "battle of the sexes," writ large. Doc again demonstrates that he doesn't really need the rest, as he is able to do miraculous things, when it's convenient. Much like Superman and Thor, you wonder why he is on a team. This cemented a love of the Guardians, as hey were cool and exotic, and had pretty nifty costumes. The Captain America adds a deliberate touch of Star Trek, putting them far closer to the Legion than even the Imperial Guard, in terms of role. But, we end on a cliffhanger and it was about 10 years before I came across the next issue, with the conclusion to the story. How's that for a cliffhanger?
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 29, 2018 0:22:56 GMT -5
p. The Defenders letters page offers up some interesting names, in the Guardian issues:
Issue 27 has one from a J. Marc DeMatteis. #29 has one from a Ralph Macchio (not the Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio). Both would go on to become writers (and Macchio would become an editor) for Marvel (and DC).
|
|
|
|
Post by zaku on Aug 29, 2018 2:45:41 GMT -5
Ben Grimm meets his younger self, in MTIO #50 and gives him a cure, which only creates an alternate timeline. I feel a little pedantic today, so let me point out in MTIO #100 Reed Richards says that Ben Grimm traveled to a pre-existing alternate universe and he didn't create an alternate timeline  ( Earth-7940, to be exact). EDIT: thanks to Marvunapp site, I found this piece written by Mark Gruenwald in Marvel Age #117 (October 1992) about time travel's rules {Time Travel's rules (click to expand)}
|
|
|
|
Post by brutalis on Aug 29, 2018 7:38:01 GMT -5
Last issues introduction for Starhawk was kind of blah and too Silver Surferish feeling. Then along comes this issue and he becomes a bit more interesting and suddenly the Solar Sails burst from his back and "helmet" and that creates such a stunning look. Visually Starhawk now becomes a viable character in the team second only to Yondu with Martinex sliding into 3rd place. Poor Charlie's bare chest with harness never looked too good and Vance's sealed in aluminum foil suit (with an open mouth and nostril holes?) for preserving his decayed body never made sense or looked good (too 70's) to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 29, 2018 10:39:22 GMT -5
Ben Grimm meets his younger self, in MTIO #50 and gives him a cure, which only creates an alternate timeline. I feel a little pedantic today, so let me point out in MTIO #100 Reed Richards says that Ben Grimm traveled to a pre-existing alternate universe and he didn't create an alternate timeline ( Earth-7940, to be exact). EDIT: thanks to Marvunapp site, I found this piece written by Mark Gruenwald in Marvel Age #117 (October 1992) about time travel's rules {Time Travel's rules (click to expand)}
Which means a retcon, imposed over 4 years later, by an editor who made his bones trying to tie together all comic stories under a multiversal framework. That's kind of my point. DC's parallel Earths was, generally, more consistent than Marvel's alternate futures/timelines. If it happened in the present, without explicitly identify the setting as another Earth, it was Earth 1. If it was the 40s or featured the JSA and their kin, it was Earth 2. If it featured the Marvel Family, it was Earth S. Pretty easy to comprehend and DC readers didn't have major issues with this. The people who did were ex-patriate Marvel writers, who were all over the place (at Marvel) with whether a story or title was set in a future or the future. They would go back and forth, depending on who was writing and how much stroke they had with the EIC. Gruenwald was trying to make sense of this mess in OHATMU and beyond; because that was his personal interest. Others ignored that when it was convenient. X-Men became a total mess after Days of Future Past, with characters popping up from all kinds of alternate timelines. It's part of why I dumped the series and, mostly, never looked back (that and the repetitive nature of Claremont's sub-plots and story cycles). When those writers got their way at DC, we ended up with more problems created than original problems solved, to the point they spent the next 30 years making nearly annual "fixes." |
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 29, 2018 11:01:57 GMT -5
Last issues introduction for Starhawk was kind of blah and too Silver Surferish feeling. Then along comes this issue and he becomes a bit more interesting and suddenly the Solar Sails burst from his back and "helmet" and that creates such a stunning look. Visually Starhawk now becomes a viable character in the team second only to Yondu with Martinex sliding into 3rd place. Poor Charlie's bare chest with harness never looked too good and Vance's sealed in aluminum foil suit (with an open mouth and nostril holes?) for preserving his decayed body never made sense or looked good (too 70's) to me. I always liked Vance's suit and the gimmick of it. He was always my favorite character, after Yondu. It helps that he had the most complex personality, apart from the whole Stakar/Aleta thing. Looking back, I wonder if Steve Gerber had seen or heard of Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman (Science Ninja team Gatchaman) aka Battle of the Planets? The BOTP re-dit didn'y come about until 1978; but, the Japanese series debuted in 1972 and wrapped up in 1974, before Starhawk's introduction. In the series, the villain, Berg Katse (Zoltar, in BOTP), was a mutant, formed by the alien Sosai X (the Luminous One, in BOTP), from a male and female set of twins. Katse would shift gender, which is part of what drove him insane. There was an episode that explored the secret, as the G-Force team learn about it and deduce that Katse would appear as male and female, at different times. In the BOTP version, the narrator's would say the female version was Zoltar's sister, or was a Spectra agent, not Zoltar. The G-Force, Guardians of Space edit kept it in, though they didn't use the episode that revealed the secret. It was just Galactor (as Katse was called there, even though that was the original name of Katse's terrorist organization), in disguise. The Guardians, from the MTIO and appearances here, became a great visual and Gerber added some interesting backstory touches, even if the Marvel Presents stories got into really weird territory ("The Topigraphical Man"). That's part of what made them interesting to me, plus the fact that they popped up sporadically, until they got their own series, which had a short run and they were back to being guest stars. To use a wrestling analogy, it was like the territorial days, when Andre the Giant would show up at the local promotion as a special attraction, vs seeing him regularly in the WWF. Andre would come in for an event or for a week's tour, then leave, then maybe make a return at some future point. When he came in, it was a big deal; and the Guardians were much like that. I still feel that kind of worked better than when they had a regular series, even though I liked the Valentino series, in the 90s (for the most part). At the time, I loved the Starhawk visual, with the wings and I wasn't paying attention to the fact that his personality was annoying. Yondu's look was just a great visual, period, and he was the more stoic member of the group, kind of mysterious, which added to his mystique. Having grown up in the 70s and early 80s, I kind of prefer that "70s" look of Vance's costume. Sleek works on certain characters and Vance was one of them. The overly detailed costumes of today kind of bore me, unless there is a smart hook to it, like Batgirl's DIY look. |
|
|
|
Post by badwolf on Aug 29, 2018 11:46:28 GMT -5
I always thought Martinex had the coolest look. Fun to draw, too. I don't really like how they've made him in the movies, like a walking glitterball.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 29, 2018 12:17:33 GMT -5
Defenders #29 Creative Team: Gerber, Buscema, Coletta, Costanza, Mrs. Wein, and Wolfman Marv Synopsis: When we last left our heroes, Val and Vance Astro had just beamed in to find Martinex, Charlie-27 and Nighthawk standing before a Badoon firing squad...  Before you can say "Have at you!", Vance launches a psi-bolt and destroy's the squad's weapons, then Val guts a Badoon like a fish (or a snake). Vance frees the others and they whoop lizard tail. Val is told that Doc is dead, though we cut to his living astral form, where he has located Hulk and Yondu. The game show continues and Hulk is beamed to his fight and the blond that was coming on to him joins him, in a frozen spot. She is an ex-wife of the ruler and is sentenced to die with Hulk. Hulk awakens, on the snowy plain and the shivering, scantily clad lady clues him in, just as she is grabbed by robot tentacles. Then it is "HULK SMASH" time!  We are interrupted by an interlude, as Starhawk arrives on a mysterious asteroid, with a domed settlement, with a log cabin, farm animals, and children present. The children are John, Tara and Sita and they hug Starhawk and ask how long he is staying. he says he must consult Aleta and an image of a woman appears on a monitor, at a high-tech console, inside the cabin. No words are spoken and a downcast Starhawk says the time is not right, and he leaves the children to fend for themselves. Where is that number for Intergalactic Family Services? Back on Earth, teh Defenders and Guardians storm the command HQ for the Badoon, to try to contact the Underground. Much punching of lizards ensues. Cut to the frozen spot and Hulk has had enough of Mon-Tee and the game and decides to leave; but, is stopped by a barrier. This makes Hulk mad and madder Hulk gets, stronger Hulk gets. he smashes a mountain and destroys the remaining robot ants and satellite monitors, then is zapped back to the studio, where he is about to SMASH MON-TEE, when he zaps out and appears in the middle of the fight on Earth, shrugs, and smashes Badoon. On the Captain America, Jack Norriss comes out of hiding and finds Doc's body, just as he wakes up. He was saying about finally believing things and wants to accompany Doc to the fight below. He lets Jack zap a Badoon, then Doc pretty much renders the rest motionless. They zip around to various concentration camp sites and free prisoners, then let the humans take their revenge on the Badoon. Starhawk turns up and Jack is the one who is able to convince Doc that he does know the future (as One Who Knows) and Doc accepts, then magics the rest of the Badoon in Chicago asleep, freeing the city without bloodshed. They then materialize back with the rest and tell them their part is over and depart, leaving things to the Guardians, with whom Starhawk seems to have joined. The Defenders end up back at Kyle's riding academy and the Guardians head off to their destiny, which we are told will be another story.  Thoughts: So..................um........................... Well, it's and ending. Okay, it sucks! I hate deus ex machina endings! I hated the ending of the Shadow War in babylon 5 and I hate this one. Doctor Strange comes in and Miracles away the problem. Why does he need a team? Why does the hulk, when he can flatten a mountain? It's lazy writing, if you ask me. Plus, Doc unleashes all of the death, then stops one group of Badoons from being killed and makes speeches about all life being important, yet lets the killing go on elsewhere. This is where an editor needs to step in and say the ending doesn't work, here's why, do another draft! This illustrates the problem of the Marvel editorial structure, at the time. The line was too big for one editor, which is why everyone kept dumping the job. Which is why Marvel eventually ended up with more editors, to share the load. It's also why I agree with Jim Shooter that the writer/editor gig was a bad idea. You get too wrapped up in your perspective and miss problems in the story, which is where aneditor should come in. Gerber was pretty much doing what he wanted and it is almost as bad an ending as Phillip Wylie's Gladiator, where Hugo Danner is stuck down by lighting, from the "hand of God". It just feels like a cheat. On the plus side, it did set up the Guardians for their series, in Marvel Presents, introducing Starhawk's children and the mystery of Aleta, which would get really weird. So, as a launching point for a new series, the issue works fairly well. As a serialized story, it has a weak start, a great rising conflict and moment of crisis, but, a weak ending. The good stuff is all in the middle. The game show stuff was a parody of Monty Hall and Let's Make A Deal, which was massively popular in the mid-70s, with Monty Hall's ugly sports coats and the audience's bizarre costumes. The ending of the comic is fitting, in that sense, as the reader is left zonked! So, in wrapping up our trip to the future, with the Guardians of the Galaxy, I think it the appropriate music isn't from the Awesome Mix, but another song from ELO...
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 29, 2018 12:20:49 GMT -5
ps a really cool video, set to the song, from Daicon IV...
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 30, 2018 19:46:38 GMT -5
Defenders #30 Creative Team: Bill Mantlo-writer, Sam Grainger-artist, Jack Abel-inker, Karen Mantlo-letterer, George Roussos-colorist, Marv-Wolfman Synopsis: Dr Strange is walking the street, near the Sanctum, when some hoods jump out of their car and accost him. He magics away their guns, finds a not from Kyle Richmond, that he is being held for ransom and to get in touch. The hoods are turned over to Wong and Doc contacts Nighthawk. Kyle informs him that he was checking on a movie studio lot that Pennyworth bought, before he was fired and arrested and was kidnapped. Doc rounds up Hulk and Valkyrie and magics them West. Kyle is being held by some guy called Tapping Tommy, who was abandoned by his parents, taken in by a guy called Hodges, and made his way through Hollywood musicals. The studio went bust, Kyle bought it and was going to turn it into housing projects and Tommy swore revenge. The Defenders show up, fight robots and get taken out by special effects and gas bombs. Doc can fight Dormamu but not gas. They wake up chained to some set piece, with female robot dancers (Shades of Sorayama!).  Male robots and females tap dance and smack Defenders, until Hulk has enough and SMASHES! Val, who couldn't fight female robots (how is a robot a female, just because it has feminine curves?) Val breaks loose, attacks "male" robots, while Hulk crushes females, and then Doc and Nighthawk get free. They smash the controlling mechanisms, catch Tommy and end a really stupid story. Thoughts: This was terrible on all counts. It's a dumb story, done with no style (ala the similar tv Avengers story, "Epic", with Peter Wyngarde as a demented actor) and fairly generic art (though the set piece splash is pretty good) from Sam Grainger, who was primarily an inker, before working as an illustrator for TSR. Mantlo was still pretty green and was one of the people who Marv Wolfman had penning fill-in stories, to avoid missed deadlines. Mantlo wa probably the most prolific, in that area; but, this is far from one of his best efforts and was named as one of the wort comics, in an Amazing Heroes article. His work greatly improved, over time. Thankfully, Gerber is back on track next issue.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 30, 2018 21:04:21 GMT -5
Defenders #31 Creative Team: Gerber & Buscema, Jim Mooney-inks, Ray Holloway-letters, Petra Goldberg-colors, Marv-chair warming Synopsis: Nighthawk appears in the grip of a hand, before being let go to fall. He flies up, but ends up on a stormy beach, where he runs into Trish Starr, until he smacks into a tree limb and wakes up, in a park. There, he is shot with a tranquilizer gun, held in a hairy hand. Meanwhile, Val and Jack Noriss are on a date at a carnival and Val isn't impressed with the stuffed animals he wins. She tries her hand at a strength tester and breaks it and they skidaddle, with Val telling him to unhand her. They argue and leave. Out in the woods, Hulk spots Bambi...  Hulk smashes Elmer Fudd and friends into stains on the grass, then takes Bambi to Smart-Friend Magician. Meanwhile, Bird-Nose wakes up, surrounded by weirdos. He's told that Chondu will be using his body. They will dispose of Kyle's brain if they can't find a good use for it (Kyle certainly hasn't!). Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Charles and Frances Lester get a surprise, in a taxi...  Hulk shows up at the Sanctum, meeting Chondu/Nighthawk. Val and Jack arrive. Nighthawk surprises Doc by recognizing an esoteric statue of a demon. Chondu realizes that this is Dr Strange (he doesn't advertise it, folks) and attacks with a spell, which Doc disspells easily. Chondu bolts, the Defenders chase, he dumps Val and Hulk, Doc gets the mystical drop on him and cleans his clock  , then carries his body back to the Sanctum. He removes the mask and it is definitely Kyle underneath. Thoughts: This is more like it! Now we are getting down to classics (Guardians notwithstanding) as the Headmen are here in full force, Hulk finds Bambi, and we start the game of musical brains. Then, the icing on the cake...... ELF WITH A GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Smart-Friend, Bird-Nose, Jerk-wad and Girl. Okay I added Jerk-Wad (Jack). This is what made the Defenders and Gerber great. We got Headmen, Nebulon will return, we'll have Bozos, Red Guardians, more Elf victims, and lots of fun.
|
|
(
