Author: Robert Diehl
Created:
Updated: Version 1.0, last modified May 25, 1997
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Issue: Defenders 149 Date: Nov-85 Story: Lonely as a Cloud--! (22 pages) Feature Characters: Beast, Gargoyle, Iceman, Angel, Valkyrie, Cloud; Andromeda Regular Characters: Candy Southern Guest Stars: Seraph; Namor the Sub-Mariner, Hulk, Dr. Stephen Strange (in flashback); the Interloper Villains: Other Characters: Tony (in flashback); Vera Cantor; Carol Faber, Danny Synopsis: Following directly from iss. 148, Seraph claims to be able to restore Cloud's memory. Andromeda explains that she is a warrior from Atlantis, became disgusted with the sexism there, and decided to join Namor's old team. They accept her. Hank meets with Vera, apologizes for never being around, and gives her a watch that can signal him. In flight, Cloud splits into both boy and girl, giving off lightning that knocks the pilot Hank out. Angel, blind, takes the controls and avoids a crash. The Interloper goes into a Soviet base in Siberia to look at maps. His cloak of fear prevents the guards from interfering, and he walks off over the ocean toward New Mexico. Seraph takes Cloud to a hospital in West Virginia, where her male and female selves are lying in comas. She remembers now: she was an unhappy sentient cloud, made contact with the couple as their car crashed, was overwhelmed with their trauma, and became them, forgetting her original mission. Seraph takes her to the site of the accident, so she will remember the rest. She passes out; Beast has Gargoyle fly her up where she came from; she remembers all, including the danger. She flashes lightning, and all disappear. Issue: Defenders 150 Date: Dec-85 Story 1: The Stars in Their Courses (34 pages) Feature Characters: Beast, Gargoyle, Iceman, Angel, Valkyrie, Cloud; Andromeda Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Seraph, the Cosmic Cube; Captain America (in flashback, and as a template for the Cube) Villains: nasty green aliens including Sir Kaltenborn de Register-Cambric, the Star Thief Other Characters: nice brown aliens Synopsis: Cloud has transported the team to deep space, her home. She is a nebula; she will be a star someday. She points out an area of space where the stars are winking out. A fleet of alien craft appear and take the Defenders on board. A brief fight ends when Seraph uses her power to give ecstasy to the aliens. Through video tape, they explain that they are refugees from a dead star. The Cosmic Cube, now a stellar object, appears and explains it was trying to contact Cap for advice, but got the Over-Mind instead, who is MIA. It takes Cap's form so it can fight alongside the Defenders. The aliens pilot them into the void, where they are confronted by the Star Thief, who is insane and destroying the stars for aesthetics. Beast and the aliens determine its home planet. On arrival, they are attacked by its inhabitants and crash land aboard the Cube's simulation of Cap's shield. They fight through to the Star Thief's real body and find him, a small child, blinded by a laser and in a coma. They gather around her bed and think good thoughts, and she returns the stars, wrapped up in a little bag. She had tapped into the power of the Cube to fulfill her whims, but now knows better. Cloud affirms her/his love for Bobby, and returns to space. The Cube returns the rest home. Story 2: Sassafras, The Dog Filled with Fear (4 pages) Feature Characters: Regular Characters: Sassafras the dog Guest Stars: Nick Fury, Dr. Stephen Strange, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Prof. Xavier, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, the Thing, the Human Torch, Mr. Fantastic, Capt. America, Sherlock Holmes and Watson, Thor, the Hulk, Ghost Rider Villains: Manslaughter Other Characters: soldiers Michael Kaye, Barry Synopsis: Back in New Mexico, Kaye accesses Beast's computer games, and Sassafras chews on the remote control. He is attacked by holographic images until cornered. Then Manslaughter turns off the game and rescues him. Issue: Defenders 151 Date: Jan-86 Story: Second Degree Manslaughter (22 pages) Feature Characters: Beast, Gargoyle, Iceman, Angel, Valkyrie, Andromeda Regular Characters: Candy Southern; Sassafras the dog Guest Stars: the Interloper, Seraph; Elf (as a hologram) Villains: Moondragon, Manslaughter Other Characters: Synopsis: The Interloper walks across the sea in a storm toward Moondragon, aboard a ship. He bides his time before attacking. The Defenders see Seraph off to Russia and return home. They find Candy, jumping out of a cake with a super-hero costume on, calling herself "Southern Belle." She kisses Warren, knocking him out, and turns out to be a hologram disguising Manslaughter. He says he wants to join the group; they say he's nuts. Bobby finds the real Candy, but gets trapped in bed with her; he desiccates Andromeda, pins Isaac's hands with her trident, and puts bug-uglies on Hank. But then Valkyrie catches him and gives him her war-face. The Defenders easily free themselves, and Manslaughter apologizes, then tells them he's set the mansion on fire and escapes. He holds Warren hostage in the blaze until they agree to let him join the team. Candy still refuses. The Interloper appears and neutralizes him. He had taught Manslaughter his tricks, apologizes for him, but says he must indeed be accepted into the team. He points out the solar eclipse heralding the return of Moondragon. Issue: Defenders 152 Date: Feb-86 Story: The End of All Songs (38 pages) Feature Characters: Beast, Gargoyle, Iceman, Angel, Valkyrie, Andromeda Regular Characters: Candy Southern, Sassafras the dog Guest Stars: the Interloper; Artus Dux Bellorum (King Arthur, in flashback); Reed Richards, Johnny Storm Villains: Moondragon, the Beyonder Other Characters: Chris Larmouth, Carol Faber, Danny Synopsis: Note: this is part of the Secret Wars II crossover. Moondragon has a mad on. The Interloper, who fought the dragon a thousand years ago, attacks it now and direct the Defenders against the human host. He has Isaac blast her, with Manslaughter magnifying the effect with his madness (he is linked to Moondragon, see iss. 134). The rest are able to restrain her until she whips up a whirlwind and disappears. The Interloper explains that he fought the dragon alongside Arthur. Moondragon recuperates in a cave, fighting insanity. The dragon has her call the Beyonder. She asks to be his disciple to cleanse the world of evil, a token of which is the dragon as a ring on her finger. She returns to the mansion, feigning friendship, but then attacks, removing Isaac's human soul and using his gargoyle body for her servant. The Interloper covers them with his cloak of fear and has Valkyrie and Andromeda stab them through it, but the dragon takes them away and demolishes the mansion. Moondragon holds Candy hostage and heals Warren so he can see it, holds Larmouth hostage against Beast, and Carol and Danny against Iceman. Therefore these three cannot fight, as battle ensues on a mystical battleground. The Interlopers gathers the rest to him, and they sacrifice their life forces to destroy the dragon. Warren, Hank, and Bobby go to save the hostages, and return to find all the combatants reduced to dust and ashes. The hostages have been restored to health by Moondragon as a parting gesture. Note: this is the end of the series. Warren, Hank, and Bobby immediately join X-Factor. Issue: Beauty and the Beast 1 Date: Dec-84 Story: Beauty and the Beast Part 1 (23 pages) Feature Characters: Alison Blaire (Dazzler), Dr. Henry P. McCoy (Beast) Regular Characters: Kate, Poltergeist (Mickey) (see next iss.) Guest Stars: Marilyn Monroe, Harrison Ford, Errol Flynn; Wonderman (Simon Williams) Villains: Dr. Victor von Doom, Alexander Flynn, Hugo Longride, Rocker (Max, see iss. 3), Ralph Other Characters: Bronk Synopsis: Doom contemplates his art collection. He learns that his son, bastard and denied by him, is an adult and living in California. Beast takes a vacation in Hollywood, scares the locals, and sees stars. Anti-mutant feelings have been running high since Dazzler made a movie. Dazzler has been in hiding, but at a party she meets Flynn, who offers her a job in a Longride's underground theater, then parties with her, until she gets splashed in the papers as Queen of Decadence and starts losing control of her power. Beast and Wonderman visit and scuffle with her new friends. She runs off, confused, passes out on the beach, and is retrieved by some bums, who take her to Heartbreak Hotel. Beast tracks her by beating information out of Rocker. He finds her, glowing out of control. Issue: Beauty and the Beast 2 Date: Feb-84 Story: Heartbreak Hotel (23 pages) Feature Characters: Dazzler, Beast Regular Characters: Kate, Poltergeist, Lucy, Link Guest Stars: Villains: Dr. Doom; Alexander Flynn, Hugo Longride, Rocker, Ivich, Horns Other Characters: Synopsis: Kate runs the hotel as a haven for misfit mutants (e.g., Lucy can make flowers change color). Beast and Dazzler spend some time together, and fall in love. Then Dazzler returns with Flynn to the underground theater. Beast attends the performance, a high-priced gladiator match. Dazzler tries to sing, but is booed, and she agrees to stage a fight, which quickly turns real. She runs off, the rest of the troupe battles, and the crowd cheers as Horns kills. Rocker drugs Dazzler to make her lose control of her power; Hank tries to take her away, but she wants to stay and be a star. Issue: Beauty and the Beast 3 Date: Apr-84 Story: ShowTime (23 pages) Feature Characters: Dazzler, Beast Regular Characters: Kate, Poltergeist, Link Guest Stars: Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew, in flashback) Villains: Dr. Doom; Alexander Flynn, Hugo Longride, Rocker, Ivich, Horns; Jerry, Phil Other Characters: Bobby Synopsis: Beast and Dazzler walk on the beach together and are harassed by the mutant-hating crowd. She returns to the theater and works out with the troupe, impressing them. Kate convince Beast to try again to help her, but she is too caught up in the spectacle. He yells at her and storms out. He finds a lab, realizes Dazzler is being drugged, and is captured and drugged himself. Poltergeist gets Link to help him rescue Dazzler. A ferocious Beast is pitted against Dazzler, the crowd eggs her on, and she nearly kills him. He snaps out of it, reminds her they are in love, and she snaps out of it, too. The crowd boos, and the rest of the troupe is sent in to kill them both. Flynn intervenes and gets the troupe to kill Longride, instead. Doom is told his son may be in trouble. Issue: Beauty and the Beast 4 Date: Jun-84 Story: Checkmate (23 pages) Feature Characters: Dazzler, Beast Regular Characters: Poltergeist, Link Guest Stars: Villains: Dr. Doom; Alexander Flynn, Hugo Longride, Rocker, Ivich Other Characters: Synopsis: Doom arrives in Hollywood. Longride was one of his robots. Flynn has Dazzler and Beast captive. He has the mutant ability to charm people into doing what he wants, and is Doom's son. He plans to take over Latveria. Rocker and Ivich realize he is crazy; Rocker frees Dazzler and Beast, and they, Poltergeist, and Link overcome Flynn and his troupe in the arena. Doom observes his son lose and turns away in disgust. Rocker decides to start a new theater, without the killing. Dazzler expresses her appreciation to Beast. Link and Poltergeist go off into the world together. Issue: Iceman 1 Date: Dec-84 Story: The Fuse! (23 pages) Feature Characters: Robert Drake (Iceman) Regular Characters: William and Madelaine Drake Guest Stars: the Smiths including Marge, Walter Villains: Officers Ralph Ratchit; White Light, Idiot, Oblivion (see iss. 3) Other Characters: Mary, Joel; Petey the dog, Officer Leo Synopsis: There is war on an alien world. Oblivion sends White Light and Idiot to capture Marge. Iceman is late to his dad's retirement party. He stops to talk to his cousin Mary: he is nervous about his parents and his super-heroism, and... He drops his cousin when he sees Marge, a cute girl, and tries to do a stunt to impress her. He flops. An anti-mutant cop yells at him. The cop's mother yells at him. The cop's mother's dog barks at him. He runs home. His family drives him nuts, expecting him to lead a "normal" life. He goes off in a huff and bumps into Marge again, who happens to live next door. He complains to her about being half-Irish, half-Jewish, but before he can get to the mutant part, White Light and Idiot crash in. Bobby fights them, Marge and her family run away through a portal, and the house collapses. The aliens port away, and Bobby is left in the rubble, about to be arrested. Issue: Iceman 2 Date: Feb-85 Story: Instant Karma! (23 pages) Feature Characters: Iceman Regular Characters: William and Madelaine Drake Guest Stars: John Lennon, Capt. America (on posters), a BrontĪ sister; the Smiths including Marge, Walter Villains: Officer Ralph Ratchit, Officer Huntz Ratchit; White Light, Idiot, Kali, Oblivion Other Characters: Mary, Joel (in flashback) Synopsis: Oblivion sends Kali to finish the job. Bobby claims Communists destroyed the Smiths' house and gets off. He assaults a cop, and gets yelled at by his parents, who are afraid for and ashamed of him. He finds a device in the rubble, and it bounces him to 1942, where a cop shoots him, and he collapses. He wakes to find his parents, young. His father noticed a resemblance to his brother George, recently killed in the war; his mother bandaged his arm. They share a moment, then Kali and her troops attack. William tries to help, but gets clobbered; Marge has been observing from her haven in 19th Century England and opens a portal to Kali, so she will leave the Drakes alone. Bobby's father dies, which means he can't be born. Issue: Iceman 3 Date: Apr-85 Story: Quicksand! (23 pages) Feature Characters: Iceman Regular Characters: William and Madelaine Drake (as memories) Guest Stars: Prof. Xavier, Beast, Iceman, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Hercules, Ghost Rider, Darkstar, Valkyrie, Gargoyle, Moondragon (as memories); the Smiths including Marge (Mirage), Walter Villains: White Light, Idiot (as memories); Oblivion, Kali Other Characters: Synopsis: Bobby watches a bizarre replay of his own life: parents, X-Men, Champions, accounting school, New Defenders, and self-doubt throughout. He bounces around, and lands at the feet of Oblivion, who offers him rest, and takes away his memories. He is the opposite of the multiverse, created Marge for companionship, and sends Bobby to get her back. In exchange, he will restore his and his father's lives. Marge has created a perfect Norman Rockwell world for herself, and wants Bobby to stay there with her. But he wants to make sure he and his father still exist. She gets angry, destroys her little world, attacks Bobby, and calls herself Mirage; she is just like Oblivion. Marge fights the Mirage personality; Mirage fights Bobby and fells him. Then she decides to face her father. Issue: Iceman 4 Date: Jun-85 Story: The Price You Pay! (23 pages) Feature Characters: Iceman Regular Characters: William and Madelaine Drake Guest Stars: Marge Smith (Mirage), Beast, Angel Villains: Oblivion, White Light, Idiot, Kali Other Characters: Synopsis: Oblivion puts a guilt trip on his daughter. Iceman has had enough of that from his own father, and attacks, blaming him for his self-doubt all his life. Oblivion claims that the universe is an illusion created by him. Bobby calls him a liar and defeats him. Mirage has realized that she is only an extension of Oblivion, and revives him. Marge was just a dream. Oblivion swallows Bobby into nothingness, but he struggles to live, realizing that love cannot be conquered. Oblivion concedes, restoring Bobby and his father, and then merging with Mirage into the void. Bobby makes peace with his parents, then runs off with the New Defenders. Issue: Valkyrie 1 Date: Jan-97 Story: Without Wings (38 pages) Feature Characters: Brunnhilda the Valkyrie alias Barbara Norris and Aragorn Regular Characters: Guest Stars: the Valkyries Villains: D'Spayre Other Characters: the Junk Food Junkies: Paulie, Cody, Isaac, Alice Synopsis: Note: this takes place after Onslaught, when the Lost Gods have replaced Thor in Journey into Mystery. The Valkyries lead the brave dead to Valhalla, then Aragorn molts his feather, and Brunnhilda is thrown into the mud. She is attacked by the dead she had deemed unworthy. Barbara wakes from her nightmare, and gets out of bed. She sees a blue glow around a homeless woman about to die. Then she gets a bite to eat. She feels her life is a fake, that she is really Brunnhilda. She goes by later and sets the dead woman's soul free, but has no idea what she has done. She visits Paulie's garage band, sees death hovering again, and runs out. She has the nightmare again. When she wakes, Aragorn appears, and she flies off with him. He throws her; she grabs a ledge to save herself, and wonders who she really is. She beats up an obnoxious drunk, and tries to convince Alice to stop using drugs. A disguised D'Spayre shows her in a newspaper that the real Barbara was a suicide. Alice O.D.'s in the bathroom; D'Spayre reveals himself, reveling in her pain and taking her soul. He attacks Valkyrie, pointing out that she doesn't even know who she is. Then she remembers: she is Brunnhilda the Valkyrie, she puts her sword to D'Spayre's throat, and he returns Alice's soul. Valkyrie revives her, summons Aragorn, and takes her to a hospital. Valkyrie senses Paulie has AIDS; D'Spayre delights; Valkyrie takes Paulie flying, showing him the glory that awaits him after death. Note: pin-ups of Valkyrie and D'Spayre follow.
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