Issue(s): Defenders #87
Cover Date: Sep 80
Title: "Inquest"
Credits:
Ed Hannigan - Writer
Don Perlin - Penciler
Pablo Marcos - Inker

Review/plot:
This is an odd issue. Jack Norriss, Patsy Walker's ex-husband Colonel Bob "Buzz" Baxter, and Mutant Force are called to a secret tribunal to testify about the Defenders.

It's not clear who is performing the inquisition, but they are clearly hostile to the Defenders. In a latter lettercol, Ed Hannigan says that the intention was to never reveal who was performing the inquest. It was supposed to be "Kafkaesque" like the Rolling Stone's song 'Fingerprint File'. As such, it's basically a dead-end plot. Unfortunately, a few years later J.M. DeMatteis won't be able to help himself from muddling with it.

The flashback portion shows Mutant Force, who now work for the government, fighting the Hulk.

Burner was able to knock out the Hulk by burning up all the oxygen around him. The Hulk turned into Banner. But then Valkyrie and Hellcat showed out to rescue him.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first appearance of the Tribunal that will order the original members of the Defenders to disband.

Chronological Placement Considerations: The inquisition focuses on some events that happened soon after Defenders #86. But this issue happens at least a little later, time enough for the Hulk to have had made other appearances if necessary, since he doesn't actually appear in the inquisition. In fact, none of the Defenders actually appear in this issue, except in flashback.

References:

• Foolkiller burned down Kyle Richmond's riding academy in Defenders #75.
  
• Jack Norriss' testimony covers the events around Defenders #50.
  
• Buzz gives his interpretation of what happened when Patsy Walker became Hellcat in Avengers #144.
  
• Mutant Force began working for the government in Defenders #83. They fought the Defenders in Defenders #78-83.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Thanks for clearing up what happened with the story a bit. I read this issue recently and it looked like the storyline had been dropped, and I was wondering what was going on.