Issue(s): Defenders #15, Defenders #16
Cover Date: Sep-Oct 74
Title: "Panic beneath the Earth!" / "Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant!"
Credits:
Len Wein - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Klaus Janson / Mike Esposito - Inker

Review/plot:
Nighthawk gets out of his carrot-nose costume and into something slightly snazzier.

I still dislike the character, though. His origin as a Batman from another dimension should have relegated him into a one-time appearance for an imaginary Avengers/JLA grudge match. The fact that there are multiple Nighthawks out there (this one is the Squadron Sinister version, and there is also the Squadron Supreme version) makes it unnecessarily confusing. His powers suck, especially in light of the fact that he's on a team with Dr. Strange, Valkyrie, Hulk, Namor, and the Silver Surfer, and he's got no personality to speak of. He's basically a device to ensure that the Defenders have a headquarters, vehicles, a place to store Brightwing, etc..

After Valkyrie announces her intention to quit again, Dr. Strange is contacted by fellow Illuminati member Professor X, and asked to meet him in New Mexico. There, they run into Magneto and his latest Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, which includes the Blob, Unus, the mutate Lorelei, and veteran Brotherhood member Mastermind.

Magneto is continuing on his genetic mutation experiments that he started in Uncanny X-Men #18 and developed further during his time with the Savage Land Mutates in Uncanny X-Men #62-63.

The Brotherhood repeatedly overpower the Defenders, largely due to the fact that they keep falling for Mastermind's illusions. And when the Defenders finally do get the upper hand, Magneto's newest mutate has matured to the point where it can easily stop them. However, the mutate continues to evolve...

    

...and eventually becomes so enlightened that it realizes that Magneto is a bad guy.

He devolves Magneto and the Brotherhood into children and then ascends into the heavens.

Len Wein's dialogue is especially corny, with Magneto at his most over the top. I like Sal Buscema's art, though. It's a little flat, especially with Lorelei in the cast to remind me of Neal Adam's amazingly advanced style, but it's still enjoyable.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - Nighthawk gets his classic costume, Magneto & the Brotherhood of Evil mutants are devolved into babies

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place after Marvel Team-Up #23.

References:

• The Valkyrie resigned from the Defenders in Defenders #12.
  
• Val was created by the Enchantress out of Barbara Norriss in Defenders #4.
  
• Professor X needs the Defenders' help because he sent the X-Men on a mission that is depicted in Marvel Team-Up #23.
  

• Apparently, Magneto was captured in a bubble and sent to the center of the Earth by the Avengers in Avengers #111, although that was not actually depicted in the issue.
  
• As part of his scheme Magneto takes over the UN building as he did once before in Avengers #49.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Nighthawk's new costume was designed by Len Wein.

Klaus Janson inked #15. He is credited, and his style is (alas) unmistakable.

Looks like i had the ink credits for #16-17 listed instead. Fixed it; thanks Matthew.

Alas!?

In my circles, I am notorious for my dislike of Janson's splotchy work. I will grudgingly admit that his style suited certain strips (e.g., Black Panther, Deathlok), and of course he and Miller were made for each other on DAREDEVIL. But I think he was one of the worst things ever to happen to Sal. Purely a matter of personal taste.

Not a big fan of Janson either. I did enjoy this 2 comic story, even though for some odd reason my favorite little corner drug store totally missed #16 and I had to go hunting for it for the next several months. On another note, I did notice upon first purchase of this comic that Alpha in that one above panel bore a striking resemblance to Professor X.

Wait they all were turned into babies not just Magneto? How the heck did Blob and Mastermind be restored in time for the Days of Future Past and Dark Phoneix storylines in time?

We see later when Eric the Red re-ages Magneto, they also reverted too. It's revealed in The Champions #17 where they appear next.

I'm glad that someone already asked and Jay already answered the question about the other villains being turned into babies - I had no idea that happened. Interesting that Mastermind is never explicitly dealt with - he just next appears as an adult again in X-Men #122.

I am a huge, huge fan of Nighthawk's costume. I created a character years ago designed to carry on the name and that specific costume.

Somehow that's a story in itself that I'm surprised no one has told: how Mastermind goes from "baby" to "Jason Wyndergarde of the Hellfire Club". (I highly doubt it has anything to do with Emma Frost at an adoption agency)

I just assumed that Mastermind was being held in an adjacent cell to the other villains and the "re-aging" ray also entered his cell.

Agreed on Nighthawk. He really is a pointless character.

How did Magneto survive being trapped within that be bubble for months, with no access to food nor water??