Issue(s): Defenders #31
Cover Date: Jan 76
Title: "Nighthawk's brain!"
Credits:
Steve Gerber - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Jim Mooney - Inker

Review/plot:
Nighthawk is captured by the Headmen, and Chondu's brain is placed in his body.

Meanwhile, the Hulk witnesses a pair of hunters kill a deer. He beats up the hunters and brings "Bambi" to Dr. Strange to learn how to take care of it.

Hulk runs into Chondu/Nightwing on the way to Dr. Strange's house, and leads him there. There they meet up with the Valkyrie, who has been on a date to the carnival with her 'husband' Jack Norriss.

The Headmen apparently want all the Defenders to create an army of super-powered soldiers, but Chondu's magic is no match for Dr. Strange at all.

I think it's weird that Jack Norriss would be brought into the battle, though. Unfortunately the battle leaves Nighthawk badly injured; Dr. Strange didn't believe it was really Nighthawk so he attacked full-force.

The Elf With a Gun kills off another mundane middle class couple this issue.

Gerber's Defenders run is getting quite good.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 2

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Nagan fought Nighthawk in Defenders #21.
  
• Chondu refers to the Sons of the Serpent incident in Defenders #22-25. The Headmen read about the account in the newspaper and became aware of the Defenders.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The title most likely refers to the infamously awful Star Trek episode "Spock's Brain".

When FOOM#11 previewed this book, it called the Headsmen "the reprint people".

"Men kill Bambi's mother!"

That, that is just awesome.

I've always liked the use of the Headmen; since they're a bunch of 1950s mad scientists, they can do the kinds of stuff that only happened in 1950s B-movies.

And I suspect the reference is not to "Spock's Brain," but rather to Donovan's Brain.

"It's 'goodbye', Charles."

And that, my friends, is art.