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1976-01-01 00:03:10
Previous:
Fantastic Four #166-167
Up:
Main

1976 / Box 10 / EiC Upheaval

Next:
Howard the Duck #1-3

Defenders #31

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

Inbound References (2): show

  • Defenders #35
  • Defenders #120-125

Characters Appearing: Arthur Nagan, Chondu, Dr. Strange, Elf with a Gun, Hulk, Jack Norriss, Jerry Morgan, Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Wong

Previous:
Fantastic Four #166-167
Up:
Main

1976 / Box 10 / EiC Upheaval

Next:
Howard the Duck #1-3

Comments

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

Posted by: Mark Drummond | August 21, 2011 1:11 AM

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

Posted by: Mark Drummond | March 4, 2013 5:41 PM

"Men kill Bambi's mother!"

That, that is just awesome.

Posted by: Erik Beck | March 11, 2015 12:06 PM

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.

Posted by: Omar Karindu | December 6, 2015 3:07 PM

"It's 'goodbye', Charles."

And that, my friends, is art.

Posted by: Dan Spector | August 26, 2016 11:14 PM




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