Issue(s): Nightstalkers #2
Cover Date: Dec 92
Title: "Revenant season"
Credits:
D.G. Chichester - Writer
Ron Garney - Penciler
Tom Palmer - Inker
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
When i saw the cover of this issue, i thought it was weird that the Nightstalkers would be going up against a group like Hydra as early as issue #2 of their series. I figured they'd deal with some generic supernatural threats to establish the theme of the series (especially since issue #1 was part of a crossover) before running into any other Marvel characters, let alone an organization that at first glance doesn't seem to be in the Nightstalkers' niche. But then i remembered that former SHIELD writer D.G. Chichester is writing this, and he brought Hydra to Daredevil, so why not the Nightstalkers? I actually like this; i think one of the things that makes the Marvel universe feel like a "universe" is when creators move from book to book and bring the concepts they're working on with them. And as we'll see, Chichester has a plausible reason (by comics standards) why Nightstalker would get involved with Hydra. Which is not to say that this story is great, but at least it feels more relevant to the larger Marvel universe than if the Nightstalkers were just doing some random ghost-busting.

The Nightstalkers probably thought they were just doing some random ghost-busting, though. The issue opens with a story about a man who went to a psychic hoping to commune with his dead brother. But the psychic was a phony, and the man figured that out pretty quickly and got violent, and he was shot by the psychic's assistant. Turn the page and suddenly the Nightstalkers are chasing the psychics down the street in a humvee, firing laser canons.

Extreme response! Although i'm not sure what the Nightstalkers have against Pac-Man.

We learn that the psychics were using some actual mystic elements to enhance their phony operation, which is how the Nightstalkers got involved. But more importantly, the psychics are working for someone named Belial. Which is not (as i originally assumed) the name of a demon; he's actually a Hydra lieutenant.

The Nightstalkers manage to subdue the psychics, despite one of them having a gun that makes Johnny Blaze's shotgun seem not-so-special.

I wondered last issue about Blade agreeing to work along side the vampiric Hannibal King, despite a no tolerance policy towards the super-natural. That does seem to be a concern, although not an immediate one.

The psychics are dropped off for the police. Apparently the police are aware of the Nightstalkers but don't exactly appreciate them.

We then switch away to a meeting of Baron Strucker and Hydra's top lieutentants - Garotte, Romulus, Saltz, and Belial (the Dr. Strange-looking guy on the left).

Belial gives Strucker a tour demonstrating the things that his "DOA" division is working on.

Chichester makes the parallel between this division of Hydra and Hitler's obsession with the supernatural, and has Strucker make the distinction that he is only interested in practical results.

At the end of the issue, we see that Belial has bailed out the psychics, but only to introduce them to his DOA field operatives: Malpractice, Innards, Rotwrap, and Pyre.

The rest of the issue shows character moments for the Nightstalkers. We see Hannibal King longing for death, actually making rats carve his name on tombstones.

Weirdo. If he really wanted to die, couldn't he just, like, walk out into the sun?

Then we see that Blade approaches grocery shopping with the same intensity as killing vampires.

Definitely the highlight of the issue (and there's nothing more to it to put it in context).

We also see Frank Drake's wife Marlene telling him that she doesn't want him to get too involved with supernatural stuff. He agrees while in the background we see him running a diagnostic on a new gun designed for exorcism.

I can't say the DOA agents fill me with much hope, and in general i'm still kind of waiting for this series to "start".

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Next issue does not continue directly from this one even though it continues the DOA plot. Unless Hydra is meant to have out of date information, this should take place before the revelation that the SHIELD Super-Agents are bad guys in Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD #42-44.

References:

• Hydra takes credit for the 1500 body bags thanks to Nick Fury Agents of SHIELD #25.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Doesn't getting bitten by Morbius give Blade his more half-vampire attributes? Does he not thirst for blood before that?

Because I'm wondering if Morbius ruined his taste for mango cream pie with that bloodlust.

Blade truly is a man of many talents. Swordsmanship, martial arts, occult knowledge, jazz trumpet, and a pastry chef? The vampire hunter as renaissance man.