Cover Date: July 1980
On-Sale Date: April 22, 1980
Just as Namor and Black Panther are in midst of a member-measuring contest under the guise of national security for both their nations, we get to see the return of Mandrill and his Fem Force. This is what happens when you don't clean up your messes and assume that because someone got knocked down, they'll stay that way. Let's watch as the Defenders' past bites them in their collective butts.
When we last left our non-team, a nuclear explosion just wiped out a little islet off the coast of Africa that was mainly used by pirates and smugglers. Probably no big loss, but the population of New York City isn't taking it lying down and a large anti-nuclear protest has erupted outside the Wakandan embassy. This presents a problem for Hellcat who needs to talk with Black Panther about recurring villain, Mandrill presenting a security issue for Wakanda. How shall she get in?
After dodging a trigger happy S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, our feline themed heroine crashes through an embassy window and it just happens to be the room occupied by Black Panther. I don't know if this is luck or if Patsy was being very observant of T'Challa's movements, but it certainly is fortunate. Black Panther recalls Hellcat and calms down all the edgy security folk present. NYPD's finest knock on the door, but Panther sends them on their way. Imagine, a king opening his own doors!
A brief interlude shows us Kyle Richmond going over paperwork with his lawyer attempting to prove Richmond Enterprises is on the level. On the television, he sees Hellcat breaking into the embassy as well as a recap of the atomic boom off the coast of Africa. Poor Kyle feels helpless as he still cannot act as Nighthawk legally. Let's see how long this lasts.
Looking in on our Atlantean contingent, Namor's sub is following Hulk who is swimming across the entire ocean. Trying to keep a promise he made to Doc, Namor attempts some peace negotiations with the green behemoth. After an inauspicious start that feels like an attack to the Hulk, Namor bites his diva-like tongue to make peace with him.
Namor's thoughts are prophetic and he transports Dr. Banner to the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Both men enter the Sanctum. Who is also a guest? Why Black Panther, of course. He and the Defenders are working on a plan to nab Mandrill when Namor enters. He may have bitten his tongue for Bruce, but not for T'Challa.
Doc lays down the law and insults Namor by siding with Panther. Fortunately, our resident diva restrains himself from wrecking the place and simply leaves. Doc is very "don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!" Panther apologies for causing a problem, but Doc waves it off and Clea takes Dr. Banner to a room to rest before rejoining the strategy session. The group figures out the next delivery of pirate booty will be tonight and they head off.
Arriving at their destination, the group sees that their enemies plan is completely manned (hehe) by women. Valkyrie is up for some revenge after being violated by Mandrill on their last adventure. Clea gets in on the act with some mystical flares.
Since she can't battle women, Val starts to chop the plane apart while Panther goes inside to check out what stolen goodies they've brought. Turns out it's a load of scrap. And it's a trap that Panther is caught up in.
The plane takes off despite a lack of wings or engines. Hellcat manages to slip aboard before it gets to far up. Hellcat is about to free Black Panther when Mandrill's visage shows on a viewscreen.
Val and Clea attempt to rescue the captive pair, but a self-defense mechanism knocks the ladies off Aragorn and now they have their own problems. Clea rescues Val and sends Doc a mental message to throw his hands in the ring. Doc and Dr. Banner watch as what's left of the plane and the two captives inside plunge toward something very explosive. At the last moment, Doc and Hulk arrive. Hulk saves the day by punching the plane into the nearby river.
Doc can't get inside the plane, but he mentally transmits instructions to Hellcat on how to open the door. She manages to do this and free Black Panther. The trio swim away from the exploding plane in the nick of time.
Regrouping at the beach, Black Panther explains that by saving him, the Defenders have placed him in their debt and also confirmed that Mandrill is a thief allowing Wakanda to take action as a nation. Mandrill has been listening in on all this and makes a typical super villain pledge.
Whew! Lots of action in this one! The smuggling subplot took an interesting turn that links it to Mandrill. I like the plot twist and the excuse to bring back Fem Force. I don't know if Ed Hannigan is using Mandrill's control of them as an excuse not to develop individual characters on that group, but it would be nice to see one or two of them act like people. Mutant Force at least got personalities, even if not very deep ones.
Doc thinks because this threat is physical, he doesn't have much to offer and it annoys me that someone who, early in his career, moved Namor's entire palace miles and miles across the ocean floor, can't handle a plane. I assume this was an excuse so they can have Hulk punch a plane.
I believe Namor is taking another sabbatical from the non-team while his diva energy wears off. We'll see him again. Generally, this arc is proceeding much better than I expected. It has far less tedium than Tunnelworld.
The word "shit" made it past both Marvel editors and the eyes of the comic code to make it in print on a cereal box in Defenders 89#, cover date November, 1980. The issue also introduced Dolly Donahue and Barton Beekman and saw the death of Dorothy Walker. The issue was written by David Kraft, Ed Hannigan, Mark Gruenwald, and Steven Grant and was illustrated by Don Perlin and Pablo Marcos. ("A Death in the Family!", Defenders 89#, Marvel Comic Event)
