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Selector

Defenders #49

Jul 1977
David Kraft, Mike Royer

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Story Name:

Rampage: Who Remembers Scorpio? Part Two


Synopsis

Defenders #49 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Moon Knight is on his way to find the Defenders so they can rescue Nighthawk from the villain Scorpio

…who at that moment is recounting his complicated origin to the captive Kyle and innocent bystander Jack Norriss. Now that he has regained the Zodiac Key he must activate his new Zodiac prematurely….

Clea contacts Valkyrie and Hellcat in a mystic vision, telling them that Moon Knight is waiting at the Sanctum Sanctorum and needs their aid….

Dr. Tania Belinsky arrives back in Moscow and a KGB agent informs her that they know she is also the Red Guardian….

Scorpio activates his new Zodiac, forcing Jack to watch. In the next room, Nighthawk appeals to Nick Fury to release him but it isn’t Nick, it’s his rogue LMD Max Fury, so he refuses….

Val tells Moon Knight and Hellcat that they need the Hulk. They rush over to a large picnic in the park where Hulk, having scared everyone away, is eating all the food. Val asks the Hulk to join the effort to rescue Nighthawk but he refuses so Val kicks the picnic table over on him. Enraged, Hulk chases them out of the park and through the streets, as they attack him periodically to keep him following….

Scorpio and Fury argue about whose fault it is that Moon Knight escaped and Scorpio clobbers “Nick” and that’s how Jack learns Nick was an LMD all along. Scorpio is planning to depart with the new Zodiac but an alarm sounds….

The heroes try to lure Hulk into the Lincoln Tunnel but an absence of noise reveals that Hulk anticipated their move and is waiting for them to exit on the New Jersey side. Moon Knight has his copter pilot Frenchie open fire on Hulk to decoy him away from the tunnel, leaving time for the heroes to grab onto the ladder and be carried away. The chase continues and Moon Knight tricks Hulk into crashing through the skylight of Scorpio’s lair (setting off the alarm heard earlier); Scorpio greets the intruder and orders his Zodiac to attack while Jack Norriss wishes he were anywhere else….


 

Review / Commentaries


Defenders #49 Review by (October 26, 2021)

Review: So while the villain is getting ready for mayhem, the heroes spend the entire issue trying to get the Hulk to join them in battle in the most perilous way possible. It’s a plot move that is equally audacious and irritating and also a lot of fun like all of the best moments in this series. So Scorpio talks and talks and talks while Hulk smashes and we end up where we want to be: ready for action next issue. And the art looks like a halfway decent Jack Kirby imitation, especially Scorpio’s mad lab with the Kirby Dots accompanying the Kirby Krackle. And we see a whole bunch of baddies get clobbered next time.

Comments: Part four of five parts/part two of three parts. Scorpio’s backstory has been retconned a few times. This version follows NICK FURY, AGENT OF SHIELD #1 and 5 plus AVENGERS #72. The Nick Fury appearing since issue #46 is herein revealed to be an LMD later called Max Fury. Jack Norriss uses the phrase “Spit or get off the spot,” a somewhat cleaned up vulgar expression. Gaspar Saladino did the lettering for page 1, Irving Watanabe and Mike Royer divided the rest of the issue.



> Defenders comic book info and issue index

Elektra
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Excelsioring your collection:
Statue Hulk (Battle of New York) 1/10 - Infinity Saga - BDS Art Scale - Iron Studios
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Mike Royer
Mike Royer
David Kraft
Al Milgrom (Cover Penciler)
Al Milgrom (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Layouts: Keith Giffen. Letterer: John Costanza.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Hellcat
Hellcat

(Patricia Walker)
Hulk
Hulk

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Moon Knight
Moon Knight

(Marc Spector)
Nighthawk
Nighthawk

(Kyle Richmond)
Red Guardian
Red Guardian

(Tania Belinsky)
Valkyrie
Valkyrie

(Brunnhilda)

Plus: Jack Norriss (Jackson Norriss), Max Fury, Scorpio (Jake Fury LMD).