The
Defenders return for their trip to Maine (last issue), Valkyrie drops off
Doctor Strange and Bruce Banner at the Sanctum Sanctorum where Strange asks for
Bruce’s help. Val, Hellcat, and Nighthawk go on to the Riding Academy where
they see they have unwanted visitors. Assuming they are mobsters—or reporters,
Nighthawk swoops down on them to scare them off but one of them calls him
“Richmond,” so he questions the man as to their identity. They are with the
Justice Department, investigating Kyle Richmond for financial improprieties.
Angry, Kyle points out that he was cleared of these charges two years earlier.
The Agents depart and Kyle goes in to brood. Val receives a letter from her
school with an invitation to a mixer (student party) two days from now; Hellcat
suggests they attend….
Back
at the Sanctum, Strange has explained the situation to Bruce and, with Bruce’s
consent, he transforms the scientist into the Hulk. Strange tells Clea they go
to seek knowledge, not danger, and will be back soon. They vanish….
Kyle
drops Val and Patsy off at the mixer at Empire State University and drives off.
They meet Professor Harrison Turk and Aaron “Dollar Bill” English but Ledge
shows up and accuses Turk of being Lunatik, who beat him up earlier. After some
acrimony, Turk walks out; Val and Patsy decide to follow him but once outside
they don’t see him—but they do see Lunatik skulking in the bushes. While Patsy
calls Kyle, Val assumes her armor and sword to pursue the villain. She comes
upon Lunatik terrorizing some students and challenges him. After an acrobatic
skirmish Val overcomes her foe….
Tired
of waiting for Nighthawk to arrive, Patsy dons her Hellcat outfit and goes out
to find Val. She comes upon Lunatik skulking in the bushes and, after an
acrobatic skirmish, she overcomes her foe….
Nighthawk
arrives and, not seeing Val or Hellcat, goes looking for them. He comes upon
Lunatik skulking near the bushes and, after an acrobatic skirmish, he overcomes
his foe….
Then
the three Defenders meet and discover each has a captive Lunatik. Several
students gather around them then Professor Turk arrives and confesses to being
Lunatik….