Defenders, The #67: Review

Jan 1979

Ed Hannigan, Ed Hannigan

Story Name:

We, The Unliving...

Review & Comments

Rating:

Defenders, The #67 Review by John McDonagh (August 29, 2023)

Comments: The Vanir are a tribe of gods distinct from the Aesir (Odin, Thor, etc.) though they are closely associated. In the Hyborian Age, a nation of humans called the Nordheimr had a sub-tribe called the Aesir.—JM.

Additional comments by Peter Silvestro: Despite being portrayed on the cover, Doctor Strange does not appear in the issue. David Anthony Kraft and Ed Hannigan collaborated on the plot; the letters page to issue #73 reveals that David Kraft quit Marvel suddenly, forcing Ed Hannigan to work out the rest of the plot based on Kraft’s notes. Gaspar Saladino did the lettering for page 1.

Review by Peter Silvestro: More Asgardian battle with a jailbreak and flying dragons! Plus, two or three Defenders die and go to Asgard just to confuse all issues (though Kyle may now be beyond the reach of the IRS and the Justice Department). And Ollerus’ helmet is still the funniest thing in the issue!

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Defenders, The #67 Synopsis by John McDonagh

In the woods of Oregon, the Hulk faces some soldiers. Suddenly, while mid-way leaping in the air, his heart suddenly stops beating. He lands in a ravine. In Valhalla, the warrior Harokin watches as the would-be death god Ollerus (who seeks to replace Hela) moves his magical mountain around. Ollerus, aided by minions Poppo and Casiolena. In a dungeon, he looks in on the Valkyrie, who he had replaced with the imposter Barbara Norriss. Elsewhere, while driving with Kyle Richmond, Hellcat goes over a cliff. Thinking they survived the accident, they go to speak to the arriving police. Nobody can hear them, and they see bodies on stretchers. Meanwhile Barbara Norriss (posing as Valkyrie) arrives for them to take them to Valhalla. Ollerus continues to observe Earth. He has been engineering the death of mortals to create an army of soldiers. Engineering the death of a blond haired mustached man in "Midgard's largest city" (which is oddly in an English speaking country), Ollerus plots. The Vanir serving as Valkyrie's guards chat as the Valkyrie plans he escape. Breaking through the wall of her cell, she faces the watch dragons of Casiolena. Harokin saves her. Elsewhere, the Hulk and others arrive to join Ollerus' army.