Defenders, The #68: Review

Feb 1979

Ed Hannigan, Herb Trimpe

Story Name:

Valhalla Can Wait! Val in Valhalla Part Three

Review & Comments

Rating:

Defenders, The #68 Review by Peter Silvestro (September 6, 2023)

Review: And now the battle to decide who will be Deity of the Dead is over and the winner (?) is…a tie? Well, Hela banishes herself along with Ollerus so that neither of them rules Valhalla. And while the Hulk speaks for the reader in being confused as to which Val is which, he does get the issue’s highlight, duking it out with a magic mountain and winning! And now we leave Thor territory behind and move on to some crazier stuff.

Comments: Title is a play on the movie title HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1943/1978). Final appearance of Ollerus; Poppo and Casiolena return decades later in PATSY WALKER A/K/A HELLCAT #4-5. The Barbara and Jack Norriss saga was in DEFENDERS #23-40. David Anthony Kraft and Ed Hannigan collaborated on the plot; the letters page to issue #72 reveals that David Kraft quit Marvel suddenly, forcing Ed Hannigan to work out the rest of the plot based on Kraft’s notes, with the help of Herb Trimpe. Gaspar Saladino did the lettering for page 1.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Defenders, The #68 Synopsis by John McDonagh

In Valhalla, the warrior Harokin confers with Hela as the battle with Ollerus is about to begin. Valkyrie goes off to Ollerus' mountain as the Hulk, serving in Ollerus' army, battles Harokin's soldiers. In Asgard, Hela confers with Odin. He states that he will not intervene in the battle, but he does not want Hela ruling Valhalla anymore. Barbara Norriss engages the Valkyrie in battle. Hellcat and Nighthawk see this. The Hulk, thinking Barbarian Norriss to be the true Valkyrie, throws a rock at Brunnhilde, who falls off of her horse. However, while talking to Barbara Norriss, they realize she is the imposter, and depart to find the true Valkyrie. The Hulk and the others join Harokin's army. The Hulk destroys Ollerus' magic mountain. Hela tells Ollerus that she will no longer rule Valhalla. Harokin will rule Valhalla. Those killed by Ollerus will return to Earth alive.

Characters: Defenders, Poppo, Casiolena,