Nighthawk
arrives near Colorado in response to the SOS from Wasp (last issue); he thanks
his tech flying support for their help, rejecting their advice to test his
systems more thoroughly before heading into action. He zooms out in search of
his endangered Defenders teammates….
Wasp
is at the Air Force base, standing with the commander as they watch the
approach of Mandrill’s army. The USAF lays down a barrage of bombs as a warning
but the enemy keeps coming. The Fem-Force, led by Valkyrie, reaches the base
and the soldiers take on the women in close combat, neither side trying to kill
the other. The Mutant Force is supporting Val and Hellcat while Wasp wonders if
there is a way to break the Mandrill’s hold over his mind-controlled minions….
Back
at his HQ, Mandrill watches the operation, bringing the drugged and captive
Yellowjacket out to witness his wife’s defeat….
In
New York, Clea wonders how Dr. Strange and the others are faring in far-off
Tunnelworld, still upset that she was left behind. To work off her
restlessness, she takes Aragorn for a flight around the city….
In
Tunnelworld, Bruce Banner has awoken from the dream and learns from Aeroika
what is going on, asking him about the silver glob Hulk encountered in issue
#26 but the winged guide doesn’t know. Then they are attacked by warriors of
the tyrant Ytitnedion; Bruce is hit in the leg by an arrow, triggering his
transformation into Hulk who starts smashing the enemy; the baddies beat a
hasty retreat. Doctor Strange and Sub-Mariner awaken and are briefed on the
situation. Strange casts a spell causing Hulk to return before he kills anyone,
a goal of the sorcerer’s. While they debate their next move, only Ytitnedion
knows that the name of the Unnameable is planted in Hulk’s brain, waiting to be
brought out when the time is ripe….
At
the airbase, the good guys are surrounded in a hanger and bad guy Shocker
creates an electric shield around the building to trap them inside. Wasp
despairs at her failure but Dian Wilkins points out that Nighthawk has arrived.
From high above, Kyle surveys the situation and swoops down to destroy the
enemy tanks with his new laser cannons. He ducks a tank hurled by the
hypnotized Valkyrie and tries knocking her down but fails. Shocker and Burner
fire a combined blast at Nighthawk who is protected by his wings. He swoops
down and snatches up Val and Hellcat and drops them into the electric field
which shocks them back to their senses. The Defenders join the base’s defenders
in defeating the enemy and head for Mandrill’s HQ. Mandrill decides to take off
for his refuge in Central America and soon a rocket blasts off. Nighthawk goes
after it and forces his way in, only to discover, not Mandrill, but the captive
Yellowjacket used as a decoy. Jan and Hank are reunited, Amber Grant and
Ruth Hart are freed, and Val vows vengeance against Mandrill….