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Selector

Defenders #105

Mar 1982
J. M. DeMatteis, Joe Sinnott

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Story Name:

... Rising...


Synopsis

Defenders #105 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3 stars

Doctor Strange joins Beast and Reed Richards in examining the case of Vera Cantor, Beast’s girlfriend who is suspended in a state of non-life because of an encounter with the Resurrection Stone, now shattered. Reed suggests reconstructing the Stone but Strange says it is too dangerous…though they may be able to glean some knowledge from its fragments...by entering it….

In the Arizona desert, at the center of a circle of demons, Satan commands his wayward son Daimon Hellstrom to sacrifice an infant to drive the last vestiges of his human side out of him—but he can’t bring himself to do it. The baby is revealed to be a disguised demon, who mocks Daimon. Stan overpowers his son and demands he choose….

Dr. Strange casts the spells that take him, Beast, and Reed into the weird landscape inside the broken Resurrection Stone. They are attacked by crystal dragonlike monsters and find them quite easy to shatter. They are met by the ruler of the land….

Back in Arizona, Daimon Hallstrom is surrounded by jeering demons as he is forced to participate in an obscene parody of Christ’s crucifixion. At the last moment he rebels, defying his father….

Inside the Resurrection Stone, a giant crystal woman called the Giver of Life weeps at how she has been misunderstood. Her tears splash on Strange, and Reed, turning them to crystal. She reveals that she drew them into the Stone, intending to use their life-forces to rebuild the Stone then conquer the world. Beast hurls himself through her, breaking her to pieces. And then it rains, transforming the Beast too into a crystal figure….

In Hell, Daimon confronts his father and refuses to submit to him. Satan responds with some nonsense about Good and Evil always needing to be in balance and how he is pleased that Daimon has finally decided between the two. Daimon is teleported to the Sanctum Sanctorum where he finds the reconstituted Resurrection Stone calling out to him in a seductive voice. He smashes it against the wall and the restored Strange, Beast, and Reed emerge and Strange casts a spell that scatters the fragments of the Stone across time and space. Strange greets Daimon, surprised to see him. Beast prepares to make his final farewell to the undead Vera but Daimon stops him then casts a healing spell that revives Vera. Beast is delighted to have the confused Vera back in his arms while outside it is Christmas Day….

Story continues in CAPTAIN AMERICA #268.



 

Review / Commentaries


Defenders #105 Review by (September 17, 2024)

Review: An odd issue, lacking most of the series’ stars, has Dr. Strange, Hank, and Reed entering a shiny but not very interesting fantasy world to wrap up an AVENGERS storyline. Meanwhile, the Son of Satan goes through a ridiculous parody of Christ’s crucifixion which even the writer sees is blasphemous while Satan seems to be cool with his son choosing good over evil because the sides must even up in the end. I said what I thought about their characterization of Satan and general outlook on evil in my review of issue #100. Reminder: Don’t take your theology from a comic book.

Comments: Vera Cantor was introduced in X-MEN #19 and appeared in that title sporadically for several years; she turned up next in Beast’s solo series in AMAZING ADVENTURES #13-16 then INCREDIBLE HULK #161 (March 1973) which had Beast as guest star; after this, she did not appear for eight years until AVENGERS #209; the current issue leads to a semi-regular place in the Defenders. Beast uses the phrase, “Plunk your magic twanger,” from the children’s show ANDY’S GANG (1955-1960). Joe Sinnott is credited with finished art and Al Milgrom did the backgrounds. The letters page includes one by a Greg Cox who may be the future writer of comics and TV tie-in novels, for Marvel, DC, and STAR TREK.



> Defenders comic book info and issue index

Elektra
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Excelsioring your collection:
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Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott
George Roussos
Al Milgrom (Cover Penciler)
Al Milgrom (Cover Inker)
George Roussos (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Layouts: Don Perlin. Letterer: Shelly Leferman.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Beast
Beast

(Henry Phillip McCoy)
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange

(Stephen Strange)
Mr. Fantastic
Mr. Fantastic

(Reed Richards)
Son of Satan
Son of Satan

(Daimon Hellstrom)

Plus: Satan, Vera Cantor.