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Selector

Defenders #4

Feb 1973
Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema

Defenders #4 cover

Story Name:

The New Defender!


Synopsis

Defenders #4 synopsis by Julio Molina-Muscara
Rating: 5 stars

Hulk gets angry at Doctor Strange for always being told what to do, and never being thanked for his efforts. So he holds Barbara Denton in his arms and leaps into the castle.

The Sub-Mariner and Strange follow the Hulk, fearing for the girl’s safety. When in the castle’s basement, they find a brazier that is a portal to another realm. Trapped in it, they are attacked by the warriors of Queen Casiolena: Fragon, the conjurer, and the Executioner, an Asgardian powerhouse. Doctor Strange and the Sub-Mariner try their best, but fall defeated.

Locked in a mystic cell with Bruce Banner and an unconscious Barbara, Banner explains to them how he got there. Suddenly, voices come from another cell. It’s the Black Knight and the Enchantress, an evil sorceress from Asgard.

The Enchantress tells them she created a portal in Garrett Castle to access this dimension to rescue the Executioner from Casiolena’s spell. But she failed and ended up imprisoned. She has an idea to escape the mystic prisons: turn Barbara Denton into an Asgardian female warrior, the Valkyrie. She could break such prison gates. The Defenders disagree because of Barbara’s state. But the sorceress thinks no trace of Barbara would remain in the Valkyrie and casts the spell. Valkyrie spawns and breaks the doors, as expected.

Casiolena sends her hordes against her prisoners. Doctor Strange and Enchantress defeat Fragon, but the Hulk, Namor, and the Black Knight lose against the Executioner. The Valkyrie takes the Executioner’s axe and punches him. Jade Jaws, the Sub-Mariner, and the former Avenger follow, unleashing a second attack that knocks their powerful opponent out.

Valkyrie grabs Casiolena, who has no power against other women. And Enchantress liberates the Executioner from the spell.

Before the Asgardians leave, the Black Knight questions the Enchantress about their love relationship. But she pleads she used him only.

Hurt and upset, the Black Knight stands against the Executioner. The Enchantress halts the confrontation and kisses the Black Knight, turning him into a stone statue! After that, she and her goon vanish.

Doctor Strange tries reverting the Enchantress’ spell to no avail. Valkyrie wields the Black Knight’s blade and mounting his winged horse, Aragorn, promises to take care of them. She also tells the Defenders she’d like to join them. They reply they do not need her.

--


 

Review / Commentaries


Defenders #4 Review by (November 24, 2020)

Comments: First appearance of Valkyrie. Queen Casiolena was introduced in AVENGERS #83 and will return in DEFENDERS #66-68, sole appearance of her wizard Fragon. Hulk previously fought the Executioner in INCREDIBLE HULK #102.



> Defenders comic book info and issue index

Elektra

This comic is in the following collection:
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Collecting SUB-MARINER (1968) #34-35, MARVEL FEATURE (1971) #1-3, DEFENDERS (1972) #1-19, GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #1-2, and AVENGERS (1963) #115 (B STORY) and #116-118.

Excelsioring your collection:
Diamond Select Toys Marvel Gallery: Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness PVC Statue
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Sal Buscema
Frank McLaughlin
Petra Goldberg
John Buscema (Cover Penciler)
Frank Giacoia (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Art Simek.
Editor: Roy Thomas.

Characters

Listed in alphabetical order. All stories.

Black Knight
Black Knight

(Dane Whitman)
Bruce Banner
Bruce Banner

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange

(Stephen Strange)
Hulk
Hulk

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Sub-Mariner
Sub-Mariner

(Namor McKenzie)
Valkyrie
Valkyrie

(Brunnhilda)
Executioner
Executioner

(Skurge)
Plus: Aragorn, Barbara Denton, Casiolena, Fragon.

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