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Selector

Defenders #81

Mar 1980
Ed Hannigan, Jack Abel

Story Name:

War in Ogeon


Synopsis

Defenders #81 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3.5 stars

On Tunnelworld to stop the spread of the Unnameable’s influence, the Defenders (Hulk, Doctor Strange, Sub-Mariner) have been guided by the escaped slave Aeroika to the outskirts of Ogeon, citadel of the evil Buzzard-King Ytitnedion. They destroy a bridge to halt a couple of merchants taking their wares to the city market then terrorizing them into allowing the Defenders to hide in the back of the cart….

Meanwhile on Earth, returning by Quinjet from their adventure out west, Wasp and Yellowjacket drop off Hellcat, Nighthawk, and Valkyrie at Kyle’s New York City penthouse. They invite Dian Wilkins, Ruth Hart, and Amber Grant to stay awhile but they would rather get back to their homes in Hell’s Kitchen. Later, there’s a knock at the door and it turns out to be FBI Agents who place Kyle under arrest for violating the terms of his court order….

In Ogeon, the heroes witness a triumphal procession celebrating the capture of Strange’s wizard ally Xhoohx and his Orb of Ommennon. They are spotted by the city guards and a fight ensues, inspiring the slaves to rise up in rebellion. A huge tank appears and blasts the Hulk into unconsciousness with some magically enhanced weaponry; he is captured and paraded as a prisoner. Aeroika rallies his people to further action, while Strange and Namor ponder their next course of action. Meanwhile, a gloating Ytitnedion reveals to Xhoohx that this is all part of an elaborate scheme: Hulk has been secretly in the Unnameable’s power and all of Ytitnedion’s actions have been intended to capture the Defenders, put down the slave rebellion, and destroy Xhoohx and the Orb….



 

Review / Commentaries


Defenders #81 Review by (March 20, 2024)

Review: This is an extremely talky issue and I’m not sure why. The action is fairly straightforward yet it feels like half of the tale is word balloons; there aren’t a lot of subtleties or sinister implications that need this much explaining. This costs the issue half a star in the rating. Still, it’s an enjoyable issue that mainly details how the heroes enter the villain’s city and start a ruckus. And Hulk is captured, setting up a dark development next issue.

Comments: Part four of six parts. The character called “Noog” is drawn to resemble a Goon from the Popeye comic strip. The Defenders met Xhoohx on their previous visit in issue #72. The ancient prophecies were described in issue #79. Final appearances of Dian Wilkins, Ruth Hart, and Amber Grant, all left over from OMEGA THE UNKNOWN.



> Defenders comic book info and issue index

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Holy smokes, Batman!
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Jack Abel
Jack Abel
Barry Grossman
Rich Buckler (Cover Penciler)
Al Milgrom (Cover Inker)
George Roussos (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Layouts: Herb Trimpe. Letterer: Joe Rosen.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange

(Stephen Strange)
Hellcat
Hellcat

(Patricia Walker)
Hulk
Hulk

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Nighthawk
Nighthawk

(Kyle Richmond)
Sub-Mariner
Sub-Mariner

(Namor McKenzie)
Valkyrie
Valkyrie

(Brunnhilda)
Wasp
Wasp

(Janet Van Dyne)

Plus: Amber Grant (Amber Douglas), Dian Wilkins, Ruth Hart.