New Defenders, The (1983 series) #138

Returning to their airplane, the Defenders discover Shafik Wazzam, now just a disheveled old man, hiding there. Without his translation spells his speech can no longer be understood; he runs away and Angel contacts the Forest Rangers to take care of him. On the plane, Beast confronts Moondragon, accusing her of manipulating their minds to trick them into removing her headband to release her evil back into the world. Cloud (now male) comes to her defense, moved by his love for her. Moondragon again refuses to defend herself, treating everyone else with disdain….

When they arrive back at their mountain HQ, they are met by a gun-wielding Hulk who orders them to leave. Then Hulk vanishes with a “ping” and Candy Southern appears to explain that Hulk was part of their new holographic security system. The seriously injured Gargoyle is brought in and Candy summons a life-support gurney to take Isaac down to their new infirmary. Candy then demonstrates the other options for the security system: holographic versions of Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer, Captain America, Wolverine, Thing, and Humphrey Bogart. The topper is Galactus riding a giant Sassafras. Candy then takes them downstairs to the state-of-the-art infirmary connected remotely to a hospital owned by Warren. The doctors reveal that Isaac’s severed hand appears to be regrowing. Isaac takes the opportunity to apologize to the others for fighting them, mentioning that being under another’s control was a nightmare. [Moondragon, meanwhile, has retired to her room to ponder whether she is evil or has mastered evil.] The others ask Isaac what he meant by “Beware Moondragon” which he said at the end of the previous issue but he doesn’t remember saying it. Dolly Donahue offers to make dinner….

Later, Beast and Angel talk over the idea of a leader for the Defenders—and whether they need one in light of how well they worked together against the captured Isaac….

Bobby hears a cry from Cloud’s room and dashes in to find she is a girl again. He comforts her but she wants to know if he would act the same if he were a boy again? S/he changes and an uncomfortable Bobby excuses himself….

Even later, Isaac stops by Cloud’s room and finds her a girl again. He relates Moondragon’s history: The orphaned Heather Douglas was brought by Mentor of Titan to the priests of Shao-Lom where she excelled in the discipline of mind and body in their care. But she allowed an ancient evil called the Dragon of the Moon into her mind where, after some struggle, she trapped it away. But her accomplishment caused her to swell up with pride so she called herself Moondragon to commemorate her victory. But the Dragon was always there, slowly bringing her mind under its control. [Meanwhile, Moondragon is struggling with the question of turning the Dragon’s power to the cause of good but tempted by a demonic creature to do just that which would be to her loss. Another demon that resembles Mantis accuses her of being flawed and attacks her]….

Alarms that resemble baby cherubs with trumpets awaken Bobby and Cloud and they look in Moondragon’s room and see her sitting calmly so they assume she is all right, not noticing her bruised and battered face. The Defenders (minus Moondragon) assemble and Hank and Warren announce the selection of a leader for the team: Candy Southern. They present her with a baseball cap with the team name and a tee shirt that says, “The Brains Behind the Defenders.” She accepts the job and then Moondragon its hurtled through the door, crashing to the floor, followed by an angry Mantis….