Synopsis
To expel who's possessing Nighthawk's body, Son of Satan tries exorcism, Doctor Strange magic spells. But both techniques don't work. So Stephen uses his Eye of Agamotto to view the one behind all this. And Jack Norriss is the first to recognize him: Harvey Schlemerman, alias Chondu the Mystic, leader of the criminal team the Headmen. Thus Strange solves the puzzle: Bird Nose's brain has been transferred with Chondu's. Without much thought, Hulk, Valkyrie, Strange, and Norris (using Nighthawk's costume) rush towards the villains headquarters. Meanwhile, at the destination spot, Arthur Nagan introduces Shrunken Bones to the newest group addition: Ruby Thursday. She's able to duplicate somebody's face on her sphere-like head. But she is able to "mucho" more. When the superheroes arrive, she welcomes them disguised as Kathryn Kuhlman, and suddenly blasts her head generating anti-gamma radiation! The Defenders, even the Hulk, are knocked out!
And while all that is happening, Nighthawk feels trapped in a crossroad, where Death itself sends birds to tear up his costume. Lost and desperate, he remembers the story of his life: always the rich kid, still very young saw his mother die after suffering an accident. Alone since then because his father was always travelling, he learn to fight in school against those who tried making fun of him. His behavior remained bad up to college, from where he was expelled for causing his girlfriend's death while driving drunk. And when the army tried to send him to war, they diagnosticated him with heart problems. To heal, the Grandmaster helped him find a serum that doubled his strength after sundown. Then the Nighthawk was born but on the path of crime working for the Squadron Sinister. Later he switched for the good cause joining the Defenders. But his life is still a mess and keeps on tearing apart.
Characters:
Plus: Chondu the mystic (
Harvey Schlemerman), Jack Norriss (
Jackson Norriss), Ruby Thursday (
Thursday Rubinstein), Shrunken Bones (
Jerold Morgan).