Description

The Return of The Defenders            Comics Lot
Featuring The Incredible Hulk, Namor, The Sub-Marnier, The Silver Surfer, & Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme! Nuff Said!!

The original Defenders was led by Doctor Strange and included Hulk, Namor, and—eventually—Silver Surfer. They first appeared as the Defenders in Marvel Feature (December 1971) issue # 1 by Marvel Comics. The story had the original founding Defenders members gather to battle the alien techno-wizard Yandroth and then remain as a team afterward.

In 1990, the original trio reunited in The Incredible Hulk #370–371, in which it was revealed that the prophecy (if the original Defenders ever reunited the world would come to an end) was a cosmic hoax. The original Defenders then rejoined with the Silver Surfer in a story entitled The Return of the Defenders running in The Incredible Hulk Annual #18, Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #2, Silver Surfer Annual #5, and Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual #2.

The Return of The Defenders (The Complete Set) contains:The Incredible Hulk Annual #18
Cover by: Kevin Maguire & Josef Rubinstein
“Mano A Mano”
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Travis Charest
Inker: Dan Green
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Editors: Bobbie Chase & Tom DeFalco

The Hulk and the Thing have agreed to meet at the Last Chance Bar for an arm wrestling competition to see who is stronger. The patrons begin making bets and the two powerhouses talk tough. Everyone is unaware that an army of supervillains is aware of the meeting and have targeted the bar. Just as the pair begin their match, the Rhino, Blastaar, the Absorbing Man, and Quasimodo come bursting in. They try to attack the two heroes, but they pay no mind and as they struggle in their competition manage to knock out anyone who gets close enough to get into the range of their grappling fists. Watching from a ship are Mentallo and the Fixer who find this display completely embarrassing. They decide to take on more drastic measures and once the building is evacuated they drop a bomb on the two combatants. The entire area is annihilated, but the Thing and the Hulk aren’t even phased by the blast. However, the table and chairs they are using to wrestle suddenly crumble, ending the match in a draw. Getting up off the ground, the pair agree to meet next week.

“Return of the Defenders, Part 1: Four on the Floor”
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Brad Vancata
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Editors: Bobbie Chase & Tom DeFalco

A writer named Lucien Aster has published a book entitled “Spelling Made Easy”. Inside are actual mystical incantations. Whosoever reads the incantations is transformed into a demon. Aster is holding a book signing at a mall outlet in Reno, Nevada. Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler are present. Suddenly a demon appears and begins wreaking havoc. Although nobody realizes it, the demon is a woman named Jill Walker who is also possessed by the mind of the Sub-Mariner. The demon instinctively dives into a fountain in order to get some water. Rick Jones throws an electric guitar into the fountain. The electric jolt shocks Namor’s essence from the demon’s consciousness, and it is forced to merge with Rick Jones’ body. The demon turns back into Jill Walker. Shopping for clothes in the mall, the Hulk arrives and is shocked to discover that Rick and Namor are sharing the same body. Meanwhile, Pantheon members Delphi and Ulysses go to the book signing for Spelling Made Easy. However, when Astar touches Delphi’s hand something frightens him and he flees. Ulysses chases after him, but Astar manages to get away in a limo that is driven by a bat-like demon. Back at the apartment of Rick Jones, the Hulk struggles with the situation that Namor and Rick have found themselves in. When the Hulk demands answers from Namor, the Atlantean prince doesn’t remember but feels like sorcery might have been involved. This convinces the Hulk to put in a call to their old friend, Doctor Strange. While in the depths of space, the Silver Surfer is plagued by a horrible nightmare. In it, a creature calling itself the Wild One who warns the Surfer that he will be doomed for all eternity. The Surfer awakens his dream and decides to go to Earth to get the assistance of Doctor Strange, unaware that he is playing into the Wild One’s hands. Back in Reno, Doctor Strange interviews Jill Walker and learns that the last thing she remembers is reading the book Spelling Made Easy. While at the Pantheon headquarters, the Mount, Ulysses asks Delphi why she was so determined to purchase a copy of the book. She explains that she had a vision that the book was connected to a great evil. When she confides to Ulysses that she hates her powers, the pair give into their passions and start to kiss. However, they are interrupted by Paris who offers to hose them down. While in Reno, Doctor Strange compares notes with Namor and the Hulk. Strange warns the Sub-Mariner that Rick’s mind will begin influencing his personality. This causes Namor to panic when he unconsciously eats an entire bag of chips and begs Strange to fix the problem. Strange warns him that the only way they can do that is by finding Namor’s body. Probing Namor/Rick’s mind with the Eye of Agamotto. There he finds a buried memory of Namor wandering Los Angeles in a state of amnesia. He was lured to a place where a demonic spell was cast to transfer Namor’s mind into a demonic form. Doctor Strange suspects that it is all tied into the Spelling Made Easy book. Upon seeing the cover, Namor recalls how Rick’s girlfriend Marlo Chandler had just recently purchased the book. At that moment at the apartment shared by the Hulk’s wife Betty and Marlo Chandler, Marlo has just settled into a bubble bath and is reading from Spelling Made Easy. She suddenly feels compelled to read one of the passenges outloud and suddenly she is transformed into a demon. While at the Pantheon’s headquarters, Paris is paging through the book and learning from Ulysses about how Delphi purchased the book. Paris then begins reading one of the passages out loud. Their leader Agamenmnon tries to warn him to stop, but it is too late and Paris begins to turn into a demon as well. Back at Marlo and Betty’s apartment, Marlo tries to attack her roommate when the Hulk comes smashing in. They try to contain her, but Marlo manages to smash out of the window and flies away. The trio follow after Marlo as a storm begins. They follow Marlo to a nearby lovers make out spot where they witness Marlo meet up with another demon. They are joined by Ulysses who tells them that the other demon is Paris. Recalling how electricity broke the demonic spell last time, the Hulk takes a couples car and crushes it into a make-shift lightning rod. He then leaps between the two demons. They begin trying to rip him apart, but the Hulk holds on long enough for a bolt of lightning to strike them. With Marlo and Paris restored back to normal, it confirms to them that there is something wrong with the Spelling Made Easy books. Doctor Strange suggests that its time for the Defenders to reunite and solve this mystery, starting with the publisher of the book. While at the offices of Pan-Dimensional Publishing Building Astar reports back to his master, a being that has possessed the body of the Sub-Mariner. Even with this minor setback his legion of demons are growing to bring about the arrival of the Wild One.

“Things to Come”
Writer: Evan Skolnick
Artist: Gary Barker
Inker: James Palmiotti
Colorist: Evan Skolnick
Letterer: Brad Joyce
Editors: Bobbie Chase & Tom DeFalco

At the Mount, Agamemnon tells Delphi of a vision he had of the future wherein he learned of a tyrant named Dracchiss is destined to do untold damage to the world some 500 years in the future. He asks Delphi to look into her seeing pool so they can know how to deal with Dracchiss when his threat finally comes to be. Delphi looks into her Scrying pool, and somehow accidentally brings Dracchiss into this reality from the future. The future despot uses his powers to probe Delphi’s mind to learn where he is. Dracchiss is caught in the act by Achilles who tries to attack him. However, Dracchiss is too powerfull and tosses Achilles up through the floor into the Pantheon training room where Ulysses and Hector are in the middle of a training session against holograms based on the members of X-Factor. Ulysses then orders Paris to get Ajax to help contain the danger. Down below, Atalanta is trying to take down Dracchiss with her energy arrows until the rest of the team can get down to help. The battle turns when their foe begins tossing Ajax around. However, under the guidence of Agamemnon, Delphi uses her scrying pool to open a portal to deep space. He then orders Achilles to attack, and when Dracchiss attempts his mind probe on Achilles he learns too late that his foe is immune. Achilles then knocks Dracchiss into the pool, exiling him into deep space. With the portal closed, Agamemnon explains that he put these events in motion to deal with Dracchiss before he could become a problem.

“Nobody Loves The Hulk”
Writer: Tom Brevoort
Artist: Karl Alstaetter
Inker: Fred Fredericks
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Editors: Bobbie Chase & Tom DeFalco

Rick Jones puts together a rock-n-roll song called “Nobody Loves The Hulk”. The song details several of the Hulk’s exploits as well as a showcase of his various villains. As the song closes, the Hulk politely voices his disapproval.

“The Running Man”
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Joe Philips
Inker: Tory Harris
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Editors: Bobbie Chase & Tom DeFalco

A psychiatrist named Doctor Palmer walks into Doc Samson’s empty office and listens to a personal recording of a session Samson has had with a patient. Palmer believes that this is a recording of Bruce Banner, the man also known as the Hulk. The man on the recording is confessing his guilt over the many people who had died during the Hulk’s most recent savage attacks. In this dream, not only is he terrorized by both the green and gray Hulks, but also by the many victims that the Hulk killed in his rampages. Samson steps into the office and chastises Palmer for this breach of conduct. He kicks him out of the office. Samson is glad that he altered his own voice in the recording otherwise people would learn that these regrets are those of Doc Samson, not Bruce Banner.
——————————————————————————–

Namor, The Sub-Mariner Annual #2
Cover by: James Fry & Christopher Ivy

Return of the Defenders, Part 2: Body Doubles”
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: James Fry
Inker: Christopher Ivy
Colorist: Kelly Corvese
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Editors: Terry Kavanagh & Tom DeFalco

While Namor, trapped in the fragile body of Rick Jones, Hulk, and Doctor Strange search desperately for their adversary, the fiend, residing in the Sub-Mariner’s powerful form, marches closer to his sinister goal. Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer hurtles toward planet Earth.

“The Gift”
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Rob Lim
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Kelly Corvese
Letterer: Michael Higgins
Editors: Terry Kavanagh & Tom DeFalco

Namor, The Sub-Mariner visits his love, Siobhan, to present her with a special, priceless gift and then finds himself in an all-out battle with Baron Blood.

“Spitfire in Good Girl”
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Tom Raney
Colorist: Gina Going
Letterer: Ed Lazellari
Editors: Terry Kavanagh & Tom DeFalco

A sexy photo shoot of Spitfire (Lady Jaqueline Falsworth) turns violent when lines are crossed.

“Namor’s Top Ten Villians”
Writer: George Caragonne
Artist: Larry Alexander
Inker: Donald Hudson
Colorist: Ariane
Letterer: Michael Higgins
Editors: Terry Kavanagh & Tom DeFalco

Featuring; Llyra, Doctor Dorcus, The Plant Man, Headhunter, Master Man & Warrior Woman, Master Khan, Tiger Shark, Warlord Krang, Attuma, & the Marrs Twins.
——————————————————————————–

The Silver Surfer Annual #5
Cover by: Ron Lim & Tom Christopher

“The Return of the Defenders, Part 3: Blood Rites”
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Tom Morgan
Colorist: Tom Vincent
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Editors: John Lewandowski, Craig Anderson & Tom DeFalco.

The original Defenders continue their reunion, but things go from bad to worse because Namor’s body has been usurped by the villain, and the Scion of Atlantis now resides in the frail body of professional sidekick, Rick Jones.

“The Silver Surfer’s Greatest Foes”
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Rob Lim
Inker: James Sanders III
Colorist: Tom Vincent
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Editors: John Lewandowski, Craig Anderson & Tom DeFalco.

Featuring; Avatar, The Collection Agency, The Collector, Champion, Midnight Sun, Reptyl Prime, The Stranger, Galactus, Mephisto, & Thanos.

“Firelord in By Reason of Insanity”
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Karl Altstaetter
Inker: Tom Christopher
Colorist: Tom Vincent
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Editors: John Lewandowski, Craig Anderson & Tom DeFalco.

Firelord confronts Nebula about the destruction of his homeworld. When Nebula has a flashback of her traumatic childhood and Firelord also experiences it, he stays his hand.

Silver Surfer Pin-Up Gallery by John Buscema, Jim Lee, Rick Leonardi, Kirkwood Studios w/ Bruce Paterson, Ron Lim w/ Bob Wiacek, & Jim Starlin w/ Terry Austin.
——————————————————————————–

Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual #2
Cover by: M.C. Wyman & Jim Sanders III

“The Return of the Defenders, Part 4: Hot Spell”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: M.C. Wyman
Inker: E.R. Cruz
Colorist: Kevin Tinsley
Letterer: Michael Higgins
Editors: Barry Dutter, Mike Rockwitz & Tom DeFalco.

The Wild One, Shanzar and Lucian Aster, pull out all the stops to defeat Doctor Strange. Thankfully, the Sorcerer Supreme has some backup help from his Defenders friends!

“His Master’s Foes”
Writers: Roy Thomas & R.J.M. L’Officier
Artist: Gary Hartle
Inker: Mike DeCarlo
Colorist: Steve Karp
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editors: Barry Dutter, Mike Rockwitz & Tom DeFalco.

Rintrah studies up on his master’s greatest foes, featuring; Baron Mordo, Nightmare, Dweller in Darkness, Dreamstalker, Dormammu, Umar, Shuma-Gorath, Satannish, Urthona, Varnae, Silver Dagger, Dracula, & Mephisto.

“Rintrah in Future Master of the Mystic Arts”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: M.C. Wyman
Inker: Jim Sanders III
Colorist: Steve Karp
Letterer: Rick Parker
Editors: Barry Dutter, Mike Rockwitz & Tom DeFalco.

Rintrah faces off against one of Doctor Strange’s oldest foes. No, not Baron Mordo, it’s the House of Shadows!

“Baron Blood in First Blood”
Writers: Roy Thomas & R.J.M L’Officier
Artist: Dave Hoover
Inker: Bob Petrecca
Colorist: George Roussos
Letterer: Rick Parker

The new Baron Blood, Vic Strange, is easily defeated by the Endless one, also known as Cogliostro!

“Clea in Raiders of the Purple Veil”
Writers: Roy Thomas & R.J.M. L’Officier
Artist: Frank Lopez
Inkers: Ken Branch & Jimmy Palmiotti
Colorist: Frank Lopez
Letterer: Diana Albers
Editors: Barry Dutter, Mike Rockwitz & Tom DeFalco.

Clea agrees to help Flyx stop a Faltinian Family Feud.
——————————————————————————–

Comics lot contains from Marvel Comics:
The Incredible Hulk Annual (1992) Issue #18
Namor, The Sub-Mariner Annual (1992) Issue #2
The Silver Surfer Annual (1992) Issue #5
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual (1992) Issue #2

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: 1992
Format per comic: FC, 64 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.5″
UPC: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics {Shattershot Parts} 1,2,3,4 are in Very Fine to Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Defenders, Incredible Hulk, Namor, The Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer and/or Dr. Strange collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

Please read return policy.