Carol Danvers Meets New Superhero Friends: The Defenders #57 – March 1978
The Defenders #57:"And Along Came... Ms. Marvel!"
Ms. Marvel’s second superhero team-up, this time with an entire team. I guess Ms. Marvel’s guest staring in the Defenders was important to Marvel, because they brought in her own comic writer – Chris Claremont – as a guest writer.
In this comic the Defenders team is different from what it is now and what it is on the tv show. It is made out of the Hulk, Dr. Strange, Valkyrie (Brunnhilde), Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond), and Hellcat (Patricia Walker).
The issue simply opens with Hulk attacking Ms. Marvel. Well, a mirage image of Ms. Marvel. Hulk doesn’t like Ms. Marvel because he had an unpleasant encounter with Captain Marvel in the past. They have a similar costume. Also, after watching Thor: Ragnarok it’s funny to see Valkyrie mentioning Hela’s name as a curse/expletive. Of course, Hulk being Hulk, he starts attacking his friends. In the end, Hulk calms down and is sorry for attacking his friends.
Dr. Strange is talking to Valkyrie and they try to make sense of this incident. Dr. Strange thinks that this is Ms. Marvel’s call for help (perhaps because of her split personality? The issue does state that all of this happened a few months ago). But, things happen, and the Defenders forgot about the image of Ms. Marvel and the issue jumps to present time.
Suddenly, we see Dr. Mike Barnett talking to an image of Ms. Marvel on tv in a bar. In which apparently, he spends a lot of time in. I guess he is not in a good place in his life and he is definitely in love with her. At least in this issue. And then an evil shaman hypnotizes Barnett to follow him. I guess it is Barnett's time to be the damsel in distress.
Ms. Marvel shows up at Nighthawk’s and Hellcat’s apartment, or the apartment belongs to one of them I guess. Hellcat recognizes Ms. Marvel from the cover of “Woman” magazine, stating that Ms. Marvel was called “the super-hero sensation of the seventies!”. She also says that it’s probably because no one knows she exists. We can say that about most superheroines I guess. Ms. Marvel says to them that she had a seventh-sense vision that Barnett is in danger and that the same threat will try to kill one of the defenders tonight.
We find out that it is A.I.M. who are responsible for kidnapping Barnett. They want to know how Carol Danvers discovered their headquarters. That seems so far away in the past. They use him to find out that she is Ms. Marvel and her worst fears.
We switch to Clea, Valkyrie and the Hulk in Dr. Strange’s mansion as it is being attacked – by a flying car. Out of a car comes a warbot, a powerful creature who can beat the Hulk, can resist magic and turned Valkyrie into a popsicle. We find out that his aim is the Hulk.
Nighthawk flies to Dr. Strange’s mansion and sees what’s going on. He tells Hellcat and Ms. Marvel over the radio that trouble has arrived.
To get there fast, Ms. Marvel carries Hellcat while flying. This is a great image. Two female superheroines together and one carrying the other like she’s Superman carrying Lois Lane for a fun flight. Hellcat mentions that it’s strange to be a super person and Ms. Marvel agrees with the sentiments. Because being a hero doesn’t mean that you are perfect or that you are used to it.
The warbot also works for A.I.M. Or what’s left of it. Their plan is to kidnap and brainwash Hulk to kill Ms. Marvel. Her worst nightmare coming true. Who would want to fight the Hulk?
Just as A.I.M. is taking the Hulk away our three heroes swing into action.
Ms. Marvel takes on the warbot herself. But it’s a hard fight as it was designed to fight against her. In the meantime, Nighthawk and Hellcat fight against the workers on A.I.M. Two women and one man, I like this team.
Hellcat informs us that she is or was an all-American girl: cheerleader and prom queen, now turned superrheroine. If she can, then any woman can – that’s the hidden message in my opinion. The shaman returns and tries to shoot Hellcat, but with her speed and wits she takes him out. Nighthawk also has his share of fighting, but he is not so impressive in my opinion. They all win.
Later on, Ms. Marvel brings Barnett to Clea so she can break his trance. All the defenders are reunited minus Dr. Strange. Ms. Marvel promises to help them if they will ask and they promise the same thing. A new friendship has formed. I love superhero friendships.
This issue sees the return of A.I.M., or a part of them. It is just plain good fun to watch Ms. Marvel fight with other superheroes. Also seeing her with another superheroine is double the fun. Poor Barnett is saved, and Ms. Marvel has made some new friendships with a promise for another team up. Thanks to Chris Claremont being a part of this issue, Ms. Marvel still feels like Ms. Marvel and not another interpretation of the character.
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