The New Defenders #152 Review

Issue Review
The New Defenders #152

Direct Market Release Date: October 22, 1985

Credits

Title: The End of All Songs
Script: Peter B. Gillis
Pencils: Don Perlin
Inks: Dell Barras
Letters: Janice Chiang
Colors: Ken Feduniewicz
Cover Artist: Frank Cirocco
Editor: Carl Potts
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter

Summary

Under the control of the Dragon of the Moon, Moondragon has returned to the destroyed Defenders Colorado headquarters to attack her former teammates. After explaining to each of the Defenders why she hates them, the Eternal known as the Interloper appears and leads the Defenders to battle. The Gargoyle combines his demon energy blasts with Manslaughter's psionic energies and the pair succeed in turning Moondragon insane. She flees with the Dragon of the Moon. Manslaughter, who did not survive the assault, is revived by the Interloper, who reveals that he discovered Manslaughter many years ago and took him under his wing. He also reveals that he is the sworn enemy of the Dragon of the Moon, and that he has done battle with the creature throughout the centuries, the last time being with King Arthur over a thousand years ago.

Moondragon, greatly affected by her brush with insanity, tries to break ties with the Dragon of the Moon, who failed in his promise to keep her from harm. Needing her to stay on earth, the Dragon of the Moon tempts her with more power after sensing the arrival on earth of a being who can bestow it upon her. She begs for the Beyonder to hear her plea. He arrives and makes her his disciple, and turns the Dragon of the Moon into a ring that she can wear. He grants her some of his power, after which she vows to destroy the Avengers.

Moondragon returns to the Defenders headquarters and begs for help. The Interloper doesn't sens the Dragon's essence near her, but notes that there is a greater power that is drowning everything out. While everyone is skeptical, Isaac Christians, the Gargoyle, takes sympathy and offers to help. As he gets close, Moondragon turns on his and rips his soul from his chest and uses his body as a vessel for more power, transforming him into a twisted massive demon.

The Defenders respond to her attack. The Interloper throws his Cloak of Fear upon Moondragon, and she and the Gargoyle disappear. In the ensuing confusion, Moondragon abducts a blind Warren Worthington, and his girlfriend Candy Southern in an explosive flash. When they reappear, the Angel has regained his sight, only to find that Moondragon has a knife held telekinetically to Moondragon's throat. After abducting the Beast, Moondragon threatens to turn off the life support systems surrounding the Defenders ally Chris Larmouth. Iceman too is abducted, and Moondragon threatens to kill Carol Faber and Danny Milligan, the human counterparts of their teammate Cloud. Moondragon demands the surrender of all three Defenders. Each of them refuse, and as they attack, are transported to a new dimension where the remaining Defenders begin to confront the Dragon of the Moon in battle.

Sacrificing his own power, the Interloper gives some of his energy to Valkyrie in order to defeat the Dragon. Knowing full well that it will destroy them, Manslaughter and Andromeda join with them. Combined with the Interloper's power, the quartet defeat Moondragon and the Dragon of the Moon. During the battle, the Beast, Iceman, and Angel rescue their friends held hostage by Moondragon, who reveal that her secret identity visited them and told them that while she couldn't do good with the Beyonder's power, it's role in her downfall was it's true goal all along. Afterwards, the Defenders discover the ashen bodies of their teammates who sacrificed themselves in battling the Dragon.

Quotes

Valkyrie: But you -- you are clearly of great power and age -- yet I do not know you. Who are you?
Interloper: I don not expect that you would Valkyrie -- for death and I are strangers. My name is Interloper, and I have gone my own way in the world for a very long time. I am here because the Dragon and I are old acquaintances.

Dragon of the Moon: I sense there is someone just arrived on earth -- someone with more power than you can imagine -- one whose name I can't even speak, for terror! But if you speak the name I put into your mind -- he will hear you!
Moondragon: Very Well. Then I say the name -- BEYONDER! Hear my! Hear my plea!
The Beyonder: You -- and your plea -- are heard. What do you wish, my child? Do you wish to become my disciple?
Moondragon: I just -- I just want to do good. To make things right, and clean, and good -- everything in order, in harmony --!
The Beyonder: And what do you see in me?
Moondragon: All that. All that and more.
The Beyonder: And will you truly do good as my disciple?
Moondragon: Why of course, my lord! I COULDN'T do anything else!

Candy Southern: Forgive me, Warren -- but all this -- it's times like these I do wish I'd fallen in love with a tennis bum -- !
Warren Worthington: No need to apologize, Ms. Southern -- but even if you'd fallen in love with Ivan Lendl, you'd STILL be in danger right now -- like everyone in the world -- and I'd still be fighting to protect you. That's the way it is -- but I prefer it this way.

Chris Larmouth: I felt somebody touch me -- touch me all through my body. It was a lot like Moondragon -- but she was kind.
Danny Milligan: It wasn't any "Moondragon: either.... It was someone called Heather Douglas, and she said this to us: " I was given the power to do good from beyond -- and I couldn't. All I could do was force you to do it -- goad you into casting us into the abyss. Perhaps that was the Beyonder's purpose all along."
Carol Faber: And then she said "This is, in turn, my last gift -- their lives. Remember me -- remember that there was some good amid the evil at last".

Commentary

Marvel's long running Defenders series comes to an end with this issue. Considering that one of the goals of crossing a title into this event was to increase circulation, the benefits of having a series' final issue tie in seem non-existent, until one realizes that this title's and team's dissolution paves the way for an original X-Men reunion in a new ongoing series called X-Factor.

The New Defenders #152 fails several reasons. First, the Beyonder's involvement is far from integral to the story, and seems like it was tacked on at the last minute. You could remove his granting of power to Moondragon, and the story would essentially be unchanged. Second, not having read any of the previous issues, I had to do quite the bit of research just to figure out who many of the ancillary characters were. Carol Faber and Danny Milligan aren't mentioned by name, and are only referenced as "the ones that Cloud used as templates for her human form". If you too had never heard of Cloud or her powers, you'd be forgiven for not knowing why any of this was important.

While the New Defenders #152 interior art by Don Perlin is underwhelming, the issue does feature a beautiful cover by Frank Cirocco, who co-created Alien Legion with this issue's Editor, Carl Potts.

Up next...

Secret Wars II continues in Amazing Spider-Man #273!