#squadron sinister

The Defenders remain in the force globe in which they were imprisoned last issue with captions trying be clever about evacuating the planet. Doc demands Nebulon let them out or "suffer the consequences!" What those consequences are we may never know!

Nebulon is about the blast our heroes into atoms when Hyperion regains consciousness and stops him. Why? Because Hyperion is drama queen.

Hyperion then goes on a rant recounting his origin and previous adventures. Basically: 1) Hyperion's world was the first atom split by a cyclotron, 2) He was picked up by the Grandmaster who made him a big boy so he could fight the Avengers in his game against Kang, 3) Thor kicks Hyperion's ass and traps him in a glass globe, 4) Hyperion's globe gets sucked into space, 5) the globe gets rescued by Nebulon who frees Hyperion, 6) after Nebulon says he needs a planet, 7) Hyperion claims he owns the Earth and here we are.

After burning a couple of pages, the heroes and villains bicker a bit and Nighthawk pops up in the Defenders globe. Now they're one big not-so-happy family. Whizzer wants to waste the Defenders, but Hyperion feels this isn't cruel enough. He wants them to drift through space. Nebulon obliges by launching them into space like Superman kicking a soccer ball.

While the Squadron gets back to working melting the ice cap, the Defenders are having a bit of an issue trying to get out of Nebulon's globe. Finally Nighthawk suggests "why don't we all pound one spot at the same time?!" In his best "I coulda had a V8 voice" agrees. They blow through the globe and fortunately Doc remembers to shield them from the vacuum of space, near absolute zero temperature and provide some oxygen to breath. Actually he only says he does the latter, but we'll assume he does it all otherwise the team would be a bunch of desicated husks within a few seconds.

The Defenders arrive back on Earth. Presumably Nebulon didn't toss them very far as none of them are capable of faster-than-light travel and by the looks of things they haven't melted all that much. Nebulon says "I got this, you squadders keep up with the melty thing." He then proceeds to create a snowman to fight the Defenders. Yes, we're trying to melt things but lets freeze some stuff.

The Defenders and Nighthawk battle the ice beast who is able to grow back whatever part they manage to break off. The Hulk cleverly throws the chilly beastie into the path of the melty laser. That seems to take care of it. Nebulon then steps in to take of them personally. The battle swings both ways, but the Defenders start getting the upper hand when something strange (no pun intended) happens.

Turns out, the Defenders weakened the golden menace enough that he is about to show his true form. Sal gives us a full page for the reveal.

The giant fish-thing reveal explains why Nebulon wants to flood the Earth. Everyone is rather horrified and Nighthawk realizes that they have no chance against that. Nighthawk does a Hail Mary pass and fires the melty laser at Nebulon. At first it doesn't seem to work, but it winds up blowing everything to heck, including the Squadron Sinister.

Things aren't quite done. The laser itself decides to blow up and Nighthawk may be dead.

The next step is one that will have consequences about 80 issues from now.

Nighthawk is revived and asks to join the Defenders. Namor suggests they allow this. He reminds Doc that he kidnapped him for this battle. Namor says Nighthawk and replace him and then flies off like the drama queen his always is. Hulk proclaims his friendship for bird-nose and the group await their next challenge.

The conclusion wasn't quite as poignant as the first installment. In the heat of battle, the nuances of personality don't really shine. It's more of an action issue. Still, the groundwork is laid for the future. Nighthawk will be a significant factor for years to come. Namor will continue to be an angry drama queen. The Squadron and Nebulon aren't dead and will return to be a thorn in the Defenders sides.