Giant-Size Defenders 1-A

"The Way They Were!"

Clea and Valkyrie's mystical exploration of the Defenders' pasts triggers a trap set by an old foe of Dr. Strange's, Mr. Rasputin.

The story is a mix of new material for a framing sequence by Isabella and Starlin, with the following reprinted stories: "Banished to Outer Space" from Incredible Hulk (1962) #3 by Lee and Kirby, "Bird of Prey!" from Sub-Mariner Comics (1954) #41 by Everett, and "To Catch a Magician!" by O'Neil and Ditko from Strange Tales (1951) #145.


"The Peerless Power of the Silver Surfer" reprinted from Fantastic Four Annual #5

By Lee and Kirby. 12 pages.

The Silver Surfer senses the anguish of the The Mad Thinker's living computer Quasimodo, who was abandoned in the aftermath of a battle with the Fantastic Four. The Surfer decides to bestow a synthetic body to Quasimodo to end his grief, and is rewarded by being attacked by the target of his kindness. The Surfer must render Quasimodo a lifeless statue to end the attack.

Two page pin-up of the Defenders by Sal Buscema.

Cover by Gil Kane.