Defenders Epic Collection(Book 6): The Six Fingered Hand
Author: J.M. Dematteis
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publishing Date: 2016 - original single issues dates 1981-1982
Pgs: 480
Dewey: YAGN Defenders v06
Disposition: Inter Library Loan from Wichita Falls Public Library, Wichita Falls, TX
Thru Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
A series of occult events around the world draw the Defenders into conflict with demons, monsters, Dracula, and the devil. And then, they face the insidious lesser evil of governmental agency corruption. Join Dr. Strange, Nighthawk, Hulk, Valkyrie, Submariner, and all those who would be Defenders in the non-team’s greatest adventure as they must stave off Hell on Earth.
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Genre:
Superhero
Graphic Novels
Marvel Comics
Superhero
Comics
Superhero Teams

Why this book:
I remembered the Six Fingered Hand story from my youth and wanted to read it again for many years. Hell on Earth from Defenders #100 is one of my favorite comic books of all time.
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Favorite Character:
Devil Slayer has always been a fav of mine. Same with the Son of Satan. Hulk...Namor...Valkyrie...a lot of old favs in this storyline.

Least Favorite Character:
Kyle Richmond had a case of affluenza. He was Ethan Couch before Ethan Couch. This re-read did a whole lot to tarnish the way I remembered Nighthawk. Nighthawk’s angst starts to grate pretty quickly. I had forgotten how loose Nighthawk’s emotions were in these issues. Course considering how mature I was back then, I probably look at this thorugh the rose colored glasses of youth.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
Too often Damian’s dark soul is played as him being a moody little bitch instead of the Son of Satan with control issues.

It was extremely out of character for Dr Strange to send the team off with Dracula without going along himself. Even with something else to work on. I mean...Dracula = instant trust issues.

Favorite Scene / Quote/Concept:
Nice twist on the villain of the piece in the Nighthawk - Spiderman team up.

The missing pieces of Eternity is an awesome concept.

The Six Fingered Hands Messiah Gambit was awesome.

Hmm Moments:
The Valkyrie/Enchantress story lifts the end of the collection.

WTF Moments:
So, Nighthawk’s dad let him think that he had killed the woman he was in love with while drunk driving, who dad paid off to stay away. Nice family Kyle grew up in there.

Meh / PFFT Moments:
The Nighthawk - Spiderman team up that starts the collection feels dated. The situations and the dialogue especially.

Valkyrie as comforter is alright. Seems overdone in the scene where she visits the doctor with Kyle.

The B and C stories in the collection drag the whole down. I just can’t build much caring about Gargoyle’s backstory or the Central Investigation Bureau. They pale when placed alongside the Hell on Earth storyline.

Returning the Son of Satan to the fold that quickly was a cop out.

The Sigh:
This was really the last hurrah of my Defenders team. Dr Strange, Hulk, Valkyrie, Namor, and Nighthawk...that’s my Defenders.

Kind of a big shift from transdimensional demons and the Ultimate Evil to bureaucractic evil represented by the CBI and Agent Masters.

Movies and Television:
This would make a helluva movie.
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Questions I’m Left With:
Does SHIELD have a warehouse full of robot henchmen seized from villain after their plots go astray? Do they recycle them? Imagine if those robots woke up all at once. And if SHIELD has a robot warehouse, then they’ve got a supervillain superweapon warehouse too.

So were the Pieces of Eternity and Nebulon part of the Six Fingered Hands machinations or did they glom onto them via happenstance?

How many heavy handed, written by men lesson in love denouements has the Enchantress endured over her years in comics? Too damned many I would hazzard a guess.
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