“Devil-Wings Over Shadizar”byBarry Windsor-Smith, with Inks by Sal Buscema, Letters by Mike Stevens, Colors by Stan Goldberg, and a Script adapted from the Robert E. Howard stories by Roy Thomas.
Defenders #1 (Englehart/Buscema, Aug 1972). Hulk keeps cool long enough to ask Dr Strange for help rescuing Namor from a necromancer. This team doesn’t make any sense but I’m kinda into that dynamic.
Captain America and the Falcon #156 (Englehart/Buscema, Dec 1972). Steve wonders if, without oversight, he could become the same bigoted nationalist. Sam and Sharon insist on being his teammates, and Steve still wanders away from them to “be alone.” I’ve gotta say, Englehart’s brought a sharper political and psychological perspective so far. Every time I start getting exhausted with a book, a new creator steps in and spruces things up.
Captain America and the Falcon #155 (Englehart/Buscema, Nov 1972). The imposter Cap turns out to be “the Captain America of the 1950s.” It’s neat, ‘cause the MCU has been assimilating the “off-brand” Marvel movies and TV shows into their narrative — and the comics were doing the same thing. This issue even goes so far as to reproduce panels from those 1950s comics. It all becomes canon, it all matters.
Captain America and the Falcon #154 (Englehart/Buscema, Oct 1972). The residents of Harlem and the Avengers rise up to support the Falcon’s fight with the imposter Cap.
Captain America and the Falcon #153 (Englehart/Buscema, Sept 1972). Val’s plan to make Fury jealous works alarmingly well, pitting SHIELD’s ramrod and the First Avenger in a pointless brawl. Finally Val clears everything up, Sharon quits SHIELD, she and Steve go on vacation, and Sam discovers a Cap imposter harassing Harlem. New writer, new status quo.
Defenders #3 (Englehart/Buscema, Dec 1972). The Silver Surfer’s been trapped on Earth for years now, but Doctor Strange thinks a quick detour through the Multiverse can free him. It’s a disastrous, maddening mission. Englehart brings some psychedelic storytelling, but Sal Buscema’s art is way too straightforward for such a trippy tale.
