STORY
SYNOPSIS: # 101
Summary: Flash's wife's life force is drained in Ming's evil Inquisitor
but not before her essence is saved for Rick's nearly completed
new super computer, Dynak X. In the first real battle with Ming
on Earth, our heroes are nearly electrocuted in an abandoned penitentiary.
ESCAPE FROM MONGO
Flash Gordon's spaceship crash lands near Mandrake and Lothar's
mansion. Flash, semi-conscious, tells of Ming's plan to invade Earth,
his escape from Ming's dungeons and leaving his wife and son, Rick
Gordon, imprisoned. Meanwhile on Mongo, Rick Gordon's escape plan
is aided by a cute little animal named Zuffy. Ming wastes no time
draining the life force from Rick's mother before Flash, Mandrake
and Lothar can rescue her. However, a unique crystal smashed from
the Inquisitor, holds the essence of Rick's mother and the "soul"
of Rick's planned super computer -- Dynak X. Flash's old friend,
the Phantom, and his young daughter, Jedda, join forces to form
The Defenders of the Earth. Later, Ming's Men of Frost kidnap L.J.
and Rick, and entrap the rest of the De-fenders in an abandoned
penitentiary. Just as Ming is about to electrocute Flash, Mandrake,
Lothar and the Phantom, L.J. and Rick break loose, rescue the others
and escape. As the penitentiary explodes in the background, the
new Defenders of the Earth swear allegiance to the destruction of
Ming and the protection of our planet Earth.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: # 102
Summary: A huge cavern located in a dormant volcano is chosen as
the new home for the Defenders of the Earth and their super computer
-- Dynak X.
THE CREATION OF MONITOR
At Mandrake's mansion, Rick is making the final adjustments to the
super computer, Dynak X. Meanwhile, Ming intercepts a transmission
from the Defenders to a fleet of Cryl ships. After determining the
source of the transmission, Ming orders a full scale attack to destroy
the team. In the confusion that ensues, Kshin and Zuffy stumble
into a hole and find themselves in a huge cavern. Once Ming's offensive
has been quelled, Dynak X confirms that although the cavern is buried
deep in a dormant volcano, it would make a perfect headquarters
for the Defenders. With all in agreement, the complex is named Monitor.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #103
Summary: Kshin's experiments with Mandrake's forbidden sorcery books
produces Shogoth, an evil demon. It takes all the Defenders to defeat
this creature. In the end, Kshin learns a valuable lesson--what
it takes to be a Defender of the Earth.
A DEMON IN HIS POCKET
Kshin's run-in with the class bullies moves him to find the right
spell from Mandrake's "forbidden" sorcery books. Without any of
the other Defenders knowing, and from under his bed covers, Kshin
and Zuffy call a pint size demon named Shogoth to "fix those bullies
once and for all." Kshin's plan to scare the school yard tyrants
works fine but Shogoth, with his size and strength quadrupled, decides
to take on Central City.
Ming the Merciless, sensing an enormous power surge on Earth, convinces
Shogoth that Monitor is the only thing that stands between him and
total domination. Flash and the Phantom contain the monster long
enough for Mandrake and Lothar the reverse Kshin's spell and shrink
Shogoth to his original size. Ming demands that Shogoth give it
one more try, but Shogoth has had enough of the Defenders and retreats
to his own dimension.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #104
Summary: The Phantom's family secret! His evil older brother joins
forces with Ming the Merciless and becomes N'Dama - The Weather
Demon! A
HOUSE DIVIDED
Kurt Walker, Kit Walker's older brother, would have been the Phantom
had he lived up to the Phantom name, but he had an evil streak in
him. Instead, Kit, the younger son, was made the Phantom by his
father. Ming the Merciless finds the vengeful Kurt and gives him
24 hours worth of super powers as N'Dama, The Weather Demon. N'Dama
wreaks weather havoc on the Phantom's Bandar People to flush out
his brother and niece, Jedda. Once face-to-face, N'Dama challenges
the Phantom to a race for the Jewel of Zandoon. In doing so, he
recreates the test their father had used, when they were boys; to
determine who would be the next Phantom. This time, however, N'Dama
(Kurt) plans to win the race.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #105
Summary: Ultracomputer Dynak X is invaded by Ming's Electronic Maggot--and
miniaturized Defenders must fight her war within!
BITS AND CHIPS
Dynak X is invited to challenge the World Chess Championship's computer
to a game --and Ming gets his hideous Electronic Maggot into the
link-up. Dynak X is taken over, attacked and devoured from the inside.
Dynak X has only one hour to live--unless the Maggot can be stopped.
The Phantom heads for Ice Station Earth to take out Ming's power
station, while Rick tries out his new experimental "Micronizer",
a device that reduces anything to micro-size. It's not perfected
yet; after one hour the effect wears off. The young Defenders, in
tiny form enter Dynak X and fight off the Electronic Maggot. With
time running out, they keep the creature at bay until the Phantom
hits the power station and cuts the Maggot's life-line.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #106
Summary: A famous scientist's plant food experiment backfires--into
a formula that turns people into plants!
THE ROOT OF EVIL
Dr. Whitestead's plant food formula goes haywire--spilling on him
and turning him into a plant! Ming seizes the scientist and his
sixteen year old daughter, Bridget, and gets the formula from them.
The formula requires a rare herb, Loba, and only Whitestead's friend
Mandrake knows where to find it. The Defenders are all attending
a Central City high society "soiree." Ming sends a mind-controlled
transmitterized Bridget to capture Mandrake. Jedda snaps Bridget
out of trance, but not before Ming finds out where the Loba is.
Ming's robots harvest the herb and bring it to Ice Station Earth.
Mandrake and Lothar use super strength and illusion to spring Dr.
Whitestead, but they learn that Ming is about to dust the world
with tons of the terrible plant formula--by exploding it from outer
space. Dynak X and Flash Gordon work to create world-wide rain to
dilute the dust, which only makes things worse. The whole world
sprouts roots? In a last ditch effort, Flash, using an idea from
Kshin's science project, forms a giant tuning fork in space. It
sends a huge sound wave out all over the Earth. All the roots recede--the
Earth is saved! STORY
SYNOPSIS:
#107
Summary: Ming the Merciless develops a weather control device and
plots to freeze the world solid!
COLD WAR
Ming is developing a weather control weapon but he needs the special
circuitry in Rick Gordon's communicator ring to use it worldwide.
Ming's forces capture Flash Gordon in a battle and hold him at Ice
Station Earth. Ming relies on Rick's impulsiveness. The boy is alone
when he hears of his father's capture, and instead of waiting for
help, rushes off on his own. Rick is taken prisoner also--but the
other Defenders are on their way! They free Flash and are pursued
by the evil and ferocious Mongor through the Maze of No Return.
They emerge safely just in time to catch Ming about to hook up with
Rick's ring and freeze the planet! Jedda uses her Pendant Power
to make Mongor go wild and destroy the weather machine.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #108
Summary: A mammoth killer-robot from another galaxy has been buried
right under Central City for more than ten million years--Ming discovers
a way to wake it up!
THE SLEEPER AWAKES
The Annihilator, a giant pre-historic robot, crash lands on earth
eons before our civilization and disappears into the primordial
ooze. Pre-programmed to destroy everything in its path, the behemoth
lies dormant below Central City.
Ming is secretly informed of its existence and distracts the Defenders
to different parts of the galaxy after which he activates the Annihilator
from its ancient burial crypt. Kshin, left at Monitor, discovers
that only he is small enough to enter and deactivate this rampaging
giant. Cheered on by Zuffy and Kisa and directed by Rick and Dynak
X, Kshin crawls to the power source and...knocks it out.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #109
Summary: The beautiful space princess Astra plans revenge against
Flash Gordon--She gives Ming the Merciless her secret formula for
a race of unstoppable slaves --The Clay People!
THE REVENGE OF ASTRA
Princess Astra mistakenly believes that Flash Gordon is responsible
for her mother's death, and she is bent on revenge. She has agreed
to help Ming by sharing her secret--a rare blue clay, which, combined
with the power from her psychic bracelet, can mold people into mindless
obedient slaves. In return she demands Flash Gordon's life!
The only source of the special clay is the Phantom's home, the Bandar
Village in the Deep Woods of Africa. Every 100 years the blue clay
rises from the Earth--and it's happening now! Princess Astra captures
the Phantom and uses him to lure Flash Gordon to the Ice Station
Earth. The rest of the Defenders come to the rescue, as Jedda matches
her own psychic powers with Astra's. She is able to get the power
bracelet and uses it to render Astra and Ming defenseless.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #110
Summary: The awesome intergalactic storehouse of knowledge visits
the Galaxy--and the Defenders must keep Ming from stealing its deadly
weapon!
THE HALL OF WISDOM
The incredible Hall of Wisdom pays its-2000-year, 24-hour visit
to the Galaxy. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Ming to get
his hands on the dreaded Quasar Weapon, with which he can conquer
the Earth. The Defenders battle through Ming's forces and reach
the Hall first, but Rick Gordon is "killed." The Hall is able to
bring him back to life, for a price--Rick and Jedda are to be taken
as specimens for the Hall zoo! When Ming invades the Hall, Rick
seizes the Quasar Weapon first. He's nearly intoxicated by the power
of the weapon, but he tells Ming that no one should have this kind
of power. The Hall is pleased and lets Rick and the other De-fenders
go, banishing Ming from its portals forever.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #111
Summary: Part I - Ming gets control of the Battle Simulation Room,
and the Defenders are fighting for real!
THE MIND WARRIOR
The Defenders add a new twist to the Battle Simulation Room--a Thought-Transference
Cap. It transmits the wearer's imagination directly into the simulation;
Kshin loves to use it to scare the other Defenders the best he can.
But Ming the Merciless has found a way to tap into the Room. Using
his ghastly power source, he can use his own evil thoughts and intensify
them into reality! What starts out as a thrilling simulation under
Kshin is taken over by Ming and turned into a terrible fight to
the death in the all-too-real Haunted World. While the older Defenders
fight monsters, harpies and skeleton warriors, the desperate young
Defenders destroy the simulator and end the horror.
STORY
SYNOPSIS: #112
Summary: Mandrake and Lothar join forces with the beautiful Atascadero
to find The Lost Jewels of Tibet. They discover, along with Ming,
the wrath of a pre-historic dragon.
THE LOST JEWELS OF TIBET
On a cool London evening, outside the Museum of Antiquity, Mandrake
the Magician and Lothar rescue the beautiful adventurer Atascadero
from the clutches of Garax, Ming's warlord. The reason--an ancient
map of Tibet showing the location of the completely isolated Valley
of Ubris where three enormous "jewels of power" are rumored to reside.
Atascadero offers a three way split. Mandrake's interest in beautiful
women and adventure leave him no choice. Unfortunately, Garax's
robot memory was able to photograph the map as well and Ming believes
these stones hold a secret that will allow him to conquer the Earth.
The rest of the Defenders smell trouble. The Phantom knows the complete
legend and the enormous danger involved with removing the gems.
Mandrake, Lothar and Atascadero find out that the "Gems" are really
very powerful eggs that when moved release a huge dragon from outerspace.
Meanwhile, Garax and a squad of Ice Robots move in and try to snatch
the Jewels only to be driven back by the frightful mother dragon
who "hatches" the brood in a nearby volcano and disappears into
space.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #113
Summary: Ming utilizes his Star of Mongo crystal to tap Kshin's
fertile imagination in the battle simulation room and brings to
life "anti" Defenders who can destroy the real Defenders once and
for all.
THE MIND WARRIORS (Part II)
Ming lures Kshin to Ice Station Earth by kidnapping Zuffy, then
probes the dark side of Kshin's imagination to create fearsome warriors
capable of destroying the Defenders. While the heroes work diligently
to dismantle the Doomsday Warhead, a device left in the universe
from an earlier holocaust, they are invaded by RADIAN, BI-NINJA,
RIPPER, ZALZAR, JAMMER HEAD, and NEUTRON MAN, all products of Kshin's
mind. Two of the evil warriors recapture the Doomsday Warhead and
transport it to Ming's asteroid base, while the rest stay on to
finish off the Defenders. Meanwhile, the young Defenders fly to
Ice Station Earth to rescue Kshin. With the help of Dynak Y the
super heroes trick the mind warriors into thinking they're dead.
With Kshin free and the Doomsday Warhead moments from being launched
against Earth, Kshin uses the good side of his imagination to make
all the Defenders even stronger, enabling them to defeat the mind
warriors and reset the guidance controls in the Doomsday Warhead,
thereby blowing up Ming's asteriod base and saving Earth.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #114
Summary: Ming springs from prison an evil ex-Shadow Lord and nemesis
of Mandrake, and orders him to locate the three pieces of the ORB
OF KONOS that will enable Dr. Dark to grant the Merciless One immortality.
THE EVIL OF DR. DARK
Ming arranges the prison escape of Dr. Damion Dark, who brings with
him from jail three psychic warriors -- LILLITH, RA and MARA --
and sends Dark, backed by his forces, to the island of RYLOS, where
Dark will begin his search for the three pieces of the ORB OF KONOS
which will bestow upon him the power to grant Ming immortality.
Mandrake learns of Dark's plan through VANDAR, the powerful Master
of the Shadow Lords and mentor-to the super hero, He enlists the
help of his comrades Flash, Rick, Lothar and L.J. to transport him
to Rylos and try to stop Dark. The Defenders arrive on Rylos to
discover that Dark has captured Vandar and gained possession of
the VIAL OF KNOWLEDGE -- which holds the information of the location
of the three pieces of the ORB OF KONOS but can only be opened in
one specific place, a place of which only Vandar knows. Dark escapes
from the island with Vandar by holding Rick hostage. Mara refuses
to go with the evil ones, turning to the goodness of the Defenders.
She uses her psychic ability to discover where Dark will open the
Vial of Knowledge, and the Defenders race to the scene, engage in
an all-out battle deep in the WELL OF ESSENCE, defeat Dark and recover
the Vial of Knowledge without Dark discovering the location of the
three pieces of the ORB OF KONOS. In the battle however, Vandar
dies, Mara is lost and Dark, unbeknownst to the Defenders, survives.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #115
Summary: Ming plots to steal the Crown Jewels of England so that
he can grow invincible crystal soldiers and conquer the world!
DIAMONDS ARE MING'S BEST FRIENDS
When Ming captures and delivers the Phantom to the Beastmaster,
he learns the secret of growing invincible crystal soldiers from
diamonds. Immediately Ming sets into motion a plot to steal the
largest jewels on earth -- the Crown Jewels of England -- and grow
an invincible army of crystal soldiers. When the Defenders learn
of Ming's latest scheme, Flash sets out for Ragnor Zith, a dangerous
criminal hideout, but the only planet in the galaxy with Orkite,
the only mineral which can convert crystal soldiers back into diamonds.
Meanwhile the young Defenders rescue the Phantom from an isolated
island in the middle of an African lake, while in London Mandrake
and Lothar fight off the first attempt by Ming's initial batch of
crystal soldiers, grown from regular diamonds, to steal the valuable
jewels. The young Defenders join Lothar and Mandrake in London when
the crystal soldiers return. It looks as though the Crown Jewels
will soon be in Ming's evil hands when Flash bursts onto the scene
with an Orkite - generated blaster gun -- reducing the crystal soldiers
to diamonds and saving the planet from Ming's decrepit rule. STORY
SYNOPSES:
#116
Summary: Ming launches a Frost Satellite with the power to blanket
the earth with a veneer of frost and enslave all of humanity.
THE MEN OF FROST
For Ming's plan to blanket the earth with a veneer of frost to be
successful, the satellite requires the strength of a Starblue Crystal,
of which only three exist. During a ceremony in which Mandrake donates
his Starblue Crystal to the Central City Museum, the Defenders fight
off an invasion by Ming's forces and capture two of his Men of Frost,
Elgar and Zikry. Rick makes good use of a new invention which re-humanizes
Men of Frost and Elgar tells the Defenders of Ming's plan to conquer
earth. Zikry however, remains loyal to Ming and sabotages Dynak
X before our heroes discover his true "evil" side. When Ming locates
the last remaining Starblue Crystal he launches the satellite. It
appears that it may be too late to stop Ming, but the Defenders
fly out in their battle ships, engage Ming's roboships in an outer-space
dog-fight, and explode the satellite with seconds to spare.
STORY
SYNOPSES:#117
Summary: Ming uses his freeze-ray weapon to capture unstoppable
alien creatures, transport them to earth and unleash them on the
world.
BATTLEGROUND
Ming's forces travel to the planet Grubor, where they use his freeze-ray
weapon to capture six Cave Slugs -- invincible alien creatures the
size of semi-trucks who can and do eat anything, including rock,
metal and laser beams. They are harmless unless provoked, whereupon
they counterattack with tremendous force. The Merciless One deploys
his first Cave Slug in a mine tunnel beneath Monitor, and as the
alien munches its way towards the Defenders headquarters, Kshin
and Zuffy stumble upon it and must be rescued by the Defenders.
At the time the Cave Slug breaks through the top of the Volcano
and heads to Central City, Ming places the five other Cave Slugs
in major cities all over the world. The Defenders make the costly
mistake of attacking the Cave Slug, sending it on a rampage until
Jedda uses her animal telepathic contact abilities to make peace
with the alien monster. Infuriated, Ming decides that if our heroes
won't provoke the creatures, he will; however, his attack on the
earth is crushed when the Cave Slugs counterattack Ming's forces.
The misunderstanding settled, the Defenders happily transport the
Cave Slugs back to Grubor.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #118
Summary: Ming treks to the hidden Temple of Pantheria to acquire
the sacred panther tooth which he will use to control the world's
panthers, ordering them to wreak havoc on the world and destroy
the Defenders!
THE PANTHER PERIL
When the famous explorer Andrew Huxley encounters the wrath of Ming
the Merciless while on expedition in Africa, he immediately calls
in the Defenders. Ming kidnaps the Chief of the Bandar tribe after
destroying their village, and forces him to lead the way to the
hidden Temple of Pantheria. Before the Defenders depart for Africa
they confine Kisa in a forcefield -- for her own, as well as the
other's, safety -- leaving the key card with Kshin, under strict
orders not to let Kisa out or give the key card to any-one else,
especially Jedda. A short time later Kshin, disobeying direct orders,
hands over the card to Jedda, who lets Kisa free. Meanwhile Ming
reaches the Temple of Pantheria, locates the sacred tooth and with
its powers orders Kisa to attack and destroy the Defenders. Kisa
obeys, wreaking havoc all over Central City. Rick and Jedda track
Kisa down and just as Rick is about to shoot her, the Defenders
locate Ming in Africa and, with the help of Mandrake's illusory
power, wrest control of the sacred tooth. He reverses Ming's orders
just in time to save Kisa and our heroes.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #1I9
Summary: Ming schemes to take over the earth by using an oceanographer's
invention to turn all the fish in the sea against mankind.
FURY OF THE DEEP
Ming's attack on an oil platform, to capture a main computer containing
the earth's entire energy network, is foiled by the Defenders, but
all is not lost as he spots oceanographer Maurice Quiston using
a brainwave transmission helmet to communicate with sea creatures.
Ming appeals to Quiston's love of the sea world and convinces him
to join forces in battling the ocean-destructive forces of modern
society. With Qusiton operating out of Ice Station Earth, all the
ocean's inhabitants obey his orders, joining together to attack
oil tankers, undersea food farms and sewage systems all over the
globe. Meanwhile the Phantom, and old friend of Quistons, finds
the oceanographer's floating sea-platform vacant, while Falsh, Lothar,
Jedda and Mandrake try to save the food farm from destruction. Quiston
discovers that Ming has double-crossed him when the Evil One destroys
his sea platform. He joins forces with the Phantom to stop the ocean
life's attacks and then blows up his brainwave transmission helmet
and computer in the control room of Ming's Ice Station Earth.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #120
Summary: Jedda agrees to become N'Dama's protege, the Weather Demon,
in exchange for help in saving her father's life.
FAMILY REUNION
Ming captures the Phantom and Jedda as they return from the race
against N'Dama (really the Phantom's brother Kurt Walker) for the
Jewel of Zandoon. Once again his old self, Kurt Walker stows away
on Ming's ship, and back at Ice Station Earth he watches as Ming
places the Phantom in the Deep Freeze Chamber. Small Fry, a monkey
the Phantom and Jedda picked up in Africa, sabotages the wiring
of the Freeze Chamber, buying the Phantom more time and allowing
Jedda and Kurt to escape into the corridors of Ming's hideout. Jedda
saves Kurt's life more than once before he finds the Golden Chamber
and turns himself back into N'Dama; however, he refuses to help
Jedda save the Phantom until she promises to reject the Phantom's
birthright and becomes his protege. Using his skull ring the Phantom
escapes the Freeze Chamber and is horrified to find Jedda in the
uniform of the Weather Demon. N'Dama steals the valuable mineral
Thalacitrate, which will allow him to remain N'Dama forever, from
Ming. The Phantom and Jedda, poised for take-off from Ice Station
Earth, benevolently save N'Dama's life, prompting the Spirit of
the Winds to restore her birthright before he disappears in a mysterious
flash of light.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #121
Summary : Ming develops Android Clones of the Defenders and programs
them to commit a series of crimes, so that the real Defenders will
be put on trial by the Galactic Federation -- and banished to a
galaxy 300 light years from Earth.
THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS
The Defenders fly into space to investigate a mysterious comet and
discover, too late to break from the tractor beams dragging them
toward the comet, that in reality it is an Ilyrian spaceship. Inside
the ship the Defenders are informed that they will be tried as the
greatest criminals in the galaxy, with Ming as the accuser!! In
exchange for his irrefutable evidence against the Defenders, the
Evil One receives, under the pretense of "tools to rebuild the Earth",
an anti-gravity device, a space warp drive, a machine to quadruple
food harvests, and an energy shield to make all weapons obsolete,
but these "tools" will actually serve to help Ming conquer the world.
When the evidence is presented in court -- film of the Defenders
(actually Ming's Android Clones) -- committing heinous crimes against
the people of earth, things look bleak for our heroes. Rick, L.J.
and Jedda manage to escape and invade Ice Station Earth, where they
locate the androids and uncover Ming's plan. Back on the Ilyrian
ship the Defenders are found guilty and sentenced to banishment
to a galaxy 300 light years from earth, however just prior to their
transport the young Defenders burst into the courtroom with the
androids and save the day.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #122
Summary: In Ming's latest plot ---Using his Mind Neutralizer to
enslave the human race, Ming manipulates his own daughter, Aura,
to capture Flash, Rick, Jedda and L.J.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
Ming's estranged daughter, Aura, crash lands her ship on Monitor
and informs the Defenders of her father's latest scheme to enslave
the population of earth with his Mind Neutralizer. Flash, an old
friend of Aura's who once saved her and her husband, Barin, from
destruction at the hands of Ming, immediately sets out for Grand
Junction with Aura, Rick, Jedda and L.J. Upon arriving they discover
that all the city's officials are already under Ming's hypnosis
and that Aura's motivation is revenge -- pure and simple. As Mandrake,
the Phantom and Lothar rush to the rescue, the Defenders escape
and convince Aura that she is an unwitting dupe in Ming's evil scheme.
Briefly captured but now free, Mandrake and Lothar, with the Phantom
set to work on reversing the polarity of Ming's neutralizer before
he hypnotizes the entire world, while Flash, Rick, L.J., Jedda and
Aura fly to an alien planet to rescue Barin. Seconds before Ming's
scheme enslaves the world Dynak X completes the reversal, and all
those previously under Ming's spell are once again free-thinkers.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #123
Summary: When an overzealous 13 year-old superhero "wanna-be" spends
a day at Monitor, it could mean the destruction of earth.
THE WOULD BE DEFENDER
At the dedication ceremony for a new courthouse built in honor of
our heroes, 13 year-old Earl Sump, bespectacled and dressed in a
homemade superhero suit, captures two pick-pockets in the crowd.
His reward -- a day spent at Monitor with his idols, the Defenders
of the Earth. Immediately Earl's overzealous nature endangers our
heroes --he almost causes the Defender ship to crash, and when the
Defenders fly out to a distant planet to investigate some strange
behavior, Earl stows away, his antics on board causing Flash's ship
to run aground and nearly be destroyed. Back on Monitor Earl locks
Jedda in a storage compartment and hijacks a ship which he pilots
to Ice Station Earth. Unintentionally he rewires Octon, turning
the evil computer into his amicable sidekick, and brings him back
to Monitor. Earl then plans a day of celebration in his honor, inviting
all of Central City to take part. This all invokes the wrath of
Ming, who invades the party. Earl unintentionally turns Octon back
into his old self, and it looks as if Ming will destroy the residents
of Central City, however the Defenders arrive in the nick of time
to drive Ming away and save the populace.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #124
Summary: Ming captures a powerful source of anti-energy and unleashes
an army of monsters from the Nightworld on the earth.
DOORWAYS INTO DARKNESS
Deep in Africa Ming locates an anti-energy source enabling him to
open the Nightgiant Doorway and unleash 7-story tall nightgiants
to destroy the earth. Flash flies out to space to destroy a Ming
satellite, but his ship is immoblized by the Merciless One's roboships,
while the Phantom goes to Africa to terminate Ming's activities
in the Forgotten City. As the nightgiants terrorize various parts
of the globe Rick intercepts a transmission from Ming to Garax and
discovers that a transport invertor will eliminate the monsters.
Mandrake, Lothar, Rick, L.J., Jedda, Kshin and Zuffy take on two
nightgiants outside of Central City while racing to the stadium
to retrieve the saving invertordevice. As they recover the device,
Rick is captured by one of the creatures. Jedda departs for Africa,
where her father will use the transport invertor to close the nightgiant
doorway, while the other Defenders save Rick. Out in space Flash
finally fights off all of Ming's minions and blows the satellite.
Jedda delivers the transport invertor to the Phantom and they battle
Ming's troops before employing the device and sending the nightgiants
back to their own world.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #125
Summary: Octon and Garax concoct a bogus scheme to overthrow Ming,
luring the young Defenders to Ice Station Earth where Ming probes
Rick's mind for the secret plans to Monitor's defense systems.
DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
While captives in Ming's jail, Rick and Jedda overhear Octon and
Garax's plans to revolt against Ming. In exchange for their freedom,
the Defenders offer to help in the scheme. When the uprising begins,
Octon contacts Monitor in a plea for help, however Flash and the
other Defenders recognize this as another in a long line of Ming's
vile attempts to destroy the Defenders. Rick, L.J. and Jedda disagree
and with Kshin and Zuffy as stowaways, the three fly off to Ice
Station Earth to help defeat Ming. They arrive at Ming's devastated
headquarters to discover that it is indeed another of Ming's schemes
-- the Three Sorcerers Of Teros created the illusion of a battle
torn command center explicitly to lure the young Defenders there
so that Ming can probe Rick's mind for the plans to Monitor's defense
system. When Flash, Mandrake, Lothar and the Phantom arrive to rescue
the kids they engage the Sorcerers in combat. Flash uses his sonic-ray
blaster to destroy the crystals encircling the Sorcerers, while
Mandrake and Lothar unstrap Rick from Ming's mind-draining device.
United with Jedda and L.J., the Defenders of the Earth destabilize
the shifting ice flow under Ice Station Earth before mounting their
ships for the flight back to Monitor, once again victorious in battle
-- but yet to win the war.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #126
Summary: Ming unleashes a parasitic, life-killing mutant on the
Defenders and sends them back in time in a plan to eliminate the
Defenders and destroy all life on earth from the early days.
TERROR IS TIME
Playing into Ming's hands, the Phantom and Mandrake steal a mutant
life form from Ice Station Earth which they believe Ming will use
to destroy all life on Earth. Ming then lures them into a vortex
which sends them reeling back in time to the days of King Arthur's
Court. During the journey, a part of the mutant form attached itself
to Mandrake and now threatens his very life. When the Defenders
are saved by Prince Valiant and his son, Arn, they learn of an evil
warlock who lives in a castle on the top of a cliff and has taken
the Prince's wife, Aleta, captive. The super heroes pledge their
assistance. Flash, the Phantom, Mandrake, Lothar and Valiant scale
the cliff below the warlock's castle, while Arn, Jedda and Rick
wait at the base of the steep incline. While the Defenders and Valiant
fight the warlocks guards and imaginary monsters, the deathly life
form rises out of the lake by the cliffs and threatens Jedda, Rick
and Arn. The Defenders break in on the Warlock, free Aleta and gain
possession of the powerful Eternity Stone, just as Jedda telepathically
warns them that the mutant is scaling the cliff and will soon engulf
the castle. The Defenders beat a hasty escape. With a wrecked ship
and no way of penetrating the now-closed vortex which brought them
through time, the Defenders resign them-selves to spending the remainder
of their days in this time period. However, Aleta uses the mystical
powers of the Eternity Stone to raise their ship out of the lake
and open the vortex, enabling them to travel back to the future
and continue their fight against Ming the Merciless.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #127
Summary: Ming's household helper robots are selling like hotcakes,
however the public doesn't know that his Merciless Highness plans
to enslave every one of their owners via satellite directed hypno-
beam!!
MING' S HOUSEHOLD HELP
The household helper robot, designed by Ming the Merciless in another
of his evil schemes, is the hottest selling item on the market,
deployed in over one million homes worldwide -- including Monitor.
Ming plans to use a space satellite to direct a hypno-beam through
the robots to hypnotize their owners and make them slaves of the
evil emperor. At the behest of Jedda, Rick examines his robot and
discovers the plot, alerting the Defenders. When Flash flys out
to space to destroy the satellite he discovers Ming has a few tricks
up his sleeve -- a tractor beam renders his ship powerless and drags
him towards Ice Station Earth!! Splitting up, Lothar, Mandrake and
the Phantom penetrate Ming's fortress to save Flash. While Ming
captures the Jamaican and the Magician, the Phantom wreaks havoc
on the robot production lab. Ming activates his hypno-beam and sets
the final stages of his plan into motion, however back at Monitor
Rick mobilizes his frequency inhibitor, overloading the household
helper robots and rendering them useless. Back at Ming's fortress,
Mandrake uses telekenesis to overload the main generator, enabling
he, Lothar and Flash to escape with the Phantom. As the robot production
lab blows, Ming evacuates safely -- surviving to return and fight
another day.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #128
Sumamry: A seemingly harmless young child crash lands on Earth,
followed by an inter-galactic armada of alien ships bent on destroying
him and the world!!!
THE STARBOY
While transporting Starchild, a child-like alien who has landed
on earth, through the woods around Monitor, the young Defenders
encounter two alien scouts who attempt to destroy their new acquaintance.
With the help of the elder Defenders the scouts are run from the
planet, but not before identifying the alien as an evil monster
and promising to return. Back at Monitor, Dynak X informs our heroes
that an armada of 200 alien ships are on their way to Earth, prompting
Flash, Mandrake, Lothar and the Phantom to fly into space to investigate.
Meanwhile, Starchild blasts his way out of Monitor and rampages
through Central City, with the young heroes on his trail. Amongst
the stars, the senior Defenders talk to Roarke, a reptile-like alien,
who tells them that Starchild is a genetically engineered being
created by the great scientist Shoar Koron, and he has limitless
powers -- which he has previously used to wipe out entire civilizations.
The aliens intend to destroy Earth, thereby ridding the galaxy of
the child. The young Defenders learn that Starchild is not really
evil, but like any child he requires love and attention. Mandrake
impersonates Koron to explain to Starchild that he must use his
powers for good, not bad, and the little alien makes peace with
all the space ships, before streaking away into the star system.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #129
Summary: Aided by a powerful mystic, Ming brings to life gods from
another dimension to help him conquer the world; however, his plan
goes out of control when he underestimates his collaborator.
THE GODS AWAKE
When statues of ancient gods mysteriously come to life the Defenders
are summoned to the Himalayas by Mandrake's old magic teacher, Theron.
Our heroes learn that Ming and a mystic are behind the bizarre occurances,
another element in a plan to recover a sacred dorje which will bestow
upon Ming the power to rule the world. When Ming gains control of
the sacred dorje, Mandrake tries to warn him about the danger of
his mystic collaborator, but to no avail. The mystic snatches the
dorje from Ming and uses it to turn himself back into Shiva -- the
destroyer god -- who was banished from his dimension of Bodhidarma
ages ago. As Shiva proclaims "Let the time of destruction begin"
and he fades into his other dimension, Mandrake must follow. Ming,
true to his cowardly nature, flees the scene, leaving the Defenders
to amend the world-threatening situation he brought about. In the
other dimension Mandrake battles valiantly against Shiva, however
it appears his efforts are not enough to defeat the god, until an
image of Theron appears and informs Mandrake that in Bodhidarma
his illusory powers are REAL, not products of his imagination. Mandrake
uses this nifty piece of information to conquer Shiva, and Lothar
manages to open up the portal back to our earthly dimension just
in time for Mandrake to slip through -- with the powerful dorje.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #130
Summary: Jedda, believing her father dead, must make the most important
decision of her life -- is she ready to assume the role of PHANTOM?!?!
THE GHOST WALKS AGAIN
When industrial tycoon/hypochondriac Kent Madden's plan to buy a
magic health elixer from Partha, son of Chief Ajuna of the of r
ican Fallu tribe, goes awry, he makes a deal to obtain use of Ming's
forces to steal the potion. The Phantom and Jedda learn of the plot
and immediately fly to Africa in the skullcopter. On the way the
Phantom is shot out of the sky by Madden and is believed killed.
The Fallu implore Jedda to take up where her father left off --
as Phantom, protector of their tribe -- and after some heavy soul
searching she does just that. As Madden and Ming invade in full
force, Jedda valiantly leads the Fallu in counter-attack. Unbeknownst
to her, the Phantom raises himself from the jungle -- he is alive
-- and must call forth the strength of ten tigers just to muster
the power to fly the skullcopter. With the father-daughter team
together again Ming and Madden flee for their lives. The Fallu people
are saved, however the sanctity of their location is violated, forcing
them to abandon their obscurity and join civilization.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #131
Summary: The Defenders face certain death inside an ancient shrine
in Morocco, but Kshin uses a mysterious book of enigmas to save
them.
THE BOOK OF MYSTERIES
When a two-hundred square mile area of Morocco mysteriously disappears,
the Defenders investigate -- sans Kshin, who is instructed to choose
any book from Mandrake's library for a book report. While Kshin
flips through the blank pages of a book titled "Enigmas", Flash,
Rick, L.J. and Jedda enter the unexplained area and discover a primitive
wall with a door in it. Suddenly the wall image appears in Kshin's
book, along with an inscription telling how to get inside. As our
heroes are nearly crushed by falling rocks, Kshin relays the information
and stops the avalanche. Kshin, once again reading from the book,
instructs the Defenders, who are now inside the shrine, to push
the gold keys on the control panel, revealing the lost city and
removing the jamming field surrounding the area. Mean-while Mandrake
and Lothar track down a notorious jewel thief and recover the Eye
of the Dragon which is missing from the wall. Back inside the shrine
our heroes awaken the Sleeping God before Kshin warns them that
he is unstoppable, and it looks like certain death for the Defenders.
As Flash, Rick, L.J. and Jedda are about to be boiled in oil, Kshin
arrives on the scene and convinces the creature that they are here
to help; while Mandrake produces the crystal which will allow the
Sleeping God to return home, thereby saving our Champions.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #132
Summary: The Defenders must prevent Ming from obtaining an obelisk
which will give him the power to travel 4-times the speed of light!
THE FUTURE COMES BUT ONCE
While engaging Ming's roboships in battle over the North African
Desert, Flash discovers the remains of an ancient pyramid, where
he finds an obelisk that produces visions when touched. The other
Defenders arrive on the scene and Mandrake informs Flash that the
sacred obelisk was believed to foretell the future. Unbeknownst
to our heroes, Ming is in the area -- in search of the very same
obelisk, which he needs to tell the future so that he may propel
his time drive device four-times the speed of light. When Rick and
L.J. touch the obelisk they see themselves defeat Octon, giving
them the confidence to set out for Ice Station Earth. They get as
far as Ming's desert hideout, where they are taken prisoner. Mandrake
informs our heroes that the obelisk cannot foretell the future,
but rather what a person fears or desires for the future. Scavenger,
the desert Arab whose home Ming commandeered as a base for his search,
breaks free and sends for the Defenders, who raid Ming's headquarters.
Mandrake destroys the evil emperor's time drive device, sending
the obelisk beyond the reach of mortal men and Ming fleeing for
the coolness of Ice Station Earth.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #133
Summary: Kshin discovers a ghost ship and helps the long-dead pirates
locate a compass they need to free themselves from centuries of
aimless wandering!
KSHIN AND THE GHOST SHIP
While on vacation in Jamaica with the Defenders, Kshin sees a ghost
ship; however, no one believes him. Determined to get proof of the
ship's existence, Kshin rows a dinghy out into the bay one night,
and he not only finds the ship, but is taken on board by its ghost
pirates!! Meanwhile our heroes are busy trying to figure out why
Ming's roboships are in the area. Unbeknownst to them, the warlord
is searching for Morgan's Compass, which he will use to turn the
ghost pirates into his unconquerable slaves. On board the ship,
the pirate captain tells Kshin that they have been searching for
years for Morgan's Compass -- the only object which can release
them from their aimless wandering. Kshin offers help, and with the
ghost first mate he goes ashore and returns with a sonic probe to
locate the compass on the ocean floor. While Kshin is lowered into
the water in a makeshift diving bell, Ming's roboships attempt to
fire a freezebeam on the ship putting the ghosts in his power. However,
the Defenders blow Ming's minions out of the sky! Kshin emerges
with the compass, freeing the pirates and sending them on their
way.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #134
Summary: On a family outing to a traveling carnival, the older Defenders
become part of the freak show when they shrink to three inches!
THE CARNIVAL OF DR. KALIHARI
SYNOPSIS: Dr. Kalihari's carnival is in town and the Defenders are
on hand to see the show. What they don't know is that Dr. Kalihari
has taken over the carnival from its owners and populated it with
collaborators in his get-rich-quick scheme. Kalihari is infuriated
when the Defenders embarass his mediocre performers, so to get revenge
he dupes Kshin into unleashing a magic shrinking potion on them!
Steadily getting smaller --until they will eventually vanish --
our senior heroes battle Kalihari, his cohorts, dogs and common
household items which pose significant obstacles to 3 inch people,
before finally locating the magic antidote potion which restores
them to their original size. Once again the "normal" Defenders of
the Earth, they waste no time in disposing of Kalihari's gang and
restoring the carnival to its rightful owners.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #135
Summary: Once again guided by the book, Enigma, Kshin saves the
Defenders from an evil monster who is out to conquer and destroy
the Earth!
THE MYSTERY OF THE BOOK
Dynak X picks up a bizarre energy transmission from Stonehenge prompting
the elder Defenders to investigate. Kshin consults the book of enigma
which shows him a blueprint of the ancient stone circle. In England,
Flash, Lothar and the Phantom are lured inside Stonehenge by Kronos,
a mysterious dark cloud, and turned into statues. Mandrake consults
his old magic teacher, Theron, who informs him that Kronos is an
evil monster who drove the great magician, Enigma, out of the Land
of Magic, then destroyed the dimension. Kronos needs the book, which
is actually the old master of magic in "book form", to materialize
on Earth and destroy the planet. Our young heroes -- including Kshin
and the book, Enigma, -- rush to the rescue; however, Rick, L.J.
and jedda are also turned into statues by Kronos. Mandrake, with
the help of Theron, fights off Kronos while Enigma guides Kshin
into the Stonehenge circle, where he convinces Kronos to give him
a blue crystal which allows Enigma to materialize and defeat the
evil monster. The benevolent wizard then restores the Defenders
to their natural state, before departing for the Land of Magic.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #136
Summary: His Heinous Highness kidnaps Flash, clones him four times,
and puts him under the Inquisitor to instill his super-hero flying
prowess into the phony look-alikes.
FLASH TIMES FOUR
Ming knows that Flash Gordon is the only man alive who could effectively
fly his state-of-the-art warplane The Scorpion, so he lures our
hero to Ice Station Earth, where he has created four Flash Gordon
clones! The evil warlord places Flash under his vile inquisitor
with Flash's clones at the receiving end of the contraption to gather
his exceptional flying skills. However, Flash brilliantly manages
to dismantle the control box to the machine, therefore only facets
of his personality are transferred to the clones. While the Defenders
beat a hasty trail to Ice Station Earth, Flash wakes up in Ming's
dungeon. When he again meets his clones he finds four distinct personalities
-- #1, an authoritarian; #2, a braggart fighter pilot; #3, an intellectual
planner; and #4, a cool, Burt Reynolds type. Ming places clone #4,
who has a bomb in his chest, in the dungeon so that the Defenders
rescue him and bring him back to Monitor. Meanwhile he sends the
other three against our heroes. Flash manages to escape from Ice
Station Earth, destroys the three clones in a superb example of
excellent dog-fighting, and confronts #4 in Monitor, disarming the
bomb with seconds to spare.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #137
Summary: L.J. learns to treat women as people, not objects, after
Ming turns his girlfriend into a Frost Person who fights against
the Defenders!
THE FROZEN HEART
While walking home after an argument with her boyfriend, L.J., Kate
is pulled into a van by two mysterious men - agents of Ming the
Merciless. She returns to school the following day where L.J. attributes
their reconciliation to his Romeo skills. They set a double date
for that night with Rick and Jedda. On the date, Kate convinces
the young Defenders to conduct a tour of the new Laser-equipped
Defenders Space Station, even though it is against regulations to
take unauthorized personnel into the structure. Once inside Kate
reveals herself as a Frost Person when she attacks the young heroes
and clears the way for Ming to take control of the Space Station
-- and use the laser canon to control Earth! Back at Monitor Dynak
X alerts the Defenders of strange activity at the Space Station,
sending them rushing to the scene. Unaware that the kids are inside,
the Defenders are attacked by Ming's roboships, and thinking they
are doomed, hit a 30 minute Doomsday Self-Destruct button for the
station. Due to Flash's fancy flying they live, and discover that
they have less than half an hour to save their offspring. Back at
the station the young Defenders escape from their cell and L.J.'s
compassion for Kate overpowers Ming's mind control. Just as the
Merciless One is about to kill the young couple, the elder Defenders
burst onto the scene, rescue their kids and deactivate the Doomsday
Device with one second to spare.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #138
Summary: Rick Gordon and the Defenders must save a tropical island
from revolut ionary forces who are in cahoots with Ming the Merciless!
RICK GORDON, ONE MAN ARMY
Rick Gordon's new friend at Central City High Carlotta Vallejo
-- requires his help when Ming backs revolutionary forces to dethrone
her father from the Presidency of the tropical island of Esmerelda.
While Ming gathers all the blue orchid flowers on the island for
use turning the world's population into Frost People, Rick and Carlotta
fly to Esmerelda and search for her father, but are captured by
El Jefe, the mercenary leader of the upsurge. Back at Monitor Dynak
X informs the Defenders that the temperature of the island is being
unnaturally lowered, posing potential weather problems and prompting
the heroes -- sans Mandrake and Lothar -- to board the Terry and
set out to investigate. Rick and Carlotta escape from El Jefe, discover
that Ming has diverted irrigation waters to build a huge glacier,
and locate the President. To their horror, they find he has been
turned into a Man of Frost before they are once again captured.
The Defenders arrive and walk right into a trap, however Mandrake
and Lothar, who arrived later disguised as a Man of Frost and an
Ice Robot, spring them from Ming's dungeon. They invade El Jefe's
jungle mercenary camp and rescue Rick, Carlotta and her father --
who by now is returning to normal because the Frost Serum only works
for two days. Furious, Ming blows up his glacier, causing a raging
avalanche, which Rick subsides by employing a solar mirror to direct
the sun's rays to melt the ice and divert it underground destroying
the Ice Caves and all of Ming's blue orchid Frost Serum!
STORY
SYNOPSES: #139
Summary: Rick, L.J. and Jedda learn the meaning of cooperation when
they must work together to save the elder Defenders from destruction!
THE RITES OF ZESNAN
While trying to prove their individual prowess during an obstacle
course competition, Rick, Jedda and L.J. get a bit too serious,
endangering themselves individually and as a flying unit. When the
youngsters again risk their safety during a dogfight with Ming's
roboships, their parents take them to the Amazon to compete in the
Rites of Zesnan, a tribal warrior contest to develop good warriors.
Ming intercepts a Dynak X transmission and arrives in South America
before our heroes. Posing as a god he preconditions the natives
against the Defenders. While Rick, Jedda and L.J. are on their respective
paths of the warrior course, the Merciless One traps the elder heroes
in a grid pattern with deadly sensor beam canons. Meanwhile our
young Defenders, after fighting off an attack from the local tribesmen,
band together. Discovering from one native the presence of Ming,
they rush back to the Terry and working again as a well-oiled unit,
turn all four laser canons against one another, blowing them to
pieces and sending Ming fleeing for his cowardly safety.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #140
Summary: Octon designs a flawless super-computer which Ming uses
to demobilize all the world's computer systems in a plot to control
earth.
AUDIE AND TWEAK
Ming's computer, Octon, has created the ultimate trap -- Tycos,
a machine designed by a machine, completely devoid of human flaws
-- which the evil leader will use to destroy the Defenders. Meanwhile
Kshin tries to make friends with Audie, a boy genius whose only
companion is his personally constructed robot, Tweak, made with
living matter rather than silicon microchips. The elder Defenders
are lured to a mountain bunker in Colorado by Tycos and the Phantom
is captured. Tycos then shuts down all computer circuitry in the
Western Hemisphere, except for Tweak, who is impervious to Tycos'
efforts because of his non-silicon makeup. The young Defenders'
plea for Audie's assistance falls on deaf ears; however, the fact
that they come to his rescue when he is captured by Ming persuades
him to help our heroes. Arriving at the mountain bunker, the youngsters
discover that Mandrake and Flash are also Tycos' captives. Tweak
enters first, sacrificing himself to dismantle the nerve gas which
frees the three heroes and clears the way for the others to join
in the effort. Audie creates a makeshift lighter to ignite Tycos'
power supply and deactivate the evil computer, while the rest of
the Defenders escape and prepare to blow the bunker to smithereens.
Back at Monitor Audie is made an honorary Defender.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #141
Summary: An evilband of women --- pirates, with a vendetta against
the Phantom, terrorize the universe and nearly kill the masked superhero!
RETURN OF THE SKY BAND
When an ore transport ship in deep space is looted and notes are
found announcing the RETURN OF THE SKY BAND, the Phantom is apprehensive.
He recounts the story of his grandfather, who defeated an all-women
pirate group in the 1930's whose "Sky Band Leader" was accidently
killed. The Defenders fly out to rescue a mining ship in an asteroid
belt, and the Phantom comes face to face with Kristina, the new
leader of the Sky Band and the grandaughter of the woman killed
in the 1930's. While the other Defenders engage the band members
in combat, the Phantom chases Kristina through the asteroid-ship
which is headquarters for the pirates. Unable to defeat the Phantom,
Kristina plans to blow up the entire asteroid and to kill both the
superhero and herself. The Phantom delays the destruction and rescues
her -- thereby vindicating his grandfather -- before turning Kristina
over to the authorities.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #142
Summary: While investigating a disappearance in Transylvania, the
Defenders are put under a vampire's spell and turned into animals
for the monster's exotic collection!
DRACULA'S POTION
The Defenders set out for Transylvania to investigate the disappearance
of John Harker, a young archeologist doing re-search in the area.
Upon arrival, they are invited to the castle of Vlad, a mysterious
local who serves them dinner at midnight. When Vlad proposes a toast,
everyone joins in, except the Phantom, who doesn't trust the shifty
host. The next day all the Defenders, with the exception of the
Phantom, turn into animals reflecting their personality characteristics
-- Vlad had spiked their dinner beverages with a magic potion. Dynak
X launches an antidote to our heroes via a guided rocket. Kshin,
now enjoying himself as a spider monkey, retrieves the antidote
from the garden and, with the Phantom, frees the Defenders/animals
from their cages and administers the antidote. Restored, the Defenders
turn bright lights on Vlad, trans-forming him into John Harker!
The young man had been possessed by the older vampire, Vlad.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #143
Summary: Kshin learns that handicaps need not leave one totally
helpless when he is temporarily paralyzed and joins forces with
a wheelchair-bound boy to defeat Ming the Merciless!
ONE OF THE GUYS
Rick and L.J. accompany Kshin's class, which includes Marty, a wheelchair-bound
boy, on a field trip to the Amazon where they encounter hostile
natives. When Kshin and Marty are separated from the group, L.J.
and Rick search for them, prompting the teacher to call in the Defenders.
Stumbling upon a field of strange flowers cultivated by Ming's minions,
Kshin is sprayed by a plant and rendered paralyzed from the waist
down. At first he believes the situation hopeless, but Marty points
out that they still have their brains. Captured by Ming, Marty uses
his remote control device to summon his air-wheelchair and attempts
a getaway from Ming. Meanwhile, the Phantom locates Rick and L.J.
in the jungle. Ming, furious at being outwitted by two "helpless"
boys, stalks Marty and Kshin. Just before he corners them, the Defenders
arrive in Terry and foil the Merciless Ming's scheme to take over
the world. Kshin's paralysis wears off and Marty is made an honorary
Defender.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #144
Summary: Jedda falls for an alcoholic schoolmate and is nearly killed
by his dangerous behavior!
100 PROOF HIGHWAY
At school, Jedda is invited to a party by Eric, who freely admits
that, "Everything looks better with a little vodka". At first a
bit hesitant, Jedda eventually agrees -- she thinks Eric is cute
and exciting. Rick and L.J. warn Jedda to steer clear of the trouble-maker,
but she reminds them that they are neither her brothers nor her
father. At the party that night, Erick is dead drunk, and his best
friend Sam spikes Jedda's punch to "loosen her up". Confused and
dizzy, Jedda asks Eric for a ride home. On the way he passes out
at the wheel, with Jedda barely gaining control in time to avert
disaster. Jedda gives a repentant Eric a second chance and attends
a drag race with him. Disturbed by the drinking and dangerous driving,
she once again demands that Eric, secretly drunk, take her home.
This time they crash into a lake where Rick and L.J. must dive in
for a risky rescue. The incident finally opens Eric's eyes to his
alcoholism and he begins daily counseling, confident that although
sobriety is a tough road, it's worth it!
STORY
SYNOPSES: #145
Summary: A space alien uses a Time Freezer to steal millions of
dollars worth of jewels and gold.
THE TIME FREEZER
The Defenders attend an inter-galactic science convention in Monaco
which coincides with a junior magician's competition that Kshin
enters. Mandrake tells the boy the secret to opening locks through
telekenetic activity, a trick which he uses to win the competition.
When a big, roughhousing alien named Brutan steals a Time Freezer
device from Yonda, a soft-spoken scientist at the fair, and uses
it to rob the casino and local jewelry stores, Kshin is a suspect
in the robberies. Kshin, with Zuffy, set out to clear his name,
discovering from Yonda that Brutan plans to rob Fort Knox! They
inform the Defenders and our heroes arrive on the scene to discover
Brutan in the act. Using another version of his Time Freezer, Yonda
captures the thief.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #146
Summary: The Defenders have a new adversary as Ming's son, Prince
Kro-Tan, moleculizes Ming and plots to take over the Earth himself!
THE PRINCE MAKES HIS MOVE
Ming summons his son Kro-Tan to Earth, but instead the youngster
goes behind his father's back and plots to use the Defenders to
destroy Ming. Disguised as a handsome earthling, Kro-Tan befriends
Jedda, who shows him around Monitor. Unbeknownst to the young Defenders
the senior heroes fly to the defense tower to repair the highly
unstable moleculizer. Rick admonishes Jedda for bringing a stranger
into Monitor. When Jedda returns, Kro-Tan tells her that he is an
inhabitant of Mongo and that his destiny is to destroy Ming. Informing
her that Ming is in the defense tower he convinces Jedda to activate
the moleculizer. Kro-Tan then vanishes and materializes in the tower
just in time to see Ming moleculized. The older Defenders barely
escape before the tower is destroyed. The exultant Kro-Tan gathers
his father's molecules into a small vial -- and our heroes now have
a new adversary to fight.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #147
Summary: Prince Kro-Tan plans to harness energy from the Earth's
core to transport the planet to Mongo!!!
THE PRINCE TRIUMPHANT
With Ming moleculized, the Defenders take a break. Mandrake, Kshin,
Lothar and L.J. take a world cruise, the Phantom and Jedda wing
to Africa to help a friend, Rick concentrates on school and Flash
roams the galaxy. The quiet is deceptive, however, as Prince Kro-Tan
implements a plan to dupe a young scientist working in Africa, Tad
Walton, into aiding him to transport the Earth to Mongo! Jedda and
the Phantom learn of the scheme and call their fellow heroes to
the scene. Jedda manages to locate a bomb Kro-Tan hid on Tad and
attach it to a power booster. When she provokes Kro-Tan he detonates
the bomb, exploding the boosters necessary to his nefarious plan.
Undaunted, Kro-Tan affixes tiny mind-controlled bombs to the other
six heroes (sans Flash), thus blackmailing Jedda into returning
to Mongo, where he reveals plans to make her his bride!!!
STORY
SYNOPSES: # 148
Summary: The Defenders, unknowingly carrying Kro-Tan's mind bombs,
must rescue Jedda from Mongo before the slimy Prince makes her is
bride.
THE PRINCE WEDS
On Mongo, Prince Kro-Tan orders Jedda to marry him, or watch the
mind bombs planted on her fellow heroes explode at his very thought!
The Defenders search for her at Ice Station Earth, where they discover,
via an uneasy pact with Octon, Kro-Tan's plans of marriage and the
fact that an ancient pact dictates the evil Prince will receive
a weapon of ultimate power from the Weapon Masters of Beta Two as
his wedding gift. Jedda manages to warn the Defenders of the mind
bombs, while they discover that Kro-Tan's present will be a large,
indomitable robot. Flash, Mandrake and Lothar hide inside the gift,
descend upon the Prince of Mongo and rescue Jedda, while Rick and
L.J. fly in with Terry and disable the robot. While making their
escape, Terry is shot out of the sky and Kro-Tan teleports each
of the Defenders to different points on Mongo, pledging to track
them down individually and make them pay for their actions!
STORY
SYNOPSES: #149
Summary: Teleported to different areas of Mongo, the Defenders re-unite
and defeat Kro-Tan!
THE PRINCEšS ROYAL HUNT
Lothar and L.J., amidst the snowy wastes of Mongo, learn from Zorelda,
Kro-Tan's sorceress, of the Prince's plan to launch a missle towards
Earth so that the Defenders will surrender. While Mandrake, the
Phantom and Jedda are attacked by snowbeasts in the Arctic region,
Kshin and Zyffy are hunted by Zuffoid-killing robots and Flash and
Rick are chased through the streets by Frost People. Flash and Rick
hide inside the Beta Two ship, which carries the missil, as Lothar
and L.J. return at the same time as Mandrake, Jedda and the Phantom.
They discover they are too late to stop the launching of the ship.
Kro-Tan sends them into a deadly maze, then watches in horror as
Flash takes control of the ship and sends it and the bomb straight
towards Kro-Tan's throne room! He and Rick bail out in time to meet
the other Defenders -- sans Kshin and Zuffy -- and make a getaway.
The bomb blows Kro-Tan's palace (minus Kro-Tan) to smithereens,
but before they can celebrate they must locate the two youngest
Defenders -- before Kro-Tan does!!!
STORY
SYNOPSES: #150
Summary: Kro-Tan unintentionally unleashes an evil, immortal overlord
of unlimited power!!
THE PRINCE DETHRONED
In his frenzy to gain revenge against the Defenders, Kro-Tan gives
the molecules of his father to Zorelda, who uses them to unleash
Suramong, an evil ex-overlord of Mongo. Meanwhile our heroes locate
Kshin and Zuffy amongst a battalion of friendly zuffoids. Flash,
Mandrake, Lothar and the Phantom are transported to the palace dungeons
via Zorelda's magic powers, and there they find Kro-Tan, also locked
up by the evil Suramong. Flash and Lothar break out and steal a
ship to fly into space and locate the moleculizer they need to defeat
Suramong, while Rick, L.J. and Jedda wait outside the city with
Kshin and the zuffoids. When Flash and Lothar return, the powerful
Suramong snatches the moleculizer away from them and they appear
doomed. However, the young Defenders arrive with the one tool which
can defeat the evil beast -- zuffoids! Suramong is reduced to nothing,
reconstituting Ming, who promises to control his son.
STORY
SYNOPSES: # 151
Summary: While in Jamaica to attend a ceremony in Lothar 's honor,
the Defenders discover a cultist plot to control the townšs children
and seize power.
LOTHARšS HOMECOMING
The Defenders accompany Lothar to his hometown in Jamaica, where
the new childrenšs wing of a hospital will be dedicated in his honor.
While there, Dr. Barbeau informs then that a new wonder drug is
doing fantastic things for the children, but is difficult to obtain
because a mythical sea serpent has been stealing it. A cult, led
by Papa Duke, worships the serpent, and L.J.šs new friend, Felice,
tells him that her brother has joined. While spying on a ceremony
L.J. is captured and Felice escapes, but not before learning that
Papa Duke plans to lead the youth of the town on a campaign to seize
power from their elders. L.J. is forced to drink the breath of the
serpent, which gives him super-human strength and hypnotizes him
into following Papa Duke. L.J. kidnaps Kshin for a sacrifice while
Rick and Jedds search the water submarine for the monster. The Defenders
invade the cult and rally the town citizens to control the kids.
L.J. becomes his old self when the drug wears off, Kshin is rescued
and Papa Duke turns out to actually be Dr. Barbeau! Barbeau has
been operating a mechanical sea serpent and stealing the drug.
STORY
SYNOPSES: # 152
Summary: Ming kidnaps Rick and blackmails L.J. to sabotage Defender
activities, paving the way for the Evil One to conquer earth!
SUSPENDED SABOTAGE
While Rick and L.J. test out Rick's new invention -- a wave interference
device that scrambles any signal transmitted through the air --
Rick is kidnapped by Ming, who then places an implant on L.J.'s
head which will monitor his thought patterns. In exchange for Rick's
safety, Ming orders L.J. to sabotage Flash's spaceship the night
before our heroes plan to battle Ming's minions. During the fight
our heroes are forced to retreat to Monitor. Ming then forces L.J.
to divert the Defenders to South America while Ming invades New
York City. L.J. recovers Rick's wave-interference device and rescues
him. By the time the other heroes discover that L.J. is the saboteur,
L.J. is able to explain himself and inform the Defenders of Ming's
actual target. They arrive just in time to defeat the Merciless
One.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #153
Summary: The Beacon of the Eternals declares war on the Defenders
of the Earth, sending three mammoth, ominous robots to destroy our
heroes!
CALL OF THE ETERNALS
Ming sends a look-alike Defender ship to provoke the Beacon of the
Eternals -- a computer operated ship searching for a long lost benevolent
society -- which thereby releases its three Guardian Robots to retaliate
against our heroes. The Guardian Robots are the most powerful form
of robot in the known universe. When Flash destroys one of them,
its strength transfers to the other two, increasing the danger to
both the Defenders and the Earth. With one of the two remaining
robots hot on their tail, L.J., Kshin and Zuffy fly to New York
to retrieve Mandrake and Lothar, while Flash, Rick and Jedda lock
the third robot in a force (stasis) field surrounding Monitor. In
New York Mandrake defeats the second robot through a brilliant illusion.
However, this was Ming's plan. The final Guardian doubles in size,
draining Monitor of its power source and transforming itself into
an unbeatable machine. Rick conceives a plan which the Defenders
put into action -- a homing torpedo is outfitted with a mock signal
from the Eternals and launched into a black hole, thereby tricking
the Beacon into sending the final robot to investigate the signal.
The final robot is destroyed and our heroes and the Earth are safe
from Ming's grasp -- temporarily.
STORY
SYNOPSES: # 154
Summary: Dr. Dark returns to collect the three shards of the Orb
of Konos and gain control of the universe!
THE RETURN OF DR. DARK
Ming sets out to rule the entire universe by stealing the first
of the three shards of the Orb of Konos from the Yucatan rain forest.
At Monitor, Mandrake picks up telepathic signals from Mara, prompting
Rick's journey to the Well of Essence, where he finds her in a cocoon.
Dr. Dark locates the second shard with Ming, but in a confrontation
between the two the evil ex-shadow lord drains the crystal's power,
capturing it in his own body. Flash and Mandrake travel to a frozen
planet to recover the third shard, only to discover that Ming has
beat them to it. Back at Monitor Mara emerges from her cocoon, now
a shadow lord. The Defenders rush to the Amber Keep on Rylos --the
only place where the Orb of Konos can be reassembled -- to discover
that Dr. Dark has double crossed Ming and entered the Shadow Void
to become the supreme ruler of the universe. Mara enters Dr. Dark's
mind and prevents him from regaining control, thereby allowing the
Orb to take back the power he stole from it, and destroying the
evil warlock in the process. The Defenders escape the planet and
Mara stays to become the new shadow master, ensuring that no one
ever again splits the Orb of Konos.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #155
Summary: Rick Gordon fights his most difficult battle yet -- against
drugs.
THE DEADLIEST BATTLE
Rick feels the pressure that results from his efforts to live up
to Flash's reputation, and all aspects of Rick's life are suffering
-- school, personal and Defender work. A "friend" gives him a vial
of drugs which Kshin sees Rick take in an effort to better perform
when Ming, supercharged by an electrode machine, invades Monitor.
Because Rick forgot to activate the defense system, Flash must lead
Ming away from Monitor. Flash, along with the other senior Defenders,
is trapped under a subway tunnel which Ming collapses on top of
them. Back at Monitor Rick, under the influence of drugs and frustrated
at his inability to perform, throws a temper tantrum. Ming again
attacks Monitor and injures Kshin, forcing Rick to see the consequences
of the drugs he has taken. To vindicate himself, Rick leads Ming
through a Defender battle training exercise, driving the evil emperor
mad with simulated attacks. As his "supercharging" wears off, Ming
hallucinates as Rick, Jedda and L.J. drive him away from Monitor,
sending him fleeing back to Ice Station Earth. Kshin calls Rick
a hero, but Rick disagrees. Kshin is the hero for saying "NO" to
drugs.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #156
Summary: Ming plans to deliver Jedda Walker and her powerful Necklace
of Oros to an evil alien creature in return for the secret of gravity.
THE NECKLACE OF OROS
For her birthday Jedda enters the family treasure room of the Skull
Cave to choose her present. Influenced by the telekenetic powers
of Graviton, an evil alien of reptilian/humanoid form, she picks
the Necklace of Oros. Graviton then makes a deal with the evil emperor
from Ice Station Earth -- he'll turn over the secret of his anti-gravity
device when Ming delivers Jedda and the Necklace of Oros to him
which Graviton will use to rule his dimension. Ming creates an eleborate
amusement park to lure the young Defenders into his grasp, however
our teenage heroes are more powerful than Ming and Graviton estimate.
Back at Monitor Mandrake hypnotizes Jedda and she learns of the
history of Graviton -- he is an evil ruler from a cruel dimension
who needs the necklace to harness his vile power. Graviton then
invades Monitor himself, and subdues Flash and Mandrake before Jedda
inadvertently uses the necklace to compress time, sending Graviton
back to his strong-hold.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #157
Summary: Graviton returns to acquire the Necklace of Oros, nearly
causing the destruction of Earth!
TORN SPACE
The fabric of the universe is weak and stretching under the stress
of Graviton's bridge, and the evil alien must have the Necklace
of Oros if he is to survive. When the reptile/humanoid corners Jedda
in Monitor, demanding the powerful necklace, Ming uses the opportunity
to invade the Defenders' headquarters. An inter-dimensional rift
materializes above Monitor, threatening to destroy the world. Ming
stops his attack and makes a temporary peace agreement with the
Defenders, so they may join together and defeat Graviton. With Dynak
X hooked up to Octon, Rick reverses the polarity of Monitor's energy
generator, creating an energy flow which sends Graviton back to
his dimension, however he takes Jedda with him!!! Monitor's generator
is depleted of its power, leaving our heroes defenseless against
Ming --his plan all along! As Flash fights the invading robo-ships
in the sky, Rick finally repairs the generator, which powers the
defense lasers and defeats the attackers. Jedda is caught between
two dimensions and Rick and L.J. work together to reach into the
rift and pull her to safety.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #158
Summary: Ming's evil son, Kro-Tan, constructs a wall around Earth,
blocking out all sunlight and plunging Earth into perpetual darkness
and endless winter.
MING WINTER
Flash receives a distress call from Prince Barin, summoning him
to Mongo to save the planet from Ming's evil son Kro-Tan. Back at
Monitor our heroes uncover Ming's plan -- Kro-Tan has turned the
population of Mongo into slaves who mine the planet of Oceanite,
which is turned into slabs and used by Ming to encircle the Earth,
thereby blocking out all sunlight and plunging the planet into endless
winter. When L.J.'s foolish heroics against attacking robo-ships
backfire, the Defenders (sans Flash) counter-attack Ice Station
Earth. As Flash and Barin start a slave uprising on Mongo, L.J.
is seriously injured at Ming's headquarters, forcing our heroes
to surrender. On Mongo Flash and Barin destroy the transporter-computer,
breaking apart the oceanite wall and sending it crashing towards
Kro-Tan's home planet, while the other Defenders escape from Ming's
dungeon and rush back to Monitor to obtain much-needed medical help
for L.J.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #159
Summary: The powerful Necklace of Oros is once again the object
of desire for evil creatures of various dimensions, and Jedda's
life hangs in the balance.
THE GOLDEN QUEEN
Graviton returns to his cave on Easter Island to discover it ransacked
by Ming's minions. As Rick and the Phantom assist Jedda in testing
the Neckalce of Oros' power, they're horrified when she collapses
from the strain. Ming makes a pact with Hadea, goddess of the Underworld,
to maintain his anti-gravity device in the heart of Earth while
he seeks out Jedda's prized necklace. The Phantom, Rick and L.J.
take Jedda, who's in a coma, to Africa for medical assistance from
the Bandar tribe. While there, Hadea captures them and transports
them to her underground castle, where she takes the Necklace of
Oros from Jedda and replaces it with a counterfeit. Hadea and the
Phantom strike a deal -- Jedda's life for his hand in marriage.
Ming invades, snatching the young Defenders out of Hadea's hands,
however she throws a force field around her and her new king. Back
at Ice Station Earth, Graviton appears for the Necklace of Oros,
and Mandrake, Lothar and Flash for the young heroes...
STORY
SYNOPSES: #160
Summary: Ming, Graviton, and Hadea join together to fight the Defenders
-- each for their own evil purposes.
THE GOLDEN QUEEN PART II
At Ice Station Earth Ming imprisons Flash, Mandrake, Lothar, Rick
and L.J. in his ice dungeon and turns Jedda into a Frost Person.
Graviton arrives and is furious that Ming doesn't have the Neckalce
of Oros, like he promised. The Phantom breaks free from Hadea's
nether world, steals the necklace and invades Ming's headquarters,
but is quickly captured and the powerful piece of jewelry falls
into the evil emperor's hands. The Defenders escape and Hadea invades
Ice Station Earth prompting Ming to make a deal with Graviton and
Hadea -- the reptilian Graviton will get the Necklace of Oros and
the Golden Queen the Phantom, in exchange for help locating and
destroying the other Defenders. Rick and L.J. rescue Jedda and the
necklace and escape from Ice Station Earth on foot pursued by Garax.
Meanwhile, Flash evades his captors and steals a roboship. Graviton
and Hadea, because of Graviton's misuse of his power, are banished
to Graviton's desolate world. Ming begins to unleash his anti-gravity
device onto an unsuspecting Earth, however Jedda masters the power
of the Necklace of Oros and blows up the Mongoian emperor's control
room. Flash attacks Garax, saving the young heroes As Ice Station
Earth explodes from power overload, Flash, Rick, L.J. and Jedda
pick up Mandrake, Lothar and the Phantom. Jedda, believing the power
of the Necklace of Oros too great for mortals, destroys it. STORY
SYNOPSES:
#161
Summary: Three super-robots, disguised as humans, set out to rid
the universe of all robots!
FLESH AND BLOOD
Dask, Teek and Kala, the last of whom is a beautiful "woman", make
up the League of Flesh and Blood, an organization dedicated to ridding
the universe of all robots. They have infiltrated the work force
of a power plant run by robots. When the Defenders save the plant
from a Ming attack, Flash meets Kala and is instantly attracted
to her. When a chemical manufacturing plant falls under attack,
the Defenders rush to the scene where Flash publicly discovers that
Dask, Teek and Kala are actually robots! While the senior heroes
are defending the plant, Ming kidnaps Rick, L.J. and Jedda and takes
them to robot-operated but human controlled Moonbase Delta, where
he will distill their living elements and instill them into Dask,
Teek and Kala so they can operate the base and take over the Earth.
When the Defenders invade just prior to the operation, Ming flees
and the super-robots fight the super-heroes. As the main generator
overheats, Flash tells Kala that a heart is what makes someone human
and she responds by giving the Defenders time to escape before the
base explodes, destroying her and her evil robot companions. Flash's
sorrow is tempered by the knowledge that in the end Kala really
did become human.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #162
Summary: Ming schemes to melt the Polar Ice Cap and drown the entire
world!
THE DROWNING WORLD
Ming builds an underwater dam on the ocean floor, diverting the
warm water of the Japanese current to the Bering Sea and melting
the Polar Ice Cap. Investigating in the Arctic, Flash, Mandrake
and Lothar are shot out of the sky by Ming's roboships, and their
transmission is jammed by Ice Station Earth, preventing them from
calling for a rescue. While the young Defenders attempt to dam up
the rising Central City River, the Phantom flys out to locate the
stranded group in the Arctic. He arrives just in time to drive off
Ming's minions and save the trio. Meanwhile, Ming sets the second
phase of his plan into action, sending icebergs to all the major
cities of the world, causing major flooding. As the older Defenders
save San Francisco Bay from "attacking" icebergs, the young heroes
blow the underwater dam in the Japanese current. The temperature
returns to normal and the world is saved.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #163
Summary: Kshin's long lost grandfather resurfaces, leading the Defenders
on a search for the Lost City of Dreams!
THE ADOPTION OF KSHIN
During the court proceedings of Mandrake's adoption of Kshin, Hai,
an old Asian man, enters with proof that he Is the boy's grandfather.
Hai's return sparks Kshin's memory -- he was three years old and
with his parents on the search for the Lost City of Dreams when
the Dragon Queen attacked and his parents were killed. Mandrake
re-counts his introduction to Kshin in the streets of Singapore,
and the discovery of one half of a mysterious map on the boy. Hai
pulls out the other half, displaying the full directions to the
Lost City of Dreams. Kshin, Hai, Mandrake and Lothar decide to set
out on an expedition to locate the city. In Shanghai, the Dragon
Queen gets wind of the expedition and follows our group on its quest
-- through jungles, dangers and traps -- into the Lost City. Once
inside, the evil Queen captures our group and throws them into a
well. They escape and are aided by the rest of the Defenders in
defeating the Dragon Queen. However, in the process old Hai is killed.
His dying wish is fulfilled when Mandrake completes his adoption
of Kshin.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #164
Summary: When Ming takes advantage of L.J.'s immaturity, the young
Defender learns that if he wants to be treated like an adult, then
he's got to act like one.
STREET
SMARTS
In battle simulation with Jedda, L.J. refuses to take part -- he
thinks it is only "kid stuff". Flash transports Morlag, a lizard-like
leader of the rebellion on Mongo to Monitor, where Rick and the
Phantom will deliver from Peru the Sun Medallions necessary for
his people's fight to continue. Ming attacks the medallion base
in Peru, destroying all the precious Firestones which focus their
energy, then uses Octon to plant a virus program inside Dynak X
so he can invade Monitor and capture Morlag. Meanwhile Flash and
Kshin fly to an underwater volcano off the coast of Peru -- the
only other place to mine Firestones. When Ming attacks Monitor,
L.J. thinks it is only another battle simulation, so he doesn't
help when Jedda and Morlag are captured and taken away by Ming's
forces. When he discovers the truth, L.J. feels horrible -- prompting
him to invade Ice Station Earth and conduct his own rescue. Flash
and Kshin return with the Firestones, and L.J. learns a valuable
lesson about adulthood.
STORY
SYNOPSES: #165
Summary: Ming unfreezes ancient dinosaurs in the Alaskan tundra
and unleashes them on the world!
THE THUNDER LIZARDS OF MING
The Defenders fly to Alaska to inspect a dinosaur alert. While following
dinosaur tracks, Rick and L.J. discover that a long-dormant volcano,
with an artificial dome placed over it, is mysteriously heating
up. The senior Defenders and Jedda spot Ming and Garax, while the
Defenders are attacked by two Allosauruses! After a narrow escape
in a mountain cave, the group discovers Ming's evil scheme -- he's
used an earth drill to thaw out tens of thousands of beasts buried
in the frozen tundra, and is sending them out to destroy the cities
of the Earth! The young Defenders figure out how to work Ming's
drill, and use it to blow up the drilling station. The volcano explodes,
ripping off the dome, and the arctic climate returns --obliterating
the Valley of the Dinosaurs.
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