Xenogenesis, Day of the Demons — Part 1: Agents of Fortune

THE DEFENDERS — Issue no. 58, January 1978

Book: The Defenders

Issue No.: 58

Published: January 17, 1978

Title: “Xenogenesis, Day of the Demons — Part 1: Agents of Fortune”

Cover Price: 35¢

Format: Digital scan

The biggest challenge in writing about this issue of The Defenders is its title. Because of the creative license afforded to the letterer (and you know I love comic book letterers!), the title is spread out in little bits — “Xenogenesis,” “Day of the Demons,” and “Part 1,” all appear in a small circle on page one. Then “AGENTS OF FORTUNE” appears in large block letters across the spread of pages two and three. And the credits for this issue also appear on the two/three spread. But there isn’t any explicit punctuation in the title as lettered, so just typing it out, I get “Xenogenesis Day of the Demons Part 1 Agents of Fortune” which is… not good. So I hope the creators of this now 45-year-old comic book will forgive me for taking some punctuational license with their verbose title — I didn’t want to lean too heavily on any one punctuation mark, so I added a comma, a colon, and an em dash.

The story opens with a dude (who appears to have a beak sticking out from his mask?) busting into Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum and, after a quick fight, stealing Strange’s talisman, the Eye of Agamotto.

Then Valkyrie (Asgardian super-gal) and Bruce Banner (alter ego of the Hulk) accompany Defenders sidekick/hanger-on “Dollar” Bill to the swanky Felix Club (I think it’s maybe supposed to be like a Playboy Club except with a cat theme instead of a bunny theme?) where a fight breaks out between Devil Slayer and this woman Vera. Banner Hulks out, and he and Valkyrie go after Devil Slayer, not realizing that Vera is a villain. In fact, she’s in league with the dude who stole Doctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto.

This being a Marvel comic book, it’s a safe bet that Devil Slayer, Hulk, and Valkyrie will team up to take on Vera and Beak Guy after they stop fighting. But before they stop fighting, Devil Slayer uses his magical cloak to teleport Hulk, Valkyrie, and himself into some alternate dimension. And that’s the last that we see of them, at least for this issue.

Finally, in a massive castle/temple in the jungles of Mexico, a cult (that includes Beak Guy) is doing a human sacrifice. Doctor Strange is magically watching from his Sanctum, and he’s kind enough to explain what all of this means. “… The demons who once ruled the earth — and their cult of followers — have returned to threaten life on this planet once again! The instrument that the Ancient One used to banish them centuries ago — the mystic Eye of Agamotto — is the means by which they shall end their exile! Thus have I failed my trust — and thus have I doomed the earth to suffer Xenogenesis — the rebirth of the demon race!”

Gotta love a story that ends with a synopsis, an explanation of the story’s title, and a cliffhanger all in one panel.

(Late-1970s pop culture reference alert! During the Felix Club brawl, someone is on the phone with the police and says, “Call Kojak for all I care! Just get these costumed jerks outta here!”)

(Continuity reference alert! One of the police officers who eventually shows up at the Felix Club comments, “Cripes! First Ms. Marvel — then Daredevil — and now this! I should transfer to a nice safe job — like the bomb squad!” An editor’s note indicates that the officer is referring to events shown in Ms. Marvel no. 10, Daredevil no. 144, and Amazing Spider-Man no. 175.)

Next time — The uncanny X-Men face Warhawk!