Defenders Epic Collection, Vol. 6: The Six-Fingered Hand

Defenders Epic Collection #6

by J.M. DeMatteis, Mike W. Barr (Contributor), Mark Gruenwald (Contributor)

Collects Defenders (1972) #92-109; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #101; Captain America (1968) #268.

The greatest non-team in comics gets the Epic treatment! J.M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin take Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Nighthawk, Hellcat and the Son of Satan on wild adventures into the occult — and against each other! These weird tales begin with a broken Eternity; evolve to include demons, Dracula and the Devil-Slayer; and culminate in a double-sized issue #100 extravaganza! If the Defenders can't prevail, it'll be hell on Earth — literally! Known as "The Six-Fingered Hand Saga," this is one of the most compelling Defenders adventures of all time. Plus: Captain America teams up with the non-team in hopes of staving off the beginning of World War III. And witness the shocking death of a Defender!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Comic Book

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2016

About the author

Also Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally

Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.

Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.

Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.

Reviews

[Cameron H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wizard, a demon hunter, a Valkyrie, a gargoyle, and the literal son of Satan. I had no idea The Defenders were so Metal.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Piece of Eternity is Missing" (#92) is one of J.M. DeMatteis' more delightful stories, because it mixes together super heroics and weird fantasy with a very human story.

Sadly the story at the heart of this volume, the "Six-Fingered Hand" (#94-100) isn't nearly as successful. That's in large part because it suffers from monster-of-the-week syndrome. For the first five issues, the Defenders go to a distant place, fight a no-name demon, and interact with a supernatural guest story. Back in the day it might have been surprising to see characters like Hellstrom, Demonslayer, Ghost Rider, Dracula, and the Man-Thing interacting with the Defenders (and joining them in some cases), but today these issues feel like they've been standardized within an inch of their life. Things improve with the last two issues when we get better continuity, a look at the true foe, a grouping of some of the more famous Marvel demons, and some solid repercussions for some of our cast. But there's still a lot of dull fighting in the double-sized 100th issue.

In contrast, the single issues that follow (#101-106) are The Defenders at its best. We get numerous personal stories, about Nighthawk, Gargoyle, Demonslayer, and others. They each go to the hearts of the characters, and they also carry forward the overall narrative. Meanwhile, we get some of the delightful Defenders guest stars, such as Daredevil joining for an issue and The Baest signing up for a much longer stint. It's this character-based, arc-based storytelling that made The Defenders great.

I believe that #107 was the first Defenders comic that I ever read, and it's a pretty great one. As the non-team reels at the death of one of their own, they're suddenly confronted with another, offered off-handedly at the hands of a mook loser from the previous arc. It's electrifying. But the whole Valkyrie arc (#107-109) is great, including visits to totally unheard of places and a massive and intriguing change for the heroine.

Though the central tale of this volume is a bit weak, overall the issues in this epic collection are Defenders gold that hold up quite well over time.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book kicks off with the title epic and it's a killer. Maybe the best Defenders story I've read.* Really loved that one. Great looking too. Joe Sinnott inking Don Perlin. It's better than you think. Published in the early 80's but it's got Bronze Age written all over it. It's groovy baby.

The remainder of the book is no slouch either. The Valkyrie/Brunehilde/Barbara Norris story is finally resolved, after over 100 issues.

All told this is top-notch, must read Defenders. Can nearly say I loved every minute of it. It took me a couple of issues to get into it but once I did I pretty much wolfed this down, nearly in one very long sitting. A really great reading experience.

*At least a contender in the top 3: First appearance, Avengers-Defenders War, and Defenders: Indefensible.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

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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[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a tough one for me to review but overall for a team full of heroes I knew nothing about I still had a good time with this volume.
The volume opened with a team up story that focused on Nighthawk (who I confused with Darkhawk for the first few pages 😅) and is pretty vital to a lot of what happens in the later issues of this volume. This got me up to speed with who Nighthawk was but I wish I had more issues to really care about who he was. This was one of my biggest hurdles of the volume, I just didn't care a ton about Nighthawk and his story impacted the Defenders the most to me. Hellcat and Damian also have a lot face time in these issues and I was more interested in learning about their struggles and character traits. I'm also a fan of Valkyrie but once again having jumped into this volume first before reading early defenders the last story had me a bit lost on her convoluted body situation.
Outside of that I really enjoyed the issues involved with the title of the book. The Six-Fingered hand brings the team all across the globe and brought in some great guest spots. It was great to see ghost rider in an epic but Dracula was definitely my favorite guest appearance. The reveal at the end of the story was fun and I find writers can usually just use Doctor Strange to solve any problems but here he created more than solved 😂
The back half of the volume still had some decent stories but I was definitely less invested but it was nice to see characters like Beast and Daredevil show up but the stories they were in fell a little short. I liked the Crystal world Beast,Mr. Fantastic, and Dr Strange went in was cool looking but I hadn't read the Avengers issue leading to it. The story that lead to a death of a Defender had a cool start but I didn't like where it ended up and didn't like the design of the minions.
Overall I would say for all my issues I still enjoyed what I read. This volume was weird in fun ways and overall trying to do creative mystic/demonic type things we don't see as much in other marvel books. I definitely will check out more Defenders but it seems like a book I might enjoy in smaller doses. It may just have been the way DeMatteis writes these characters but they are all very wordy characters with a lot to say and theres usually a bit of sci fi world building to explain. Solid volume, haven't read other Defenders volumes to compare but I'd say on its own if you at least enjoy Doctor Strange style stories this is definitely worth the pick up. I definitely am really interested in the Geber run whenever that gets published

[Joe Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This truly was an Epic Collection of great Bronze Age stories all written by the peerless JM DeMatteis. As per the title, this graphic novel recounts the Defenders' "Six-Fingered Hand Saga", which culminates with issue 100. What really makes this book swing with that Merry Marvel Marching Society beat is that all of the after effects and continuing storylines are also included. This is classic DeMatteis story work fully on display as his style and skills start to explode.

Most of the art is provided by Marvel mainstay Don Perlin, a Bullpen-er whose able work was completely in-line with the Marvel house style of the 80s. At times, his art and layouts truly shine as Don shows that he is master draftsman. Other times? The art is merely adequate. Outside of Joltin' Joe Sinnott's finishes, there is an inconsistency with an influx of inkers. Certain issues only have Don providing layouts - as he was most assuredly working on other titles simultaneously. However, the reproduction in this collection is gorgeous to view.

Altogether? This truly is a must read for any fan of the Defenders or late-Bronze Age Marvel. Excelsior! And 'Nuff Said, too!

[Brian Ingram · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Nice to fill in a missing part of my childhood, issue 96 (the third of the 18 issues in this collection), was one of my first comics, and I always wanted to read the rest of the Six-Fingered Hand Saga. Overall, the writing ranged from meh to pretty good. The art was mostly atrocious, to the point of distracting. Sinnott inking Perlin, which is most of the work, is just terrible. I'm fan of Perlin later in the series, but I've never liked Sinnott's lines. Incredibly inventive layouts and demonic creations whenever magic or hellish creatures are involved though, great work by Perlin. The Bingham art on the Marvel Team-Up issue, as evidenced by the cover, could have been amazing, but it was inked by Colletta. The best part of the collection is definitely the Michael Golden covers throughout, he's a legend for a reason. 3 stars, which is a bit higher than it deserves, for finally finding out what the Six-Fingered Hand was about, and also, a great price for so many issues.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the Six-Fingered Hand saga didn't really work for me. We do see where Gargoyle originated from--an old man named Isaac Christians who makes a demonic pact in order to save his town--and eventually becomes a superhero. Damion Hellstrom goes on a quest to win back the favor of his father, Satan, which culminates in him holding a rock over a baby about to smash the child in order to win over his father. Thankfully, he decides not to.

I enjoyed it more after issue 105 when Captain America, Spiderman, and the Beast show up at random intervals.

[Cristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love those 80s Marvels, especially when they're written by J.M DeMatteis. There's a lot of whacky stuff in here, for sure. But also a surprising amount of horizontal plot-building and character development for every member of the team. DeMatteis manages to explore interesting psychological and spiritual questions while pretending to just write superhero adventure stories. Dark and existential at times, but still aware of itself through irony and humour, the easily accessible material in this collection comes very close to perfect genre storytelling.

[Jimbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

J M DeMatteis did find the spark of who and what the Defenders are. It was great that they brought together the entire group plus some help from Daredevil and the Beast.

These stories actual felt as if there were consequences, which is what I realized felt missing in the last two books (Marvel Masterworks Defenders vol. 7 and 8).

Worth reading this Epic Collection.

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goofy, Satanic fun from J.M. DeMatteis. The art is up and down but the this PG ride into the dark side of the Marvel Universe rarely disappointed. The Six Fingered Hand plotline, with it's Ghost Rider, Man Thing and Dracula guest stars, was a particular delight.

[Matt Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has some of the best Defenders stories ever written. The writing art and creativity in this run is something great this era is when Marvel comics started to mature. Hellstrom, Nighthawk, Beast and Hellcat had the best arcs in here. 1981-1982. 9/10

[Gary Fortuin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection. Some of the finest writing and plotting you’ll come across in comics.

[Al McCarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

J.M. DeMatteis brings the crazy. Joe Sinnott emboldens Don Perlin’s pencils.

[Zack! Empire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really great example of how the current "writing for the trade" comics could improve in a lot of ways. We've got a continuous story here, the Six Fingered Hand, that unfolds over the course of several issues, but those issues are one and done stories. It's not one long story that starts in issue "one" and ends in issue "six", it's several different stories that have elements and plot points carrying over. Reading it for that very reason felt like a breath of fresh air.
The actual story itself is pretty good as the Defenders deal with some mysterious group manipulating things from behind the curtain. They can't seem to get a line on who the villain is, because they are always using lackeys. So, rather than the usual punchy mcpunchalot, we get some interesting stuff with Doctor Strange using his magical skills to try and get some leads, and his fellow Defenders using some detection skills. The Defenders are a very different group from the Avengers or the Fantastic Four, so I really appreciate their stories being handled differently.
I had never heard of Don Perlin before this book, but I'm definitely a fan now, specifically when Joe Sinnott is inking! Don's art isn't too flashy, but he has a real talent for facial expressions, and this book has hundreds of demons, none of whom look alike!
Overall, a really great read and I can easily see myself getting another Defenders Epic Collection.

[Hari Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite comic book when I was a kid, even before X-men. It still holds up pretty well, 30 years later.