Writers: Jo Duffy & Kurt Busiek Artists: Ivan Reis(p), Jose Pimental(i) Publisher: Marvel
Plot: We find out to whence the Defenders were zapped and watch the Order become chaotic.
This is easily the best issue of the series. The A.I. pink bunny mascot despite being programmed to be chipper cannot find any good in the current situation, and Val's parents come off a bit more human as they worry over their daughter's safety. Dialogue is often hilarious. Namor calls we landlubbers "surface monkeys."
Meanwhile the combined efforts of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the New X-Men of Grant Morrison, Daredevil and of course Spider-Man leads to tres cool super-hero scenes involving the preparation of battle. The conglomerate of heroes also allows Ivan Reis to contribute an impressive two page spread of the heroes facing the Order.
Still meanwhile, the Defenders find themselves on Yann. Here Ms. Duffy and Mr. Busiek think out the ramifications of the Defenders' powers. The attack on Namorita makes perfect sense, and it just hit me thanks to Ivan Reis' artwork where I've seen Ardina before. I suspect, the continuity-savvy Mr. Busiek is behind her appearance.
The writers earn bonus points for including a scene involving the "healing indigo ray" as well as more laugh instilling dialogue which describes the back plot between two of Yann's heroes. The scientist supreme's translator literally translates. So he keeps calling his companion Pamela "Romantic Objective Pamela."
