Appearing in "On Death and Dying..."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Kyle Richmond (Mentioned)
- August Masters (Mentioned)
- Satan (Only in flashback)
- Odin (Invoked)
- Ancient One (Yao) (Only in flashback)
- ⏴ Thor ⏵
- ⏴ Hawkeye (Clint Barton) ⏵
- Daredevil (Matt Murdock)
- Power Man (Luke Cage)
- Dolly Donahue
- Barbara Norriss (Only in recap)
- Love
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Asgardians
- Mutants
- Human-Demon Hybrids
- Demons (Only in flashback)
- Atlantean-Human Hybrids
- Zenn-Lavians
- Undying Ones (Only in recap)
- Abstract Entities
Locations:
- Earth
- United States of America
- China (Only in flashback)
- Asgard
Items:
- Cloak of Levitation
- Eye of Agamotto
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield
- Dragonfang
- Cat Suit
- Daredevil's Suit
- Hellstorm's Trident
- Mjolnir
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Hawkeye's Suit and Bow
- Rose of Purity
- Power Cosmic
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "On Death and Dying..."
The Defenders have little time to react to Nighthawk’s death when Valkyrie is seemingly killed by a missile fired by one of August Masters’ soldiers who survived the explosion that destroyed Masters' base. Hellcat is devastated by the loss of her two best friends. Son of Satan points out that the Defenders have fought against Satan--and if a Prince of Evil exists, then so must a Lord of Love--which means their friends' spirits are in good hands. Dr. Strange also tells a story about his master, the Ancient One, who treated the death of a longtime servant as if it were meaningless because he saw death as simply exchanging one form for another. Dr. Strange, Son of Satan, and the Beast and his girlfriend Vera leave for the funeral, which is also attended by Captain America, Daredevil, Thor, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, Power Man, the Hulk, Sub-Mariner, and the Silver Surfer. Unable to say goodbye to her friends, Hellcat remains at home, where she sees what appears to be Valkyrie’s ghost. Meanwhile, in Asgard, the Enchantress seeks the aid of Karnilla in locating the fabled Rose of Purity. Back on Earth, Spider-Man, Hulk, and Sub-Mariner return from the funeral with the other Defenders. Dr. Strange uses Dragonfang to hold a séance to summon the ghost of Brunnhilde the Valkyrie, who reveals that she is not really dead because it was only the body of her mortal host, Barbara Norriss, that was killed. Brunnhilde’s immortal spirit is trapped in limbo unless it can be restored to its’ original body, which was banished to Nifflehim by Hela. Suddenly, Brunnhilde’s spirit is absorbed into Dragonfang, which is now in the hands of the Enchantress. The Asgardian sorceress declares that the Defenders will do her bidding if they ever want to see Valkyrie again.