Appearing in "Countdown!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Cloud
- Seraph (Sonya Tolsky)
- New Mutants (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Mirage (Danielle Moonstar) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Cannonball (Samuel Guthrie) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Sunspot (Roberto Da Costa) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Karma (Xi'an Coy Manh) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Nick Fury
- Stein
- Candy Southern
- Dolly Donahue
Antagonists:
- Secret Empire
- Professor Power (Anthony Power)
- Mad Dog (Robert Baxter)
- Number Eighty-Two (First appearance)
- Number Forty-One (First appearance)
- Number Sixteen (First appearance)
- Number Four (First and only known appearance; dies)
- Number Six (First appearance)
- Mutant Force
Other Characters:
- Roxxon Oil (Mentioned)
- Nth Command (Mentioned)
- Sassafras
- Porcupine (Alexander Gentry) (Mentioned)
- Colonel Rodian Razumihin
- R2-D2 (Mentioned)
- The Bowery Boys (Mentioned)
- Huntz Hall (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- New Mexico
- New York State (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Westchester (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Westchester (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Virginia Smokies
Items:
Synopsis for "Countdown!"
The Defenders battle the New Mutants, but Moondragon reveals it to be a simulation created by the Secret Empire in an effort to brainwash them into killing Xavier’s students. The Defenders, particularly Moondragon, continue to resist the programming, which upsets Professor Power. The Professor plans to launch a cloaked satellite into orbit that will beam subliminal messages to both the USA and USSR, heightening tensions between the two nations. This will result in World War III, in which the Earth will be devastated while the Secret Empire hides underground, ready to take over once the planet becomes habitable again. Meanwhile, Nick Fury meets with Colonel Rodian Razumihin of Soviet Intelligence about the problem. Candy Southern worries about the Angel’s whereabouts and is comforted by Dolly Donahue. Seraph is revealed to be a Soviet spy and helps Cloud to escape. The Defenders also escape when Gargoyle transfers their life-energies into Moondragon, who uses it to mentally overload the device keeping them prisoner. The Defenders rush to stop the launch of Power’s satellite and battle Mad Dog and the Mutant Force again, while Valkyrie and Moondragon grab onto the rocket containing the satellite as it launches.
Solicit Synopsis
It's the beginning of the end of the Secret Empire Saga, as the New Defenders - aided and abetted by Cloud and the mysterious Seraph - try to stop Professor Power's plans to topple both the United States and the USSR! It's not as simple as it sounds, though - not when the New Defenders must also battle the New Mutants - sort of!
