Defenders Vol 1 25

Defenders Vol 1 #25 Published July, 1975 Cover Artist Gil Kane Frank Giacoia John Romita Danny Crespi "The Serpent Sheds Its Skin" Writer Steve Gerber Penciler Sal Buscema Inker Jack Abel Colourist Petra Goldberg Letterer Ray Holloway Editor Len Wein Previous Issue Next Issue Defenders #24 (story) Giant-Size Defenders #5 (series) Defenders #26

Valkyrie	Mr. Cage -- STOP! Another blow could kill him!
Luke Cage	Now ain't that a coincidence? That's just what I was hopin'! A crud like him doesn't deserve to live.

Appearing in "The Serpent Sheds Its Skin"

Featured Characters:

• Defenders
  •  Yellowjacket 
  • Dr. Strange
  • Hulk
  • Valkyrie
  • Nighthawk
• Son of Satan
• Power Man (Luke Cage)
• Daredevil

Supporting Characters:

• Jack Norriss
• Clea

Antagonists:

• Sons of the Serpent
  • J.C. Pennysworth

Other Characters:

• Elf with a Gun (First appearance)
• Daimon Hellstrom's horses
  • Set
  • Hecate
  • Amon
• mob
• Tom Pritchett (Only appearance; dies)^[1]
• Linda Pritchett (First appearance)

Locations:

• New York City
  • Manhattan
    • Greenwich Village
      • Stephen Strange's Mansion
    • Lower Manhattan
• California

Items:

• Orb of Agamotto
• Eye of Agamotto
• Cloak of Levitation
• Yellowjacket's Bio-Disruptor Gun
• Son of Satan's Trident
• Dragonfang

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Serpent Sheds Its Skin"

Son of Satan and Power Man are transported via Clea's magic and the Eye of Agamotto to the location of the captured Defenders, and free them from captivity. Meanwhile, a blind Hulk and Daredevil continue to battle the Sons of the Serpent to save Valkyrie, with the help of Jack Norriss. During the fight, the Hulk's vision returns and DD and Jack manage to battle the Serpents into retreat, and save Valkyrie.

In a California trailer park, an Elf with a Gun kills a young couple.

Meanwhile, exploring the Serpents' base, the other Defenders find a secret passage leading to the office of J.C. Pennyworth, Kyle Richmond's aide, and discover evidence that proves Pennyworth has been using the Richmonds' fortune to fund the Serpents. Confronting Pennyworth, and asking him why he'd join a white supremacist group when he's black, he explains that he was trying to "escape" his own people. After confronting Pennyworth, the group then dismantles the rest of the Sons of the Serpent. However, it is a sour victory for Nighthawk, who flies away after the battle.

Notes

• Cover art: Hulk and Power Man heads by Romita.

• This issue contains a letters page, Defenders Dialogue. Letters are published from G.C. Hoover, Michael Blake, and Brian Murphy.

See Also

• Write your own review of this comic!
• Discuss Defenders Vol 1 25 on the forums
• 4 Images from Defenders Vol 1 25
  

Links and References

• The Defenders: Grand Comics Database [1]

Footnotes