Appearing in "War Below the Waves!"
Featured Characters:
- Hawkeye (Clint Barton)
- Defenders
- Valkyrie
- Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie) (Controlled by Red Ghost)
- ⏴ Hulk (Bruce Banner) ⏵
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Attuma's Barbarian Horde
- Giant Squids
- ⏴ Attuma ⏵
- Giant Crabs
- Dolphins
- Worta
- Grokko (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed members
- Red Ghost (Ivan Kragoff)
Other Characters:
- Barbara (Possessed by Valkyrie)
- Millie the Model (Referenced)
- Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) (Mentioned)
- Enchantress (Mentioned)
- Avengers (Only in recap)
- Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) (Only in recap)
- Vision (Only in recap)
- Black Panther (T'Challa) (Only in recap)
- Thor (Only in recap)
- Imus Champion (Only in recap)
- Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) (Only in recap)
- Daredevil (Matt Murdock) (Only in recap)
- Zzzax (Only in recap)
- Charlie Tuna (Mentioned)
- Shuma-Gorath (Referenced)
- Jarvis (Vision or hallucination)
- Vashti (Mentioned)
- Neptune (Invoked)
- Bert Parks (Referenced) (Topical Reference)
- Dorma (Mentioned)
- Numerous unnamed Atlantic City beach-goers
- Mary Beth (First appearance)
- Dr. Jennings (First appearance)
- Mrs. Jennings
- Nathaniel Omen (Mentioned)
- Red Ghost (Ivan Kragoff) (Vision or hallucination) (Behind the scenes)
- Spock (Mentioned)
- Robin Hood (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Mutant Atlantean-Human Hybrids
- Asgardians (Main story and flashback)
- Tigers (Referenced)
- Baboons (Mentioned)
- Synthezoids (Only in recap)
- Tuna (Mentioned)
- Faltine Hybrids
- Atlanteans
- Snails (Mentioned)
- Giant Squids
- Crustaceans
- Dolphins
- Angels (Referenced)
- Winged Horses
- Dogs (Mentioned)
- Apes (Mentioned)
- Pigs (Invoked)
Locations:
- Earth-616 (Main story and recap)
- Earth (Main story and recap)
- North America (Main story and recap)
- United States of America (Main story and recap)
- New York (Main story and recap)
- New York City (Main story and recap)
- Manhattan (Main story and recap)
- Avengers Mansion (Main story and recap)
- Greenwich Village
- Manhattan (Main story and recap)
- New York City (Main story and recap)
- California (Only in recap)
- San Francisco (Only in recap)
- Black Widow's North Shore Mansion (Only in recap)
- San Francisco (Only in recap)
- New Jersey
- New York (Main story and recap)
- United States of America (Main story and recap)
- Crypts of Kaa-U (Referenced)
- Atlantic Ocean
- North America (Main story and recap)
- Earth (Main story and recap)
- Earth-73847 (First appearance) (Vision or hallucination)
- Earth (Vision or hallucination)
- Atlantic Ocean (Vision or hallucination)
- Atlantis (Vision or hallucination)
- Atlantic Ocean (Vision or hallucination)
- Earth (Vision or hallucination)
Items:
- Hawkeye's Bow
- Trick Arrows
- Explosive Arrow
- Ebony Blade
- Black Widow's Gauntlets (Only in recap)
- Daredevil's Suit (Only in recap)
- Panther Habit (Only in recap)
- Mjolnir (Only in recap)
- Cloak of Levitation (Referenced)
Vehicles:
- Infra-World (Mentioned)
Synopsis for "War Below the Waves!"
Running into Hawkeye in the streets, the Defenders engage in a brief battle with the bowman, until it's realized that they're all on the same side. Explaining his recent troubles and leaving the ranks of the Avengers, Hawkeye likes the idea of the Defenders, and asks to join them.
Traveling to Dr. Strange's Sanctum, they are informed by Wong that Strange is not home. There they are visited by one of Namor's followers who informs them that Attuma is going to attack the surface world. Going to the beach where Attuma is launching his attack, the Defenders are deserted by the Hulk who does not wish to go into the water.
The group is captured along with marine biologist Prof. Jennings. Taken aboard Attuma's ship they are separated from Namor, and learn that Attuma is working with the Red Ghost, and that they plan to use the Ghost' knowledge of cosmic rays and Jenning's marine biology expertise to create a cosmic powered aquatic army to take over Atlantis. Val and Hawkeye manage to break out of their cells, however just before they can attack the Red Ghost, he sends Namor (who has been brainwashed) against them.
Notes
- As of this issue, Defenders becomes a monthly title.
- Script (story pages): plot by Englehart, script by Englehart pages 1-7 and Wein pages 8-19.
- This story is a continuation of the Hulk and Hawkeye's adventure in Incredible Hulk #166.
- As seen on page one, this issue is Story#1449-Z.
- This issue contains a letters page, Defenders Dialogue. Letters are published from Brian Earl Brown, Sgt. David Hull, and Curtis Collins.
- This issue also features a full page ad for Supernatural Thrillers #5.