Sometimes, you get a Steve Gerber comic that’s almost too weird for Steve. “I think we’re all bozos in this book!” is such a story.
From last issue, Jack Norriss, Barbara Norriss’ husband, is in Nighthawk’s body, which in and of itself is pretty interesting since Barbara Norriss doesn’t exist anymore since her body is being occupied by Valkyrie. Val is looking over Jack’s comatose body and having an internal conversation that, in the 1970s, would normally be depicted with thought balloons. But since it’s dialog balloons, Dr. Strange can hear her and advises her to use bubbles not balloons. Kind of. Anyway, I thought it was kind of funny.
One thing about 1990s-2000s comics: All interior conversation was moved to boxes at the top of panels, if there is any at all. I think it’s because they were trying to make comics look like movie storyboards, and very few movies have voiceovers anymore. I don’t like it. I like the balloons.
Anyway, the enemy here is the godlike Nebulon, who is trying to be seen in a positive light by humans so he disguises himself as a glasses-wearing nebbish. Also, he put Headman Chondu’s brain in a deer. This is what I mean about weird Gerber.
At the same time, we see Hulk destroy a bystander’s home, and the guy is literally crying because he can’t afford to rebuild, and some regular humans call Dr. Strange a racist for treating Wong like a “Chinese slave.” Gerber had the ability to draw out the flaws in his characters, and even punch them up. It was one of the many really nice and interesting things about him-he wasn’t afraid of complexity in characters.
In the end, Nebulon zips off into the atmosphere–but it’s not clear whether he’s done with Earth or will be back. And then #35 has more body switching.
While the team is trying to save Kyle Richmond’s brain, Chondu the Headman gets his brain switched again, and now he’s a real monster with a unicorn head and tentacled arms. In the battle he hurts Valkyrie’s horse, Aragorn, and she nearly kills him.
At this point, Nighthawk’s brain is still in the wrong body, and lots of brains are still all switched around from The Headmen’s work. So Dr. Strange calls a famous Russian neurosurgeon, who happens to also be the new Red Guardian.
She’s able to save Nighthawk.
Meanwhile, the Headmen start to figure out that their plan went wrong.
And Nebulon gives up because, let’s face it, this whole story is ridiculous.
And at the end, a big final battle…
…With consequences: Valkyrie is arrested.
Nobody even tried to tell stories like Steve Gerber did.
This is part of the “Headmen” saga, which is the third-best Steve Gerber story ever.