Continuing my Defenders binge read, I read Defenders Epic Collection vol. 7: Ashes, Ashes reprinting Defenders #110-125 and Avengers Annual #11. Since Hellcat was apparently written out of the book toward the end of this TPB, I thought it would be a good time to read the Patsy Walker/Hellcat material from the Woman of Marvel Omnibus. So far, I've read Patsy Walker #119.

Although I tried to avoid a 40-year-old spoiler in my last post, the apparent character death from a few issues back is too central to this TPB to avoid. Nighthawk is the member who apparently died in the Cap/Defenders crossover shortly before this. All this leads to a multi-part story in the Squadron Supreme's world in which we learn that Earth-616 version of Kyle Richmond is still alive . . . no, dead . .  . no, alive . . . no, dead. It's a sendoff for Nighthawk that still leaves a door open. The story works in a recent villain who had seemed like a one-off, gives us more on the guy who was leading the investigation of Kyle, and manages to work in those psychics (including Kyle's old girlfriend Minday) into the story with an old FF villain called Overmind. In the end, Overmind (with the combined minds of the telepaths) returns with Defenders to become first a hanger-on and then a member. At the end, we also get a very weird Dr. Seuss tribute story.

J.M. DeMatteis is very good at doing stories that work self-contained single issues while advancing continuing plotlines. Oftentimes, these stories focus on a single member. I found Devil Slayer's previous backstory frustrating because he didn't have to address his past misdeeds. Defenders #110 is an unspoken but satisfying story that actually deals with this. Then, we get a story in #111 that puts a bow on some of the questions about Hellcat's past. Defenders #117 is a story that deals with the fallout of Overmind's bizarre transformation. He/she/they is one of the odder characters around, but seems to fade into the background and be written out the book without explicitly having an exit toward the end of this TPB. There's an awesome trippy solo Daimon Hellstrom story in #118.

The Patsy and Daimon arcs continue toward the end of the book, culminating in their wedding and apparent departure. With all these transitions out of the story, even long-time Defenders villain Nebulon gets apparent closure in Avengers Annual #11, written by DeMatteis.

Don Perlin handles the pencils in most issues. The quality differs based on the inker combination.

I remember hearing how the elf subplot from the Steve Gerber days abruptly and mysteriously ended. I didn't realize it actually was reprised a couple of times after long gaps. One of those times culminates in #125. Without giving away too much, it's basically a metafictional means to solidify some roster changes. Doctor Strange was the original leader/organizer of the Defenders. In the periods when he wasn't with the team, the core was Nighthawk as vocal but harried brain and Valkyrie as the heart of the team. Since the Beast was first brought into the book, DeMatteis has increasingly given him a central role. This culminates in his efforts to transform the Defenders from a non-team to an organized team. In a twist, his first recruitment effort fails. Then, the recently villainous Moondragon is an unwanted addition. As annoying as she is, she seems like a great foil, and there's a means of keeping her in check.

The additions of Iceman and Angel at the end seem a little forced, and I say that as an X-Men fan. Angel actually appears on the cover before he joins the team. The letter page essay from #125 (reprinted in the TPB) notes that DeMatteis grew up as a fan of the 60s X-Men. It seems like he found a way to become an X-Men writer in spite of the stranglehold Claremont had at the time. It's funny that I read a DeMatteis authored arc of Spectacular Spider-Man in 90s guest-starring the original X-Men. Professor Power was portrayed as an old enemy of Professor Xavier. I thought, "When did that happen?" It seems that Professor Power was the behind the scenes mastermind of the Cap/Defenders crossover, and then apparently became a villain in several MTU issues with X-Men guest stars by DeMatteis that I haven't read yet. It seems J.M. found a couple ways to indirectly dip in the X-Men pool.

Reading Patsy Walker #119 (from 1965) was an odd experience because I haven't almost no romance comics. It's interesting contrast from Patsy's portrayal in Defenders. IIRC, the canonical explanation (maybe from Englehart) was that the Patsy Walker comics were a fictionalized version of herself written by her mother in in-universe comic books. So she's gotten parents who together here in spite of her dysfunctional upbringing described in Defenders. In this story, she's awaiting the arrival of her boyfriend Buzz Baxter on furlough from the army. But in the pages of Defenders, Patsy is already divorced from Buzz (after her earlier Hellcat appearances) and he actually shows up as a supervillain the Defenders TPB!

I'll probably read a couple Hellcat solo stories in the Women of Marvel Omnibus before moving on to the next Defenders Epic Collection, but there's a shot I might mix something else into my reading.

Maybe I'll have to pick up a copy of Defenders #115 and read the opinions you shared with Defenders fandom.

As noted, I'm not well-read in the genre, but it seems much more like romance than teen humor to me. This issue was very close to the end of the series run. From the GCD, the cover logo changed to "The New Patsy Walker" in #116, and the Wikipedia article for the series reads that with #116, "the title switched from humor to become a young career-gal romantic adventure." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Walker_(comic_book)

The one I read (#119) has a plot in which Patsy Walker is suspected of cheating on her boyfriend Buzz who is serving in the military. To me, it felt like the story was being played for drama much more than for laughs.

The omnibus has one issue of Millie the Model, which I haven't read yet. The art for that comic looks very much like the Archie house style.

Superboy And The Legion Of Super-Heroes #245-#250

Picked back up on reading Legion after seeing them cameo in Williamson's current Green Arrow run, it's actually reallt nice getting back into this book. Like I've said before, it kind of feels like Star Trek mixed with Super Heroes. Also was NOT expecting that twist in #250

Batman Adventures: Nightwing Rising (DC, 2020)
This is an expanded version of Dick Grayson’s transformation into Nightwing (in the Batman Adventures/Animated Series universe). Various issues in The Lost Years adapt – if I’m recalling correctly – certain episodes of the animated series, while adding new material that covers the roughly two years Dick spent traveling around the world learning various types of martial arts and stealth techniques – kind of echoing the later retcons of Batman’s own origin story. While on this journey of learning and training, he foils a drug-smuggling plot by Two Face somewhere in South America (in issue #3) and then, upon returning to Gotham, retakes a sacred artifact stolen from a Tibetan monastery by Ra’s al Ghul’s men while he (Dick) was there (in issue #5).

(Dick bonking Ra’s while wearing the beta-version of his Nightwing togs)
I quite enjoyed this; it's fun, well-told and rendered all ages superhero action. And the book is a really nice package: digest format, with over 160 pages of story.
I would really like to read more of the Batman Adventures comics.
Hey DC – since I know they’ve got eyes on this forum – here’s a suggestion: Batman Adventures compendiums. Barring that, how about some fat, tankobon- or Archie-style (like 300-500 page minimum) digests?

I remember having that MTIO Thing/Hulk book. It had nice Joe Sinnott inks. Welcome to the forum nairb73 !