* Sub-Mariner rejoins Defenders this issue
Traveling to Atlantis, the Defenders are briefed by Lord Vashti as to the specifics of the device which is polluting Atlantis with radiation. As the Defenders travel to the location, inside the nuclear installment, The Presence and Red Guardian are exposing themselves to controlled radiation to turn themselves into pure nuclear beings.

While in New York, Valkyrie searches for the mysterious Lunatik, and has a brief battle with the vigilante, however Lunatik manages to escape. Back on the Russian coast, the Presence manages to set off a strong enough nuclear explosion to change him into a purely nuclear being.

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