The Mighty Doc Stalwart #250 (January, 1984)
80-page 250th Issue Giant: It’s the End of the World As We Know It
Summary:
Part 1
Doc is summoned to meet with Dr. Madelyn Munroe, a leading researcher into the Null Zone. She reveals that she has been in contact for some time with someone in the Null Zone. Doc hopes it might be his lost wife, and Dr. Munroe believes it is not; there are no signs that she has survived after going there (in issue 239). But, it is definitely someone friendly and helpful. She and this entity have developed a close bond, and he is going to come through, as the barrier between realms is breaking down. The Emissary comes through and reveals that an entity called Null is coming. He says that there is only one way to stop him. He helps Doc and Madelyn to build a machine that will stop Null by gathering Null energy. They work together and set it up, but it seems to fail; Null comes through. Emissary reveals that he has playing them as fools; they have just created the portal for Null to cross over.
Part 2
A call goes out to all heroes. We see Messenger donning gear to join the battle. He arrives in Meridian to find things in full pitch; Doc and others heroes battle Null and his Void Hounds. The battle goes poorly. The heroes are falling. Suddenly, a cadre of villains arrives to help. Even Simian Prime sides with Doc Stalwart, saying that there will be no world to rule if Null is victorious. They agree to work together for this day only.
One-by-one, heroes and their villain allies begin to fall. Destruction rains down on large chunks of the city. In the chaos, Doc holds up a bridge to keep it from collapsing. After saving many innocents, Doc pulls Dr. Munroe aside, asking if they can use the machine they created again. Dr. Munroe asks what he has in mind.
Part 3
Doc rejoins the battle, pulling the Emissary to the side. As they fight, Doc tells him he can still change his ways. Doc explains that he knows how to win this fight, but he will need the Emissary’s help. He can still redeem himself. He asks Emissary to join him. He offers his hand.
Cut back to the main fight. Null stands over the fallen foes. Simian Prime faces him in a huge battle mech, but Null destroys it, admiring Prime’s intellect and inventiveness. But, he claims, even that is not enough to overcome Null’s limitless power.
Doc calls to Null. There is one more trick up their sleeve. He activates the device, and through steps Ro the Ravager alongside the Voice of Ro.
Part 4
The Voice demands to know why Ro has been summoned, and Doc says that he wishes to seek adjudication. A crime against the galaxy is being committed, and Ro must judge. There is a pause. The Voice reveals that Ro will hear the case. Doc explains that Null has no right to rule this realm, or to draw it into the Null Zone. The Voice offers to let Null speak. Null claims that he is a god, and needs make no case before lesser beings. There is another pause. The Voice says that Ro has decided. He judges against Null. Null goes to attack, but Ro speaks; As he does so, he pushes Null backwards, and the heroes re-open the barrier to the Null Zone. The Emissary calls to Madelyn – he is sorry. He asks if she will help him close the barrier; she agrees; he transfers part of his power to her, turning her into a second Emissary. They work together to seal the portal from both sides, after a deeply wounded Null has been forced through; Emissary the first dies, sacrificing himself to close the barrier. The Voice of Ro says that mankind will soon be judged as well. Then, he and Ro are gone. Madelyn, now transformed into the second Emissary, says that she must stop Ro from judging man. She leaves to follow his trail. The villains flee, and Simian Prime tells Doc that this is the only time they will ever part as something other than enemies.
Epilogue
Doc packs his bags. He is leaving Meridian. He has realized that his presence brings danger for the people here. He is a target, and (in this case), the people were collateral damage. He cannot allow that to happen again. He is going to move his research and facilities to the North Pole, away from where innocent lives can be harmed. He reveals that he has been working on the Citadel of Tomorrow – it has been up and running for five years, actually – and he will be moving there immediately. The last images are of him flying away from Meridian for good; the final panel is the city after he has flown out of the frame.
First Appearances: Null the Vanquisher; Emissary I; Emissary II
Historical Notes: In the press tour before this issue, Byron John (in speaking to the Comics Herald Magazine), said, "we want to clean up and focus a bit. The story of Doc and his world is rich and wide - and one of my goals is to focus in a little. So, 250, will, I guess... let's just say that seems like a great opportunity to honor what's come before, clean up some of Doc's history, and set the foundation for the next 250 issues".
These cryptic words prefaced the largest death toll in Doc's history: 5 villains and 2 heroes met their ends in this issue, including the Clockwork Killer, Sibilance, and relative fan favorite hero Antigen, who completed his complicated character arc by sacrificing himself for others, proving himself a hero and not a villain (and resolving an ongoing debate in the letters column).
This would be Byron John's last Doc Stalwart issue; he later said, "I told the story I wanted to tell. I didn't have much left to say after 250 - and I decided to turn the book over to young blood."
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