As Nighthawk settles into the ranks of the Defenders with a new costume, Valkyrie once more expresses her desire to leave the team to sort out her identity crisis. However, things are cut short when they are contacted by Professor Xavier, who is seeking aid to stop Magneto's most recent plot.
Traveling with Xavier to Magneto's hidden lair, the group ends up fighting his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and are captured. Breaking free, and fighting the Brotherhood again, they are too late to stop Magneto from awakening his most recent creation: Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant.
This issue debuts a newly color schemed costume for Nighthawk that contains a detachable jet pack.
This issue contains a letters page, Defenders Dialogue. Letters are published from Mark Del Vecchio, Brian Richards, Ed Farbarik, Mike Cruden, and Michael Verderosa. The letters page also contains a Series "A' Value Stamp #8 Captain America.