Death-Song of Destiny!

As Dr. Strange waits in a subway station, he witnesses an accident that results in a young harmonica player falling on the tracks. Instead of letting him save her, she insists that he rescue her harmonica. When she is hit by a subway train, she explodes into a shower of sparks. These sparks bathe all who are present. Taking the girls harmonica, Dr. Strange realizes that it is mystical in origin and he and Clea rush off to figure out what purpose it has.

Later, the Thing gets a call from Mrs. Coogan, whose grandson was another witness to the accident. Duffy Coogan is wracked with fear after the accident. Thing agrees to go and see her son. Meanwhile, Dr. Strange discovers that the girl was really Destiny and that everyone who was exposed to the sparks is in danger. Dr. Strange then rushes out to prevent the danger posed to all.

Visiting the home of Renee and Sheldon Goldenberg, Dr. Strange saves Sheldon from becoming a faceless person. Going to the next person brings Strange into contact with Duffy Coogan and the Thing. The energy from Destiny manifests in a sewer rat which grows into giant proportions -- The personification of Duffy's fear of poverty. The Thing then teams up with Dr. Strange and they both defeat the rat, restoring it to normal.

Telling the Thing of his mission, Ben agrees to help Dr. Strange out and they both travel back to Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, where they are told by Clea that Valkyrie had come to take the harmonica.

Recurring Characters

Thing, Doctor Strange, Clea, Wong, Alvin Denton

Continuity Notes

• As revealed next issue there is a connection between this manifestation of "Destiny" and Alvin Denton. They are actually the parents of Barbara Norris who was the host body for the Valkyrie at the time of this story. These truths are revealed next issue and in Defenders #20.

• The Yancy Street Gang's animosity towards the Thing is because, as revealed in Thing #1, he used to be part of the gang until he was given the opportunity to leave Yancy Street and get a fresh start. Something his old gang took as a betrayal.

• Doctor Strange recollects the first time he met the Thing, this happened in Fantastic Four #27. However, the two have met in subsequent encounters, namely Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual 1997, Fantastic Four Annual #3, and Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comics Magazine #3. Some of these omissions are due to the fact that most of these stories were published decades after this one.

• Clea mentions Valkyrie of the Defenders took the harmonica. The Defenders had recently formed in Marvel Feature #1 and at the time of this story, their existence was a mystery to most. Valkyrie had recently joined the team in Defenders #4.