By Any Other Name

Many heroes use nicknames from time to time, but Hulk stood out for assigning descriptive names to other Defenders.

Here are the unique names Hulk largely settled on for a handful of his teammates.

• Dr. Strange = Magician
• Hellcat = Cat-Girl
• Nighthawk = Bird-Nose
• Red Guardian = Star-Girl
• Sub-Mariner = Fish-Man
• Valkyrie = Sword-Girl (or simply Girl before other women joined the Defenders)

Not everyone received a consistent moniker, mind you. For example, Hulk referred to Hawkeye as Purple-Man and Stick Man (Defenders #7). And he called Silver Surfer both Shiny-Face and Silver-Face (Defenders #8).

Since the green goliath clearly remembered the names of other people he knew (such as Jarella), his almost exclusive use of monikers for costumed adventures may have been a way to maintain emotional distance among those who might act as Hulk's friends one moment but then try to stop him the next.

The above image comes from the closing page of Incredible Hulk #206.

Millie the Metaphor

Guest appearing in Defenders #65, Millie the Model caught up with Patsy Walker and offered her a chance to work at her modeling agency—seemingly oblivious to Patsy's costumed career as Hellcat.

In turning down Millie's job offer, Patsy figuratively gave up a chance to return to the relatively simple existence she once had in the world of of romance comics, where both women began as characters.

Remaining in the Defenders as Hellcat meant proceeding as a three-dimensional character, with all the personal turmoil that might entail.

Patsy Walker entered the world of superheroes innocently enough by observed the wedding of Reed Richards and Susan Storm in Fantastic Four Annual #3. Patsy's friend Hedy Wolfe suggested that Millie the Model was there as well.