Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #51

The trial of the Wraith begins, with Phillip DeWolff immobilized by the alpha-jammer keeping his mental powers under control and Brian DeWolff, in a state of catatonia. Their lawyer is Emerson Bale, Doctor Strange and Iron Man are in attendance and Peter Parker is there as photographer for the Daily Bugle, accompanying his boss, J. Jonah Jameson. Peter notes that SHIELD personnel are setting up remote television links at Jean DeWolff’s request, to contact legal experts; a test brings up Matt Murdock. JJJ nags Peter to get him to snap pictures of a suffering Jean DeWolff so Pete explodes, refusing and handing his camera to Jameson before storming out….

The court is brought to order, Emerson Bale explaining the necessity of the device jamming Phillip DeWolff’s brainwaves to keep him from controlling his son. But Phillip does find he can take over the mind of the SHIELD tech, making him unplug the helmet. Jean points out to Iron Man that something is wrong just as Wraith stuns everyone in the court with a mindstrike. An electrical accident grants Phillip the same mental powers he once could use only through Brian’s mind. Spidey takes on the Wraith while Nick Fury watches via CCTV. The heroes team up to take down Phillip but to their surprise, the Wraith is still standing—because Phillip is controlling that body too. He raises the room’s floor into a green monolith monster. The heroes fight it, security guards shoot it—but to Nick Fury watching remotely, there is nothing there. While Spidey and Strange tackle the monster, Iron Man goes for the Wraith who uses his mental powers to force Iron Man to collapse under the strain. When Wraith is distracted by Spidey, Strange calls on the Flames of Faltine to destroy the carpet creature. Then Iron Man rises and knocks out the Wraith with one punch. To rescue Brian from his father’s influence, Dr. Strange employs his former surgical skills to restore the severed neuro-linkage but fears that he is no longer able to control his hands. But Brian’s latent self-preservation instinct guides Strange’s fingers and he removes the bullet. Brian awakens and recognizes Jean….

The judges resume the trial, Spider-Man testifies, as experts on mind control, Charles Xavier and Moondragon testify to such mental abilities, and then the judges recess to decide. Tense minutes later, the judges find Brian innocent and Phillip guilty. As Brian and Jean leave the courtroom, Iron Man suggests that the Wraith use his talents to become a force for good. The heroes depart….

Back in the judges’ chamber, we discover a secret: the judges possess psychic powers of their own, creating the dilemma of knowing such powers exist but not wanting to recognize them legally….

Meanwhile, out in the desert, the Hulk prepares to return to the comic….