Dazzler #40 (1985)
by Archie Goodwin & Paul Chadwick
cover by Jackson Guice
This is Dazzler’s Secret Wars II tie-in; despite the Beyonder being an important character in the story, he doesn’t even show up on the cover.
Paul Chadwick was really wasted in this series. The beginning of the story is just a few bikers approaching, but he shows this in this VERY cinematic scene.
Secret Wars II #4 ended with the Beyonder saying he’d erase Dazzler’s memories of their encounter and leaver her alone.
So naturally the moment he shows up he just took her somewhere because he wants to hear her sing again.
This scene makes me wish Shooter had let someone else write and pencil Secret Wars II.
There’s a genuine interaction between these two, and the Beyonder comes off as very alien.
Also he really, REALLY looks like a white version of 80s Michael Jackson here.
The Beyonder even offers to help fight the discrimination against mutants (!!!), but Dazzler refuses because she’s already figured out he’s the only character who would screw this up worse than she already did.
Plus the X-Men really don’t need help ruining the reputation of mutants, they do a great job at that by themselves!
Archie Goodwin is such a great writer that he genuinely makes me miss these two hanging out!!!
That being said, even Goodwin can’t make me care for bounty hunter O.Z.Chase and his cigar-eating wolf.
The bikers from the beginning of the story show up to fight him…
…which doesn’t go well for him, since they have telekinetic powers.
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE FREAKING WOLF!?!? 
Dazzler shows up just in time to save O.Z. Chase. It’s suggested the Beyonder has something to do with her timing.
This is technically not a “mutant series”, even if it stars a mutant, so it’s quite refreshing how Dazzler doesn’t automatically assume anyone with powers is a mutant.
The bikers are not particularly powerful, but it’s three against one so Dazzler has a hard time…
…even with her eye lasers!!!
Goodwin’s Dazzler is competent enough to keep up with the bikers for a while…
…but she’s far from invincible, so she eventually collapses.
So far so good, right? Then the Beyonder COMES OUT OF DAZZLER’S BODY.
The Beyonder has decided he wants to play superhero, something that’s already happened in the tie-ins but that weirdly enough won’t happen on the main miniseries for a while.
The fact that this is one of the Beyonder’s least terrible looks really says something, isn’t it?
Naturally, the Beyonder f#cks this up. Did you expect anything different?
When DAZZLER is a more competent superhero than you, it’s not meant to be.
The fact that this is one of the best team-up she’s had in the series really goes to show how bad things have been.
And then the bikers turn into THIS:
Alright, time for Dazzler to do what she does best…
…anything but be a superhero!
I’m kidding. In its own way, this is a badass moment.
Considering this is the Goodwin run, I’m pretty sure everyone realized the Beyonder was behind the bikers turning into that monster.
Now if this had been earlier in the series, that’d be a different story.
The Beyonder repairs all the damages and leaves; Dazzler and O.Z.Chase will have to deal with the bikers in the remaining two issues before the series is cancelled.
Interesting letters: the letters page is not part of the digital reprint, and the scans I found are barely readable. But it is interesting to see there was apparently an interest in the relaunch of the series… but it seems it was too late, because as mentioned the series only lasts another 2 issues.
Dazzler significance: 5/10
This is harder than it looks. It doesn’t have any real ramifications, but it’s the version of her encounter with the Beyonder that I wish everyone would remember instead of Secret Wars II.
Silver Age-ness: 6/10
WHAT ARE YOU!?!?
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
Much like the rest of the Goodwin run, it’s not a masterpiece but it has no business being as good as it is. It’s a bit meandering and ultimately doesn’t really cover any new ground, but it explores the Beyonder relationship with Dazzler FAR better than the miniseries.
It’s not without its flaws… the bikers are particularly forgettable and I continue to be unimpressed with O.Z. Chase… but it integrates the Beyonder into the story FAR better than most tie-ins.
Dazzler also comes off great! Confident, capable in the use of her powers but not to a ridiculous degrees, and she sees right through the Beyonder despite giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Super love interests: 7
Adding the Beyonder for obvious reasons.
Superhero fans: 31
Granted he’s not a superhero, but the fact that the Beyonder is a fan of Dazzler’s music is funny enough to include him.
As I will eventually do with a quick run-up for all the Secret Wars II tie-ins, here’s the dedicated categories:
Recommended reading? Yes
If only to see how Secret Wars II could have been.
Did the Beyonder REALLY need to show up? Yes
Otherwise the story would just be Dazzler against a couple of mutant bikers.
Should this have been in the miniseries? Yes
As if I hadn’t made it clear in the rest of the review!