Essential Defenders #7
In "State of the Union" from Essential Defenders #7, Dazzler struggles to regain control of her powers while recovering at a safe haven for displaced mutants, where she begins a tentative romance with Beast. When Alexander Flynn arrives offering help in exchange for a performance, Beast reluctantly follows her to a theater that quickly reveals itself as a brutal arena where mutants fight to the death—despite Flynn’s assurances. As Dazzler finds a strange sense of belonging among her fellow outcasts, Beast faces a painful choice between protecting her and letting her choose her own path. Written by Ann Nocenti and illustrated by Don Perlin, with inks by Kim DeMulder and letters by Joe Rosen, the cover by Chris Warner captures the tension of this pivotal moment.
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Dazzler's powers are out of control and she is recuperating under the watchful eye of Beast at a residence for displaced mutants. The pair begin to foster a romance. Alexander Flynn arrives at the hotel and promises to help Dazzler with her power problems if she will come perform. She agrees, Beast follows and attends Dazzler's first performance and is horrified to find that the theater is a arena where mutants fight. Alex promises Dazzler it is staged but a mutant is killed. Beast tries to get Dazzler to leave with him but she begins to feel at home with her fellow misfit mutants and refuses.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).