Defenders (comics)
Defenders | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Marvel Feature #1 (December 1971) |
Created by | Roy Thomas Ross Andru |
In-story information | |
Base(s) | Sanctum Sanctorum Richmond Riding Academy |
Roster | |
See: List of Defenders members |
The Defenders are a set of superhero groups with rotating membership appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders" who, in their prior adventures, are known for following their own agendas. The team often battle mystic and supernatural threats.
Its original incarnation was led by Doctor Strange and included Hulk, Namor, and—eventually—Silver Surfer. They first appeared as the Defenders in Marvel Feature #1 (Dec. 1971), before receiving their own title, The Defenders, in 1972.
The group had a rotating line-up from 1972 until 1986, with Dr. Strange and the Hulk being usually constant members along with a number of other mainstays such as
A television miniseries
Publication history
The origin of the Defenders lies in two crossover story arcs by
The Defenders first appeared as a feature in
Valkyrie was introduced to the team in issue #4 (February 1973).
Steve Gerber first worked on the characters in Giant-Size Defenders #3 (January 1975) and became the writer of the main title with issue #20 the following month.[10] He wrote the series until issue #41 (November 1976).[11] Part of Gerber's oeuvre was reviving forgotten characters; he brought back three pre-Marvel characters, now organized as the Headmen,[12] as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy.[13] The Defenders met Gerber's Howard the Duck in Marvel Treasury Edition #12 (1976).[14]
Due to Marvel's shuffling of editors-in-chief, a brief run by Gerry Conway abruptly ended in mid-production on issue #45. David Anthony Kraft and Roger Slifer volunteered to write the series, but issue #45 had no written plot, having been drawn by Giffen following a story conference with Conway. Kraft and Slifer were unable to contact either Conway or Giffen, and so had to puzzle out Conway's plot from the unscripted artwork.[1]
David Anthony Kraft's run as writer[15] included "The Scorpio Saga" (issues #46, 48–50) and the "Xenogenesis: Day of the Demons" storyline (issues #58–60).[16] The "Defenders for a Day" storyline in issues #62–64 saw dozens of new applicants attempting to join the Defenders, as well as a number of villains attempting to present themselves as Defenders members in order to confuse the authorities and the public as they commit robberies.[17] Kraft and artist Ed Hannigan explained some of the Valykrie's backstory in The Defenders #66–68 (December 1978 – February 1979).[18][19][20] At Kraft's request, Hannigan helped write issue #67 but found that he could not handle both writing and artwork at once, and so transitioned to being just the series's writer with the following issue.[1]
Steven Grant wrote a conclusion to Steve Gerber's Omega the Unknown series in two issues of The Defenders,[21][22][23] at the end of which most of the original series' characters were killed. While Gerber seemed unhappy with Grant's conclusion,[24] it nevertheless tied up the loose ends of the comic series, and is considered "canon" by Marvel.[25]
Writer J. M. DeMatteis took over the series with issue #92. He and Mark Gruenwald co-wrote The Defenders #107–109 (May–July 1982), which resolved remaining plot points from the Valkyrie story by Kraft and Hannigan published three years earlier.[26][27][28][29]
The New Defenders
As of issue #125, The Defenders was retitled to The New Defenders as the original four members (Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer, the Hulk, and Namor) are forced to leave the team,
DeMatteis stayed on for only six issues of The New Defenders before turning it over to writer
Though the series remained a modest hit through the Gillis/Perlin run, it was cancelled to make room in Marvel's production schedule for the
The Return of the Defenders
In 1990, the original trio reunited in The Incredible Hulk #370–371, in which it was revealed that the prophecy was a hoax. The originals then rejoined with the Silver Surfer in a story entitled The Return of the Defenders running in The Incredible Hulk Annual #18, Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #2, Silver Surfer Annual #5, and Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual #2.
Secret Defenders
In 1993, Marvel sought to revive the "Defenders" brand as "The Secret Defenders". The new team first appeared, unofficially, in Dr. Strange #50 and later Fantastic Four #374, before being officially introduced in Secret Defenders #1.[36][37] The series' premise originally was that Doctor Strange would organize various teams of heroes for certain missions, with him as the leader. Members included Wolverine, Darkhawk, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Hulk, Nomad, Ghost Rider, and others. This lasted for the first several months of the title, before Doctor Strange was removed from the book, due to the character being reassigned to the "Midnight Sons" line at Marvel. After an arc where the supervillain Thanos organized a team of "Secret Defenders" for a mission,[38] leadership of the Secret Defenders passed to Doctor Druid[39] and the series itself abandoned the revolving-door roster in favor of Druid and the Cognoscenti. The series was canceled with Secret Defenders #25.[40]
Reunion and The Order
In 2001–02, the Defenders reunited in Defenders (vol. 2) #1–12 created by
2005 miniseries
A Defenders five-issue miniseries debuted in July 2005, by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, featuring Doctor Strange attempting to reunite the original four Defenders to battle Dormammu and Umar. This series focuses mostly on humor[1] as the characters spend most of their time arguing with and criticizing one another.
The Last Defenders
In 2008,
The Offenders
In the 2009 ongoing Hulk series (Issues #10–12),
Fear Itself: The Deep
During the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline, Doctor Strange forms a new version of the Defenders with Lyra (daughter of Hulk), Namor, Loa (a student of the X-Men), and the Silver Surfer to confront Attuma who has become Nerkkod, Breaker of Oceans. Many past Defenders appear in the last issue.[44][45]
2011 series
Marvel launched a new Defenders series in December 2011, written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Terry Dodson. The new book features
The Fearless Defenders
February 2013 saw the debut of The Fearless Defenders, a series written by Cullen Bunn with artwork by Will Sliney. Bunn said that he had wanted to write the series, which centers on a new team of Valkyrior, led by Valkyrie and Misty Knight, after writing Fear Itself: The Fearless. It was suggested to him that it should run as a Defenders title, however Bunn explained that beyond the name there is "little connection" to the Defenders.[47]
2017 series
In August 2017, Marvel launched a new Defenders comic book series starring
During the "
The Best Defense
2018 saw a new five part crossover storyline involving the "Big Four" members of the team. Published throughout December, the plot features separate issues all sub-titled "The Best Defense" in Immortal Hulk, Namor, Doctor Strange and Silver Surfer which culminates in a final issue under the banner of The Defenders. Announced on August 24, 2018, the creative teams were respectively:[50]
- Immortal Hulk written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Simone Di Meo
- Namor written by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by Carlos Magno
- Doctor Strange written by Gerry Duggan and illustrated by Greg Smallwood
- Silver Surfer written and illustrated by Jason Latour
- The Defenders written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Joe Bennet.
2021 series
In August 2021, Marvel launched a new Defenders series.[51] Written by Al Ewing with art by Javier Rodriguez, this new version of the team features Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Masked Raider, Red Harpy and Cloud.
Defenders: Beyond
Before the publication of the fifth and final issue of the 2021 series it was teased that the team would be returning after a short break in summer 2022 for another five part run.[citation needed] Following a message from beyond the grave from Doctor Strange, a new team is assembled featuring Blue Marvel, America Chavez, Taaia (the mother of Galactus), Tigra, and Loki (a variant of the God of Mischief) to tackle a new cosmic threat.
Membership
Defenders membership was fluid, yet a few members were relatively constant: the three founders (Doctor Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Hulk), the Silver Surfer, the Valkyrie, Nighthawk, the Hellcat, and the Gargoyle. Membership was clearer in the New Defenders era when the team was more formally organized.
Secret Defenders
This group's composition was even more fluid than that of the original Defenders, but typically included either Doctor Strange or
Other versions
Ultimate Marvel
In the
Since The Ultimates (vol. 3), Pym has rejoined the Ultimates, and the Valkyrie was rewritten as having powers and skills akin to her Earth-616 counterpart, along with expertise in sword fighting, some degree of enhanced strength, and training by Thor.[53]
The Defenders return in Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates #1 (May 2010) with the original members now possessing superhuman abilities that fit their namesakes. It is revealed that Loki gave them these powers (Valkyrie included), to steal Thor's enchanted hammer Mjolnir.[54]
"Age of Ultron"
Following
"Iron Man: Fatal Frontier"
In the Iron Man: Fatal Frontier storyline taking place on Earth-10429, a version of the Defenders consisting of Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor encountered Rescue, this reality's version of
Secret Wars (2015)
During the "Secret Wars" storyline, different versions of the Defenders are featured:
- A variation of the Defenders resides in the Battleworld domain of 2099. Vision 2099 experiences a premonition of a group of enemies called the Defenders who he predicts will attack the Avengers.[57] The Defenders 2099 are later revealed to consist of Silver Surfer, Strange, Valkyrie, Roman the Sub-Mariner, and Hulk 2099.[58][59] Following the defeat of the Dweller-In-Darkness, Miguel Stone allowed the Defenders to continue operating independently.[60]
- The Yinsen City region of Battleworld is protected by a variation of the Defenders. The team is led by Captain Britain (Faiza Hussain) and consists of She-Hulk, White Tiger, Kid Rescue (the armored version of Ho Yinsen's granddaughter Toni), and Spider Hero (that world's version of Hobie Brown).[61]
In other media
Television
- The Defenders appear in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Invader From the Dark Dimension!", consisting of Doctor Strange, Valkyrie, the Hulk, Thor, and the Silver Surfer. This version of the group is formed to stop Baron Mordo after he steals Iron Man's body and brainwashes Wolverine, Falcon, and Redwing.
- An alternate universe incarnation of the Defenders appears in the Bullseye, Sam Wilson / Snap, Peter Parker / Slinger, Frank Castle, Natasha Romanoff / Black Bride and the Brain Trust (Tony Stark and Bruce Banner). This version of the group serves as the world's sole team of heroes in an alternate timeline where Doctor Doom prevented the formation of the Avengersand took over the world, with Romanoff and the Brain Trust operating as moles within Doom's forces.
- The Defenders appear in a Iron Fist. This version of the group come together to fight the Hand.
Video games
- The Defenders appear in .
- The Defenders appear in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, consisting of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Elektra as playable characters and Jessica Jones as a non-playable character.
Miscellaneous
The Justice League two-part episode "The Terror Beyond" features Doctor Fate, Aquaman, Solomon Grundy, and Hawkgirl banding together to fight an ancient supernatural entity called Icthulhu. According to series developer Bruce Timm, the team was meant to be an explicit homage to the Defenders, with each member paralleling a different Marvel hero (Doctor Fate / Doctor Strange, Aquaman / Namor, Solomon Grundy / Hulk, and Hawkgirl / Nighthawk).[62] This homage is taken further in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Wake the Dead", wherein Amazo joins the group as an apparent analogue of the Silver Surfer.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m DeAngelo, Daniel (July 2013). "The Not-Ready-For-Super-Team Players: A History of the Defenders". Back Issue! (65). TwoMorrows Publishing: 3–16.
- ISBN 978-0756641238.
[Roy] Thomas and artist Ross Andru reunited [Doctor] Strange, the Hulk, and Namor as a brand new Marvel superhero team – the Defenders."
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 156: "The Defenders moved into their own bimonthly comic book with The Defenders #1, written by Steve Englehart and penciled by Sal Buscema."
- ^ Engelhart, Steve (w), Buscema, Sal (p), McLaughlin, Frank (i). "The New Defender!" The Defenders, no. 4 (Feb 1973).
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 158: "[The] Enchantress of Asgard, endowed Barbara Norriss with the consciousness, physical appearance, and superhuman powers of Brunnhilde, leader of the Valkyries."
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 160: "Loki and Dormammu manipulated two super-teams into the Avengers-Defenders war starting in The Avengers #116 and The Defenders #9 in October."
- ^ DeAngelo p. 6
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 166: "Professor Charles Xavier teamed up with the Defenders to oppose Magneto, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and Magneto's creation, Alpha the Ultimate Mutant."
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 167: "The Wrecker joined with fellow super-powered convicts to become the criminal Wrecking Crew."
- ^ DeAngelo p. 7
- ^ Steve Gerber's run on The Defenders at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 169: "Writer Steve Gerber teamed up three villains from old Marvel science fiction stories...as the Headmen, a group of would-be criminal masterminds"
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 170: "In this story line by writer Steve Gerber and artist Sal Buscema, the Defenders had traveled to an alternate future, in which they aided the Guardians of the Galaxy against Earth's conquerors, the alien Brotherhood of the Badoon."
- ^ Marvel Treasury Edition #12 (1976) at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ David Anthony Kraft's run on The Defenders at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DeAngelo p. 9-11
- Fictioneer Books. p. 5.
- ^ Kraft, David Anthony (w), Hannigan, Ed (p), Patterson, Bruce (i). "Val in Valhalla Part One War of the Dead!" The Defenders, no. 66 (Dec 1978).
- ^ Kraft, David Anthony; Hannigan, Ed (w), Hannigan, Ed (p), Patterson, Bruce (i). "Val in Valhalla Part Two We, The Unliving..." The Defenders, no. 67 (January 1979).
- ^ Kraft, David Anthony; Hannigan, Ed (w), Trimpe, Herb (p), Marcos, Pablo (i). "Valhalla Can Wait!" The Defenders, no. 68 (Feb 1979).
- ^ Grant, Steven (w), Trimpe, Herb (p), Mitchell, Steve (i). "Little Triggers!" Defenders, no. 76 (Oct 1979).
- ^ Grant, Steven; Gruenwald, Mark (w), Trimpe, Herb (p), Milgrom, Al; Stone, Chic; Mitchell, Steve (i). "Waiting for the End of the World!" Defenders, no. 77 (Nov 1979).
- ^ DeAngelo p. 11
- ^ Gerber, Steve (June 14, 2005). "The Omega Flap". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2006.
- ^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 190: "Writer Steven Grant devised this wrap-up of the Omega story line, killing off the other protagonist, James-Michael Starling. The mysterious connection between Omega and Starling was never elaborated upon."
- ^ DeMatteis, J. M. (w), Perlin, Don (p), Esposito, Mike; Stone, Chic; Trapani, Sal; Milgrom, Al (i). "On Death and Dying..." The Defenders, no. 107 (May 1982).
- ^ DeMatteis, J. M.; Gruenwald, Mark (w), Perlin, Don (p), Sinnott, Joe; Trapani, Sal; Barta, Hilary; Milgrom, Al (i). "The Wasteland" The Defenders, no. 108 (June 1982).
- ^ DeMatteis, J. M.; Gruenwald, Mark (w), Perlin, Don (p), Sinnott, Joe (i). "Vengeance! Cries the Valkyrie!" The Defenders, no. 109 (July 1982).
- ^ DeAngelo p. 13
- ^ DeAngelo p. 14
- ^ DeMatteis, J. M. (w), Perlin, Don (p), DeMulder, Kim (i). "Hello, I Must Be Going. (or...Mad Dogs and Elvishmen!)" The Defenders, no. 125 (Nov 1983).
- ^ DeAngelo p. 16
- ^ Gillis, Peter B. (w), Perlin, Don (p), Barras, Dell (i). "The End of All Songs" The Defenders, no. 152 (Feb 1986).
- ^ Gillis, Peter B. (w), Case, Richard (p), Emberlin, Randy (i). "Dragoncircle" Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, no. 3 (March 1989).
- ^ Gillis, Peter B. (w), Case, Richard (p), DeZuniga, Tony (i). "Dragon's Dream" Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, no. 4 (May 1989).
- ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 262: "Writer Roy Thomas and penciller Andre Coates created this new series that ran until 1995."
- ^ a b Thomas, Roy (w), Coates, Andre (p), Hudson, Don (i). "A Gathering of Heroes" Secret Defenders, no. 1 (March 1993).
- ^ Marz, Ron (w), Grindberg, Tom (p), Hudson, Don (i). "Escape" Secret Defenders, no. 14 (April 1994).
- ^ Brevoort, Tom; Kanterovich, Mike (w), Decaire, Jerry (p), DeZuniga, Tony (i). "Strange Changes, Part 1: Strangers and Other Lovers" Secret Defenders, no. 15 (May 1994).
- ^ Brevoort, Tom; Kanterovich, Mike (w), Wylie, Bill (p), DeZuniga, Tony (i). "Final Defense, Part 4: Dead on Arrival" Secret Defenders, no. 25 (March 1995).
- ^ ISBN 978-0785125075.
- ^ Loeb, Jeph (w), McGuinness, Ed (p), Vines, Dexter (i). "Love & Death" Hulk, vol. 2, no. 10 (April 2009).
- ^ Loeb, Jeph (w), McGuinness, Ed (p), Vines, Dexter (i). "Trapped in a World They Never Made" Hulk, vol. 2, no. 11 (June 2009).
- ^ Bunn, Cullen (w), Garbett, Lee (p), Meikis, David (i). "Fear Itself: The Deep" Fear Itself: The Deep, no. 1 (Aug 2011).
- ^ Bunn, Cullen (w), Garbett, Lee (p), Meikis, David (i). "The Deep" Fear Itself: The Deep, no. 2 (Sep 2011).
- ^ Norris, Erik (July 25, 2011). "Comic-Con: Matt Fraction's New Defenders". IGN. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ^ Morse, Ben (November 12, 2012). "Marvel NOW! Q&A: Fearless Defenders". Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 11, 2017). "Marvel, Brian Michael Bendis Bringing Back 'The Defenders' Comic Book Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Secret Empire #0. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Adams, Tim (August 24, 2018). "Marvel Announces Defenders: The Best Defense Creative Team Lineup". CBR. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
- ^ "Defenders (2021) #1 | Comic Issues | Marvel".
- ^ Millar, Mark (w), Dillon, Steve (p), Dillon, Steve (i). "The Reserves" Ultimates Annual, no. 1 (Oct 2005).
- ISBN 978-0785130376.
- ISBN 978-0785124825.
- ^ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Peterson, Brandon (p), Peterson, Brandon (i). Age of Ultron, no. 8 (July 2013).
- ISBN 978-0785184560.
- ^ David, Peter (w), Sliney, Will (p), Sliney, Will (i). "Nueva York. The year 2099" Secret Wars 2099, no. 1 (July 2015).
- ^ David, Peter (w), Sliney, Will (p), Sliney, Will (i). Secret Wars 2099, no. 2 (August 2015).
- ^ David, Peter (w), Sliney, Will (p), Sliney, Will (i). "What the--" Secret Wars 2099, no. 3 (September 2015).
- ^ Secret Wars 2099 #5
- ^ Ewing, Al (w), Davis, Alan (p), Farmer, Mark (i). "Theirs Is A Land With A Wall Around It..." Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders, no. 1 (September 2015).
- ^ "The Terror Beyond (#39–40)". ToonZone.net. n.d. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014.
External links
- Milne, D.T. The Defenders: A Complete History of the Marvel Comics' Super-Hero Team
- Hatcher, Greg. "Trapped in a Friday He Never Made: Essay on Gerber's Omega and The Defenders," Comic Book Resources (Aug. 5, 2006). Archived 2010-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
- Latta, D.K. "Who Remembers Scorpio?," The Masked Bookwyrm. Discussion of the "Scorpio Saga" story-arc.