The Defenders was a comic book series about a loosely-organized team of superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The Defenders first appeared in Marvel Feature (volume 1) #1, where the founding members gathered to battle the alien techno-wizard Yandroth and decided to remain as a team.
The best-known and most prominent members of The Defenders are Doctor Strange, The Incredible Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Silver Surfer, Nighthawk, Valkyrie and Hellcat. Though the team was founded by Strange, Namor and the Hulk, the others are generally considered to be core members of the team. A large number of other heroes worked alongside the team in its original incarnation, with a number becoming "official" members. Other notable members include Devil-Slayer , Son of Satan, Clea, Moondragon, The Gargoyle , The Beast, Iceman and The Angel.
As of issue #125, Defenders was retitled to New Defenders as the "big four" (Doctor Strange, The Silver Surfer, The Hulk and Namor) were forced to leave the team. This was the result of an alien prophecy that stated that these four, operating as a group, would be responsible for destroying the world. (It was later revealed that the prophecy had been falsified.) The remaining group of Defenders finally disbanded in New Defenders #152, as a number of the members had apparently died and several others had left the team to join X-Factor. Several of these seemingly-deceased members later returned as the mystical Dragon Circle. This team only appeared once, in issues #3-4 of the relaunched Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme series.
Several years later, Doctor Strange organized a new "team" called the Secret Defenders, whose membership varied for each mission. A number of then-popular heroes appeared in this series; the first group organized consisted of the membership of "New Fantastic Four" (Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk and Ghost Rider), who battled the Human Torch in Fantastic Four #374-375. The supervillain Thanos also organized a team of "Secret Defenders" during this period, though that team had nothing to do with Strange's group. Eventually, leadership of the Secret Defenders passed to Doctor Druid, who faked his own death in Secret Defenders #25, the series' last issue.
The Defenders briefly reunited in Defenders (volume 2) #1-12, in which Yandroth manipulated Gaia into "cursing" the primary four Defenders (Doctor Strange, the Sub-Mariner, the Hulk and the Silver Surfer) so that they would be summoned to major crisis situations. These members were then mind controlled by Yandroth into forming the world-dominating "Order"; once the Order were freed from this control by their fellow heroes (including their teammates Hellcat, Nighthawk and Valkyrie), the Defenders apparently disbanded.
Membership
As noted above the Defenders were loosely organized. For much of their history there was no clear distinction between "official", honorary and associate members or even allies. Thus, the Defenders had a reputation as being a non-team, a term which was coined in the pages of the comic. All could be considered Defenders. The following list attempts to make sense of their membership but may not be complete.
Founders
These characters helped form the team in Marvel Feature #1 (December, 1971)
Recruits of the Early 1970s
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Clea. Joined as associate member in Marvel Feature #2 (March, 1972). Later became a recurring member.
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Silver Surfer. Joined in Defenders #2 (October, 1972).
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Black Knight. Joined as associate member in Defenders #4 (February, 1973).
- Valkyrie . Created by the Enchantress as a mystical combination of the spirit of Brünnehilde the Valkyrie and the body of minor magic user Barbara-Denton Norriss. Joined in Defenders #4 (February, 1973).
- Namorita . Joined as associate member in Defenders #5 (April, 1973).
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Hawkeye. Joined in Defenders #7 (August, 1973).
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Nighthawk. Joined in Defenders #14 (July, 1974).
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Professor X. Joined as associate member in Defenders #15 (September, 1974).
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Daimon Hellstrom, Son of Satan. Joined as associate member in Giant-Size Defenders #2 (October, 1974). Later became a recurring member.
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Luke Cage. Joined as associate member in Defenders #18(December, 1974). Later became a recurring member.
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Daredevil. Joined as associate member in Giant-Size Defenders #3 (January, 1975). Later became a recurring member.
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The Thing. Joined as associate member in Defenders #20 (February, 1975).
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Yellowjacket. Joined as associate member in Giant-Size Defenders #4 (April, 1975).
- Jack Norriss . Estranged husband of Barbara Denton-Norriss. First encountered the team in Defenders #21 (March, 1975). He started an effort to remove Valkyrie from the team but ended up joining himself in Defenders #29 (November, 1975).
Guardians of the Galaxy
A group of superheroes from the 31st century, the Guardians of the Galaxy time traveled to the 20th century. They served as associate members of the Defenders in Giant-Size Defenders #5 and Defenders #26-29 (July - November, 1975).
- Charlie-27 .
- Martinex .
- Vance Astro .
- Yondu .
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Starhawk. Joined the Defenders and the Guardians in Defenders #29 (November, 1975). Remained with the later following the separation of the two groups.
Recruits of the Mid-1970s
Defenders For A Day
The team had managed to keep its existence secret from the general public until a television documentary film by supporting character Dollar Bill announced it to the world. Dollar made special mention to the currently open membership for the team. Consequently in Defenders #62 (August, 1978) the currently active members were joined by a large number of former associates and new recruits. The majority of the later served for a single mission before quitting in Defenders #64 (October, 1975).
Rival Group
Taking advantage of the newfound notoriety of the team, a number of supervillains formed their own rival group of so-called Defenders in Defenders #63 (September, 1978). They soon came to conflict with their heroic counterparts and consequently disbanded in Defenders #64 (October, 1978).
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Batroc. Also known as "Batroc the Leaper".
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Beetle. Later changed codename to MACH-1 of the Thunderbolts.
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Blob.
- Boomerang .
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Electro.
- Joe the Gorilla .
- Leapfrog . Has since retired due to old age. His equipment has been adopted by his son as the second-string superhero Frog-Man .
- Libra . An android and a member of the second incarnation of the criminal Zodiac cartel.
- Looter . Also known as Meteor Man .
- Melter .
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Pecos.
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Plant-Man.
- Porcupine . Deceased as of Captain America vol 1 #315 (March, 1986).
- Sagittarius . An android and a member of the second incarnation of the criminal Zodiac cartel.
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Shocker.
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Toad.
- Whirlwind .
Last 1970s Recruits
Early 1980s Recruits
- Aeroika . Joined as an associate member in Defenders #79 (January, 1980).
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Black Panther. Joined as an associate member Defenders #84 (June, 1980).
- The Gargoyle . Joined in Defenders #94 (April, 1981).
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Dracula. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #95 (May, 1981).
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Ghost Rider. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #96 (June, 1981).
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Man-Thing. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #98 (August, 1981).
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The Beast. Joined in Defenders #104 (February, 1982).
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Wonder Man. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #104 (February, 1982).
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Mister Fantastic. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #105 (March, 1982).
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Captain America. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #106 (April, 1982).
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Nighthawk II. Former member of the Squadron Supreme. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #112 (October, 1982).
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Scarlet Witch. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #112 (October, 1982).
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Vision. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #112 (October, 1982).
- Overmind . The body of Overmind under spiritual possession. Joined in Defenders #115 (January, 1983).
New Defenders
In Defenders #125 (November, 1983) the team was reorganized into a more formal organization, somewhat modeled after the Avengers. By this time several former members had severed ties with the team.
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Angel. Later changed codename to Archangel. Joined in Defenders #125 (November, 1983).
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Iceman. Joined in Defenders #125 (November, 1983).
- Cloud . Joined in Defenders #127 (January, 1984). A sentient nebula who was able to assume human form. She at first modeled herself after human female Carol Faber. After falling in love with Moondragon, Cloud also developed a male form modeled after Danny Milligan.
- Seraph . Alleged sister of Cloud. Unofficial member as of Defenders #129 (March, 1984). Returned to her native Soviet Union in Defenders #150 (December, 1985).
- Candace Southern . Nick-named "Candy", longtime lover of Angel. Joined as leader and strategist in Defenders #138 (December, 1984). Deceased as of X-Factor #34 (November, 1988).
- Andromeda . Her full name is Andromeda Attumasen, designating her as the daughter of Attuma by his Lady Gevan . Unofficial member as of Defenders #146 (August, 1985). Officially joined in Defenders #149 (November, 1985).
- Manslaughter . Joined in Defenders #151 (January, 1986).
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Interloper. Joined in Defenders #151 (January, 1986).
Dragon Circle
By the time of Defenders #152 (February, 1986) Moondragon had fallen under the control of the Dragon of the Moon . The Dragon led her to attack the Defenders. During the battle, the physical forms of Andromeda, Gargoyle, Interloper, Manslaughter,Moondragon and Valkyrie were destroyed. Candace Southern retired. Angel, Beast and Iceman were joined by Cyclops and Marvel Girl in forming X-Factor.
Gargoyle and Moondragon were later able to gain new corporeal forms. However the other four remained disembodied spirits until Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme vol 3 #3-4 (March - April, 1989). There they managed to gain temporary but recurring spiritual possession over the bodies of four residents of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. These four unknowingly acted as their representatives in forming a successor group of the Defenders.
- Sian Bowen , host to the spirit of Valkyrie.
- Geneviene Cass , host to the spirit of Andromeda.
- Will Fanshawe , host to the spirit of Interloper.
- Roger Loomis , host to the spirit of Manslaughter.
- Dafydd ap Iowerth . Alleged descendant of King Arthur and host to his spirit.
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Doctor Strange. Associate member.
Secret Defenders
Debuting in Dr. Strange vol 3 #50 (February, 1993) the Secret Defenders were another successor group to the team. They were very loosely organized, consisting of a leader and the various associates recruited for a mission at hand. They would disband again after each mission. Several "members" were former Defenders. Others had no previous connection to the team. Some served for a single mission while others were recurring members.
Founders
Early Recruits
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Spider-Man. Joined in Fantastic Four vol 1 #374-375 (March - April, 1993).
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Wolverine. Joined in Fantastic Four vol 1 #374-375 (March - April, 1993).
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Darkhawk. Joined in Secret Defenders #1 (March, 1993).
- Nomad . Jack Monroe who served as the third Bucky during the 1950s. Later served as Scourge of the Underworld. Joined in Secret Defenders #1 (March, 1993).
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Spider-Woman II. Joined in Secret Defenders #1 (March, 1993).
- Namorita . Joined in Secret Defenders #4 (June, 1993).
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The Punisher. Joined in Secret Defenders #4 (June, 1993).
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Sleepwalker. Joined in Secret Defenders #4 (June, 1993).
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Captain America. Joined in Secret Defenders #6 (August, 1993).
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Scarlet Witch. Joined in Secret Defenders #6 (August, 1993).
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Thunderstrike. Joined in Secret Defenders #9 (November, 1993).
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War Machine. Joined in Secret Defenders #9 (November, 1993).
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Northstar. Joined in Secret Defenders #11 (January, 1994).
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Nova. Richard Rider. Joined in Secret Defenders #11 (January, 1994).
Questing Villains
From Secret Defenders #12 -14 ( February, April) the title characters were actually a loosely organized group of supervillains in a quest of finding and obtaining the Oracle of Ancient Knowledge . They apparently disbanded following their successful mission.
Final Recruits
By Secret Defenders #15 ( May, 1994) Doctor Strange was apparently weary of his duties as the sole steady member of the team. He retired after naming Doctor Druid as his replacement. The later would serve as leader till the group disbanded in Secret Defenders #25 (March, 1995).
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Doctor Druid. The final leader and recruiter of this group.
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Luke Cage. Joined in Secret Defenders #15 ( May, 1994).
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Deadpool. Joined in Secret Defenders #15 ( May, 1994).
- Shadowoman . Jillian Marie Woods. Joined in Secret Defenders #15 ( May, 1994).
- Cadaver . Cody Fleischer. Joined in Secret Defenders #16 ( June, 1994).
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Giant-Man. Joined in Secret Defenders #18 ( August, 1994).
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Iron Fist. Joined in Secret Defenders #18 ( August, 1994).
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Archangel. Joined in Secret Defenders #19 ( September, 1994).
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Iceman. Joined in Secret Defenders #19 ( September, 1994).
- USAgent . Joined in Secret Defenders #20 ( October, 1994).
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Dagger. Joined in Secret Defenders #23 (January, 1995).
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Deathlok II. Michael Collins. Joined in Secret Defenders #23 (January, 1995).
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Drax the Destroyer. Joined in Secret Defenders #23 (January, 1995).
Cursed Members and The Order
In Defenders vol 2 #1 (March, 2001) six former Defenders were forced to regroup in a battle against Yandroth . He was defeated but cursed them to gather every time planet Earth faces a threat. This continued until Defenders vol 2 #12 (February, 2002). Four members of the team formed The Order. This group attempted to conquer the world in order to protect it. Their activities were featured in The Order #1 - 6 (April - September, 2002). Then the group disbanded again.
Founders
Recruits
- Valkyrie II. Samantha Parrington who had years ago been transformed by the Enchantress to a duplicate of the original Valkyrie in both appearance and powers. Joined in Defenders vol 2 #4 (June, 2001).
- Red Raven . Joined as an associate member in Defenders vol 2 #7 (September, 2001).
Recruits against the Order
The latest incarnation of Defenders was divided among two rival groups. The Order (Doctor Strange, The Incredible Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer) and the Defenders (Hellcat, Nighthawk, Valkyrie II). The later three decided to recruit the so-called "female analogs" of their former teammates. They would serve until both teams disbanded.
Other media depiction
The team proper has never been depicted in other media, but a disguised version has. This appears in the animated television series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited which each have a episode that feature a subgroup of DC Comics superheroes who play the equivalent roles of their Marvel Comics version.
Their members include (and their Marvel counterparts):
Bibliography of Defenders titles
- The Defenders (1972 series) #1-152 (August 1972 - February 1986 )
- Giant-Size Defenders (1974 series) #1-5 (July 1974 - July 1975 )
- The Defenders Annual (1976 )
- Secret Defenders (1993 series) #1-25 (March 1993 - March 1995 )
- Defenders, The (2001 series) #1-12 (March 2001 - February 2002 )
- Day of the Defenders (March 2001 ) #1 (reprint book)
- The Order (2002 series) #1-6 (April 2002 - September 2002 )
External links
Last updated: 08-03-2005 01:08:38
