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Superheroes are rarely beholden to only one team affiliation; while many teams have their iconic mainstays, some teams operate as a continually rotating roster of characters. In the Marvel universe, the dynamic team known as The Defenders is one such group.
With many different incarnations and team rosters, the Defenders have existed as a more specialized and fluid team of heroes over the years. With yet another incarnation of the team debuting, it’s worth looking back at the previous rosters that have graced this venerable team.
The Original Defenders
The very first incarnation of the Defenders took place over a number of different comics. Doctor Strange was canceled mid-way through a story arc and, in order to finish the story, the Sorcerer Supreme appeared in other titles. Doctor Strange #183 (1969), Sub-Mariner #22 (1970), and The Incredible Hulk # 126 (1970) saw Dr. Strange team up with Namor and The Hulk to defeat the threat of the Nameless One and the Undying Ones.
Later, Valkyrie, Silver Surfer, and others would team up with Dr. Strange as well. In Marvel Feature #1 (1971) by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, and Bill Everette the Defenders officially debuted as a team and were given their own series the following year due to their popularity.
The New Defenders
Defenders #124 by J.M. DeMatteis, Don Perlin, and Kim DeMulder would be the final issue starring the original founding team of Doctor Strange, Hulk, and Namor. As a cryptic alien prophecy foretold that the three heroes would end up destroying the world, they disbanded.
Beast, formerly of the X-Men, revived the team; this new team would consist of Beast, Angel, Iceman, Gargoyle, Moondragon, and Valkyrie and would be named The New Defenders. Later recruits would include Andromeda, Interloper, Man-Slaughter, Candace Southern, and Cloud.
The Secret Defenders
In 1990 the original trio of founding members were reunited for “The Return of the Defenders.” Following this event, Doctor Strange #50 (1993) by Len Kaminsky, Geoff Isherwood, and George Roussos introduced a brand new concept to the team: rather than being a team with a solid line-up, the Defenders would instead be formed of different heroes per mission with Doctor Strange acting as the leader of each group.
This new dynamic renamed the team the Secret Defenders. The founding members of this group were Doctor Strange, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Silver Surfer; heroes that served as Secret Defenders included Spider-Man, Wolverine, Darkhawk, Nomad, Spider-Woman, Namorita, Sleepwalker, Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Thunderstrike, Warmachine, Northstar, and Nova, with Doctor Druid eventually replacing Strange as the leader of the team.
The Last Defenders
In 2008, following the events of Civil War and the Super-Human Registration Act, a new team of Defenders was formed by Tony Stark. The Last Defenders by Joe Casey, Keith Giffen, and Jim Muniz saw the new team being stationed in New Jersey in accordance to the Fifty State Initiative; this new team included Nighthawk, Blazing Skull, Colossus, and She-Hulk.
Unfortunately, this team was disbanded after failing their very first mission. Following the initial roster of heroes, Atlas, Junta, Paladin, Warlord Krang, Son of Satan, and Nighthawk were all brought on as recruits.
The Impossible Defenders
In 2011 a new series entitled The Defenders by Matt Fraction, Terry & Rachel Dodson, and Sonia Oback was released. Following the events of Fear Itself, the new team consisted of Doctor Strange, Red She-Hulk, Namor, Silver Surfer, and Iron Fist. Later recruits would include Black Cat, Nick Fury, and Ant-Man.
One of the most interesting things about this incarnation of the team is that the old alien prophecy that had foretold of how the original team members would destroy the world, while at one point being called false, would actually turn out to be true. A series of events began to lead to the total destruction of the universe. Luckily, Doctor Strange managed to alter the past so that the original team never reformed and thus never set the prophecy into motion.
The Fearless Defenders
With Marvel’s relaunching of their core stories under the Marvel NOW! brand in 2012, a new team was formed as The Fearless Defenders by Cullen Bunn and William Sliney. It featured Valkyrie as she sought to reform the Valkyior alongside Misty Knight.
Others that joined them were Annabelle Riggs, Danielle Moonstar, Warrior Woman, and Clea. The Fearless Defenders crossed over into The Age of Ultron story as it was revealed that the series villain, Caroline Le Fey, was the daughter of Morgan Le Fey and Dr. Doom.
Netflix’s Defenders
Launching in 2015, Netflix released Daredevil, a live action show featuring the titular character. Following Daredevil, Netflix released shows featuring the heroes Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.
As each of the shows began to converge, Netflix released The Defenders in 2017, with the roster including the main characters from each previous show. The Defenders show was centered on the team up of heroes as they fought to liberate New York City from The Hand. The Netflix series was set within the continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and often featured references to it.
Defenders (2021)
As the latest version of the team, 2021’s Defenders by Al Ewing, Javier Rodriguez, and Alvaro Lopez begins with Doctor Strange being visited rather abruptly by the The Masked Raider. After some initial confusion the two sit down to speak and Doctor Strange learns that volatile time magic is about to be misused by the villain Zota.
Doctor Strange uses his deck of astral tarot cards to learn who should be summoned for this mission just as he did with The Secret Defenders. The cards summon the Silver Surfer, Red Harpy, and Cloud. As Cloud is a sentient nebula without human form, Doctor Strange channels all of his magical power to contain the vast cosmic energy building in his home. The result flings him and the other recruits into the Sixth Infinity where they face their first challenge in the form of the villain Omnimax.
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