View source for Defenders (comics)

{{Short description|Comic book superhero team}}
{{for|the television miniseries|The Defenders (miniseries)}}
{{Infobox comics organization
| image      = Defenders (Marvel Comics team).jpg
| imagesize  = 240
| caption    = A [[giclée]] featuring the original version of the team by artist [[Alex Ross]]. It homages the comic book cover ''[[The Defenders (comic book)|The Defenders]]'' (February 1980) #80, originally drawn by [[Rich Buckler]]
| name       = Defenders
| publisher  = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut      = ''[[Marvel Feature]]'' #1 (December 1971)
| creators   = [[Roy Thomas]]<br/>[[Ross Andru]]
| base       = [[Sanctum Sanctorum (Marvel Comics)|Sanctum Sanctorum]]<br>Richmond Riding Academy<br>Patsy Walker's Montclair, NJ house<ref name="Defenders89">{{cite comic| writer= [[Ed Hanningan|Hannigan, Ed]] & [[David Anthony Kraft|Kraft, David Anthony]]|penciller= [[Don Perlin|Perlin, Don]]|inker= [[Pablo Marcos|Marcos, Pablo]]|story= A Death in the Family!|title= The Defenders|issue= 89|date= November 1980}}</ref>
| fullroster = [[List of Defenders members]]
| subcat     = Marvel Comics
| hero       = y
| villain    =
}}
The '''Defenders''' are a [[superhero]] group with rotating membership appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. They are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic outsiders who are known for following their own agendas. The team often battle [[mysticism|mystic]] and [[supernatural]] threats.

Its original incarnation was led by [[Doctor Strange]] and included [[Hulk]], [[Namor]], and [[Silver Surfer]]. They first appeared as the Defenders in ''[[Marvel Feature]]'' #1 (Dec. 1971), before receiving their own title, ''[[The Defenders (comic book)|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 [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]], [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]], [[Patsy Walker|Hellcat]], [[Gargoyle (comics)|Gargoyle]], [[Beast (Marvel Comics)|Beast]], the [[Daimon Hellstrom|Son of Satan]] and [[Luke Cage]], and many temporary members. The publication was retitled ''The New Defenders'' near the end of the run, featuring none of the original members and only Valkyrie, Beast and the Gargoyle of the former long-term members. The concept was modified in the 1993–95 series ''Secret Defenders,'' in which Dr. Strange assembles different teams for each individual mission. The original team was reunited in a short-lived 2001 series by [[Kurt Busiek]] and [[Erik Larsen]]. In 2005 Marvel published a five-issue miniseries featuring the classic line-up by [[J. M. DeMatteis]], [[Keith Giffen]] and [[Kevin Maguire (artist)|Kevin Maguire]]. In December 2011 writer [[Matt Fraction]] and artist [[Terry Dodson]] launched a ''Defenders'' series with a mixture of classic and new members, which lasted for 12 issues.

A television miniseries, ''[[The Defenders (miniseries)|The Defenders]]'', set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] premiered in 2017 on [[Netflix]], with the team consisting of [[Matt Murdock (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Daredevil]], [[Jessica Jones (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Jessica Jones]], [[Luke Cage (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Luke Cage]], and [[Danny Rand (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Iron Fist]].

==Publication history==
The origin of the Defenders lies in two crossover story arcs by [[Roy Thomas]] prior to the official founding of the team. The first, in ''[[Doctor Strange (comic book)|Doctor Strange]]'' #183 (November 1969), ''Sub-Mariner'' #22 (February 1970), and ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' #126 (April 1970), occurred due to the ''Dr. Strange'' series being canceled in the middle of a [[story arc]], leaving Thomas no choice but to resolve the storyline in other series that he wrote.<ref name="Back65">{{cite journal |last=DeAngelo |first=Daniel |date=July 2013 |title=The Not-Ready-For-Super-Team Players: A History of the Defenders |journal=[[Back Issue!]] |issue=65 |pages=3–16 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref> In the story, Dr. Strange teams with Sub-Mariner and the Hulk to protect the Earth from invasion by [[H. P. Lovecraft|Lovecraftian]] interplanar beings known as the [[Undying Ones]] and their leader, the [[Nameless One (Marvel Comics)|Nameless One]]. Barbara Norriss, later the host of the [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]], first appears in this story. In the second arc, featured in ''Sub-Mariner'' #34–35 (February–March 1971), Namor enlists the aid of the Silver Surfer and the Hulk to stop a potentially devastating weather control experiment, inadvertently freeing a small island nation from a dictator and facing [[Avengers (comics)|the Avengers]] under the name of the "Titans Three".<ref name="Back65"/>

The Defenders first appeared as a feature in ''[[Marvel Feature]]'' #1 (December 1971),<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Sanderson|first1 = Peter|author-link = Peter Sanderson|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura|chapter= 1970s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 151|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= [Roy] Thomas and artist Ross Andru reunited [Doctor] Strange, the Hulk, and Namor as a brand new Marvel superhero team&nbsp;– the Defenders."}}</ref> where the founding members gather to battle the alien techno-wizard [[Yandroth]] and remain as a team afterward. Editor [[Stan Lee]], wanting to write all of the Silver Surfer's stories personally, had asked other writers not to use the character, and suggested that Thomas use Doctor Strange instead. Thomas has also speculated that Lee came up with the team's name: "The 'Defenders' is far too passive a name for my taste. I prefer more aggressive-sounding names like the 'Avengers' or the 'Invaders,' so Stan probably came up with that one."<ref name="Back65"/> Due to the popularity of their tryout in ''Marvel Feature'', Marvel soon began publishing ''[[The Defenders (comic book)|The Defenders]]'' with [[Steve Englehart]] writing and [[Sal Buscema]] penciling,<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;156: "The Defenders moved into their own bimonthly comic book with ''The Defenders'' #1, written by Steve Englehart and penciled by Sal Buscema."</ref> while Thomas moved into the editor's seat. Despite Lee's continuing edict on the use of the Silver Surfer, he approved Englehart's pitch to include the Silver Surfer in the story.<ref name="Back65"/>

Valkyrie was introduced to the team in issue #4 (February 1973).<ref name="Defenders4">{{cite comic| writer= [[Steve Englehart|Engelhart, Steve]]|penciller= [[Sal Buscema|Buscema, Sal]]|inker= [[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|McLaughlin, Frank]]|story= The New Defender!|title= The Defenders|issue= 4|date= Feb 1973}}</ref><ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;158: "[The] Enchantress of Asgard, endowed Barbara Norriss with the consciousness, physical appearance, and superhuman powers of Brunnhilde, leader of the Valkyries."</ref> Englehart wrote "The Avengers–Defenders War" crossover in ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #116–118 (October–December 1973) and ''The Defenders'' #9–11 (October–December 1973),<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;160: "Loki and Dormammu manipulated two super-teams into the Avengers-Defenders war starting in ''The Avengers'' #116 and ''The Defenders'' #9 in October."</ref> leaving ''The Defenders'' afterwards because he "didn't want to keep doing two team books at the same time."<ref name="Back65"/> [[Len Wein]] briefly wrote the series<ref>DeAngelo p. 6</ref> and introduced such characters as [[Alpha the Ultimate Mutant]]<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;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."</ref> and the [[Wrecking Crew (comics)|Wrecking Crew]].<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;167: "The Wrecker joined with fellow super-powered convicts to become the criminal Wrecking Crew."</ref> Wein also added [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]] to the cast because, in his words, doing so "gave me a character to play with who didn't have a whole lot of previous history ... [a] character I could do anything I wanted to without worrying about how it would affect any other titles that character might appear in."<ref name="Back65"/>

[[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.<ref>DeAngelo p. 7</ref> He wrote the series until issue #41 (November 1976).<ref>[http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?target=sequence&method=icontains&logic=False&order1=date&order2=series&order3=&title=&feature=&job_number=&pages=&script=Steve+Gerber&pencils=&inks=&colors=&letters=&story_editing=&genre=&characters=&synopsis=&reprint_notes=&notes=&start_date=1974&end_date=1977&pub_name=&country=us&pub_notes=&series=Defenders&series_notes=&tracking_notes=&publication_notes=&language=en&issues=&volume=&issue_date=&brand=&indicia_publisher=&price=&issue_pages=&format=&issue_editing=&issue_notes=&is_indexed=None Steve Gerber's run on ''The Defenders''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> Part of Gerber's oeuvre was reviving forgotten characters; he brought back three pre-Marvel characters, now organized as the [[Headmen]],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;169: "Writer Steve Gerber teamed up three villains from old Marvel science fiction stories...as the Headmen, a group of would-be criminal masterminds"</ref> as well as the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]].<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p.&nbsp;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."</ref> The Defenders met Gerber's [[Howard the Duck]] in ''[[Marvel Treasury Edition]]'' #12 (1976).<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/29394/ ''Marvel Treasury Edition'' #12] (1976) at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

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.<ref name="Back65"/>

David Anthony Kraft's run as writer<ref>[http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?target=sequence&method=icontains&logic=False&order1=date&order2=series&order3=&title=&feature=&job_number=&pages=&script=Kraft&pencils=&inks=&colors=&letters=&story_editing=&genre=&characters=&synopsis=&reprint_notes=&notes=&start_date=1976&end_date=1981&pub_name=&country=us&pub_notes=&series=Defenders&series_notes=&tracking_notes=&publication_notes=&language=en&issues=&volume=&issue_date=&brand=&indicia_publisher=&price=&issue_pages=&format=&issue_editing=&issue_notes=&is_indexed=None David Anthony Kraft's run on ''The Defenders''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> included "The Scorpio Saga" (issues #46, 48–50) and the "Xenogenesis: Day of the Demons" storyline (issues #58–60).<ref>DeAngelo p. 9-11</ref> 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. Kraft and artist [[Ed Hannigan]] explained some of the Valkyrie's backstory in ''The Defenders'' #66–68 (December 1978&nbsp;– February 1979).<ref name="Defenders66">{{cite comic| writer= Kraft, David Anthony|penciller= [[Ed Hannigan|Hannigan, Ed]]|inker= [[Bruce Patterson (comics)|Patterson, Bruce]]|story= Val in Valhalla Part One War of the Dead!|title= The Defenders|issue= 66|date= Dec 1978}}</ref><ref name="Defenders67">{{cite comic| writer= Kraft, David Anthony; Hannigan, Ed|penciller= Hannigan, Ed|inker= Patterson, Bruce|story= Val in Valhalla Part Two We, The Unliving...|title= The Defenders|issue= 67|date= January 1979}}</ref><ref name="Defenders68">{{cite comic| writer= Kraft, David Anthony; Hannigan, Ed|penciller= [[Herb Trimpe|Trimpe, Herb]]|inker= [[Pablo Marcos|Marcos, Pablo]]|story= Valhalla Can Wait!|title= The Defenders|issue= 68|date= Feb 1979}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Back65"/>

[[Steven Grant]] wrote a conclusion to Steve Gerber's ''[[Omega the Unknown]]'' series in two issues of ''The Defenders'',<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Steven Grant|Grant, Steven]]|penciller= Trimpe, Herb|inker= [[Steve Mitchell (comics)|Mitchell, Steve]]|story= Little Triggers!|title= Defenders|issue= 76|date= Oct 1979}}</ref><ref name="Defenders77">{{cite comic| writer= Grant, Steven; [[Mark Gruenwald|Gruenwald, Mark]]|penciller= Trimpe, Herb|inker= [[Al Milgrom|Milgrom, Al]]; [[Chic Stone|Stone, Chic]]; Mitchell, Steve|story= Waiting for the End of the World!|title= Defenders|issue= 77|date= Nov 1979}}</ref><ref>DeAngelo p. 11</ref> at the end of which most of the original series' characters were killed. While Gerber seemed unhappy with Grant's conclusion,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/?p=77|title= The ''Omega'' Flap|access-date= December 23, 2006|last= Gerber|first= Steve|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135611/http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/?p=77|archive-date= July 16, 2011|url-status= dead|date= June 14, 2005}}</ref> it nevertheless tied up the loose ends of the comic series, and is considered "canon" by Marvel.<ref name="Sanderson190">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."</ref>

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.<ref name="Defenders107">{{cite comic| writer= [[J. M. DeMatteis|DeMatteis, J. M.]]|penciller= [[Don Perlin|Perlin, Don]]|inker= [[Mike Esposito (comics)|Esposito, Mike]]; Stone, Chic; [[Sal Trapani|Trapani, Sal]]; [[Al Milgrom|Milgrom, Al]]|story= On Death and Dying...|title= The Defenders|issue= 107|date= May 1982}}</ref><ref name="Defenders108">{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.; Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Perlin, Don|inker= [[Joe Sinnott|Sinnott, Joe]]; Trapani, Sal; [[Hilary Barta|Barta, Hilary]]; Milgrom, Al|story= The Wasteland|title= The Defenders|issue= 108|date= June 1982}}</ref><ref name="Defenders109">{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.; Gruenwald, Mark|penciller= Perlin, Don|inker= Sinnott, Joe|story= Vengeance! Cries the Valkyrie!|title= The Defenders|issue= 109|date= July 1982}}</ref><ref>DeAngelo p. 13</ref>

===''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,<ref>DeAngelo p. 14</ref> in response to an alien prophecy that states that these four, operating as a group, would be responsible for destroying the world. In the same issue, Beast reforms the team as an official superhero team complete with government clearance.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= DeMatteis, J. M.|penciller= Perlin, Don|inker= [[Kim DeMulder|DeMulder, Kim]]|story= Hello, I Must Be Going. (or...Mad Dogs and Elvishmen!)|title= The Defenders|issue= 125|date= Nov 1983}}</ref>

DeMatteis stayed on for only six issues of ''The New Defenders'' before turning it over to writer [[Peter Gillis]], whose run was marked by shorter, more personal stories.<ref name="Back65"/> Gillis recounted, "I had been working for a while at Marvel, and was constantly pumping for more work, and specifically a series of my own. So when I heard DeMatteis was leaving ''Defenders'', I was in [editor] [[Carl Potts]]' office like a shot, and I got the gig."<ref name="Back65"/>

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 [[New Universe]] line.<ref name="Back65"/> The final issue was ''The New Defenders'' #152.<ref>DeAngelo p. 16</ref> In the final issue, several members (Gargoyle, [[Moondragon]], and Valkyrie), plus allies ([[Andromeda (Marvel Comics)|Andromeda]], [[Manslaughter (comics)|Manslaughter]], [[Interloper (comics)|Interloper]]) seemingly die in battle with the [[Dragon of the Moon]] controlling Moondragon.<ref name="Defenders152">{{cite comic| writer= [[Peter B. Gillis|Gillis, Peter B.]]|penciller= Perlin, Don|inker= [[Dell Barras|Barras, Dell]]|story= The End of All Songs|title= The Defenders|issue= 152|date= Feb 1986}}</ref> The remaining mutant members leave the team to join [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]. Gillis has claimed that killing off the other members of the group was a directive from the editorial staff to free up the surviving members for usage in ''X-Factor'', pointing out that he shortly after revived several of these seemingly-deceased members<ref name="Back65"/> in issues of ''Solo Avengers'', ''Strange Tales'' vol. 2 #5–7, and issues #3–4 of the relaunched ''Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme'' series.<ref name="DrStrange3">{{cite comic| writer= Gillis, Peter B.|penciller= [[Richard Case|Case, Richard]]|inker= [[Randy Emberlin|Emberlin, Randy]]|story= Dragoncircle|title= Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme|issue= 3|date= March 1989}}</ref><ref name="DrStrange4">{{cite comic| writer= Gillis, Peter B.|penciller= Case, Richard|inker= [[Tony DeZuniga|DeZuniga, Tony]]|story= Dragon's Dream|title= Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme|issue= 4|date= May 1989}}</ref>

===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.<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 262: "Writer Roy Thomas and penciller Andre Coates created this new series that ran until 1995."</ref><ref name="SDef1">{{cite comic| writer= [[Roy Thomas|Thomas, Roy]]|penciller= [[Andre Coates|Coates, Andre]]|inker= [[Don Hudson (comics)|Hudson, Don]]|story= A Gathering of Heroes|title= Secret Defenders|issue= 1|date= March 1993}}</ref> 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 (character)|Wolverine]], [[Darkhawk]], [[Julia Carpenter|Spider-Woman]], [[Spider-Man]], Hulk, [[Jack Monroe (character)|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,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Ron Marz|Marz, Ron]]|penciller= [[Tom Grindberg|Grindberg, Tom]]|inker= Hudson, Don|story= Escape|title= Secret Defenders|issue= 14|date= April 1994}}</ref> leadership of the Secret Defenders passed to [[Doctor Druid]]<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Tom Brevoort|Brevoort, Tom]]; [[Mike Kanterovich|Kanterovich, Mike]]|penciller= [[Jerry Decaire|Decaire, Jerry]]|inker= [[Tony DeZuniga|DeZuniga, Tony]]|story= Strange Changes, Part 1: Strangers and Other Lovers|title= Secret Defenders|issue= 15|date= May 1994}}</ref> and the series itself abandoned the revolving-door roster in favor of Druid and the Cognoscenti. The series was canceled with ''Secret Defenders'' #25.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Brevoort, Tom; Kanterovich, Mike|penciller= [[Bill Wylie (comics)|Wylie, Bill]]|inker= DeZuniga, Tony|story= Final Defense, Part 4: Dead on Arrival|title= Secret Defenders|issue= 25|date= March 1995}}</ref>

===Reunion and The Order===
In 2001–02, the Defenders reunited in ''Defenders'' (vol. 2) #1–12 created by [[Kurt Busiek]] and [[Erik Larsen]], immediately followed by ''The Order'' #1–6, in which Yandroth manipulated Gaea 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 [[Brainwashing|mind control]]led by Yandroth into forming the world-dominating "Order"; once the Order were freed from this control by their fellow heroes (including their teammates [[Patsy Walker|Hellcat]], [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]], and [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]]), the Defenders apparently disbanded. A fill-in issue set between these two series was published in 2011.

===2005 miniseries===
A ''Defenders'' five-issue [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]] debuted in July 2005, by [[Keith Giffen]], [[J. M. DeMatteis]], and [[Kevin Maguire (artist)|Kevin Maguire]], featuring Doctor Strange attempting to reunite the original four Defenders to battle [[Dormammu]] and [[Umar (Marvel Comics)|Umar]]. This series focuses mostly on humor as the characters spend most of their time arguing with and criticizing one another.<ref name="Back65" />

===The Last Defenders===
In 2008, [[Joe Casey]] wrote a new miniseries with a new line-up of Defenders, following the aftermath of "[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]".<ref name="Last">{{cite book|last=Casey|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Casey|author2=Muniz, Jim |author-link2=Jim Muniz|title=The Last Defenders|publisher=Marvel Comics|year=2008|pages=144|isbn=978-0785125075}}</ref> [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]] wanted a team made up of previous Defenders such as Hellcat and Devil Slayer but Tony Stark ([[Iron Man]]) makes the decision to select other heroes for the team. The line-up is led by Nighthawk,<ref name="Last" /> with [[Blazing Skull]], [[Colossus (character)|Colossus]], and [[She-Hulk]] as members. The Defenders are assigned to New Jersey under the [[Fifty State Initiative]], because the proximity to New York City demands more experienced heroes than can just be recruited from the ranks of [[Camp Hammond (comics)|Camp Hammond]]. The team is disbanded for incompetence but Richmond eventually founds a team outside the Initiative with the [[Daimon Hellstrom|Son of Satan]], [[She-Hulk]], [[Krang (Marvel Comics)|Krang]], and Nighthawk ([[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] agent Joaquin Pennyworth). The team reappears in the mini-series ''Vengeance'' (2011).

===The Offenders===
In the 2009 ongoing ''Hulk'' series (Issues #10–12), [[Thunderbolt Ross|Red Hulk]] assembles a counter team of supervillains called the [[Offenders (comics)|Offenders]], which includes [[Baron Mordo]], [[Terrax]], and [[Tiger Shark (Marvel Comics)|Tiger Shark]], and fights past versions of their enemies.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Jeph Loeb|Loeb, Jeph]]|penciller= [[Ed McGuinness|McGuinness, Ed]]|inker= [[Dexter Vines|Vines, Dexter]]|story= Love & Death|title= Hulk|volume= 2|issue= 10|date= April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Loeb, Jeph|penciller= McGuinness, Ed|inker= Vines, Dexter|story= Trapped in a World They Never Made|title= Hulk|volume= 2|issue= 11|date= June 2009}}</ref>

===''Fear Itself: The Deep''===
During the 2011 "[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]" storyline, Doctor Strange forms a new version of the Defenders with [[She-Hulk (Lyra)|Lyra]] (daughter of Hulk), [[Namor]], [[Loa (comics)|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.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer= [[Cullen Bunn|Bunn, Cullen]]|penciller= [[Lee Garbett|Garbett, Lee]]|inker= [[David Meikis|Meikis, David]]|story= Fear Itself: The Deep|title=Fear Itself: The Deep|issue=1|date=Aug 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer= Bunn, Cullen|penciller= Garbett, Lee|inker= Meikis, David|story= The Deep|title=Fear Itself: The Deep|issue=2|date=Sep 2011}}</ref>

===2011 series===
Marvel launched a new ''Defenders'' series in December 2011, written by [[Matt Fraction]] and drawn by [[Terry Dodson]]. The new book features [[Doctor Strange]], [[Betty Ross|Red She-Hulk]], [[Namor]], [[Silver Surfer]], and [[Iron Fist (character)|Iron Fist]]. The new series follows the reunion of the Defenders in ''Fear Itself: The Deep''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Norris|first=Erik|title=Comic-Con: Matt Fraction's New Defenders|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/118/1184070p1.html|date=July 25, 2011|publisher=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120110248/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/07/25/comic-con-matt-fractions-new-defenders|archive-date=January 20, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref> During the battle against the Death [[Celestial (comics)|Celestials]], the characters [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]], [[Nick Fury]], and [[Ant-Man (Scott Lang)|Ant-Man]] join the team. The series was cancelled at issue #12. Despite the prophecy supposedly being a hoax, the central storyline of the series involves a reunion of the original four Defenders setting off a chain of events leading to the destruction of the universe. In the final issue, Strange changes the past so that the reunion never happens, thus erasing all the events of the series.

===The Fearless Defenders===
{{main|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 (comics)|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/19674/marvel_now_qa_fearless_defenders |title=Marvel NOW! Q&A: Fearless Defenders |first=Ben |last=Morse |date=November 12, 2012 |publisher=Marvel Comics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223203034/http://marvel.com/news/story/19674/marvel_now_qa_fearless_defenders |archive-date=December 23, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=November 13, 2012 }}</ref>

===2017 series===
[[File:Defenders-2017-Cover.jpg|thumb|upright|''The Defenders'' (2017) #1, with the team consisting of Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Daredevil. Art by [[David Marquez (comics)|David Marquez]].]]
In August 2017, Marvel launched a new Defenders comic book series starring [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]], [[Jessica Jones]], [[Luke Cage]] and [[Iron Fist (character)|Iron Fist]], based on the [[The Defenders (miniseries)|Netflix incarnation of the team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/defenders-marvel-brian-michael-bendis-bringing-back-comic-book-series-963406|title=Marvel, Brian Michael Bendis Bringing Back 'The Defenders' Comic Book Series (Exclusive)|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=January 11, 2017}}</ref> This incarnation of the Defenders appears in the storyline "[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]]", where they battle a group of villains who sought revenge for being imprisoned at Pleasant Hill.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #0. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===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 ''[[The 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:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Tim |title=Marvel Announces Defenders: The Best Defense Creative Team Lineup |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-defenders-the-best-defense-creative-team/ |access-date=December 17, 2018 |work=CBR |date=August 24, 2018}}</ref>
*''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 (writer)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/84120/defenders_2021_1|title = Defenders (2021) #1 &#124; Comic Issues &#124; Marvel}}</ref> Written by Al Ewing with art by Javier Rodriguez, this new version of the team features Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, [[Masked Raider]], [[Betty Ross|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|date=August 2023}} 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 an alternate universe version of [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]] to tackle a new cosmic threat.

==Membership==
{{Main|List of Defenders members}}

Defenders membership was fluid, yet a few members were relatively constant: the three founders (Doctor Strange, Namor, and Hulk), Silver Surfer, [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]], [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]], [[Patsy Walker|Hellcat]], and Gargoyle. Membership was clearer in the New Defenders era when the team was more formally organized.

===Secret Defenders===<!-- This section is linked from [[Hulk (comics)]] -->
This group's composition was even more fluid than that of the original Defenders, but typically included either Doctor Strange or [[Doctor Druid]] as leader, joined by a custom selection of heroes chosen for the mission at hand.<ref name="SDef1" /> At various times, [[War Machine]], [[Darkhawk]], [[Thunderstrike (character)|Thunderstrike]], [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]], [[Julia Carpenter|Spider-Woman]], [[Hank Pym|Ant-Man]], [[Iceman (Marvel Comics)|Iceman]], [[Nomad (Marvel Comics)|Nomad]], and many others were members. At the end of its existence, the group had a somewhat regular composition, including Cadaver, [[Sepulchre (comics)|Sepulchre]], Joshua Pryce, and Druid.

==Other versions==

===Ultimate Marvel===
An alternate universe incarnation of the Defenders from Earth-1610 appears in the [[Ultimate Marvel]] imprint, consisting of [[Luke Cage|Power Man]], [[Patsy Walker|Hellcat]], [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]], [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]], [[Black Knight (Marvel Comics)|Black Knight]], [[Daimon Hellstrom]], Whiz-Kid, and [[Hank Pym|Ant-Man]]. These versions are fame-seeking amateur [[vigilante]]s.<ref name="Ultimates">{{cite comic| writer= [[Mark Millar|Millar, Mark]]|penciller= [[Steve Dillon|Dillon, Steve]]|inker= Dillon, Steve|story= The Reserves|title= Ultimates Annual|issue= 1|date= Oct 2005}}</ref> In ''[[Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates]]'' (2010), [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]] gives the Ultimates superpowers and tasks them with stealing [[Mjolnir (comics)|Mjolnir]].<ref>{{cite book|last = Loeb|first = Jeph|author2=Cho, Frank |author-link2=Frank Cho |title = [[Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates]]: Thor Reborn|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2011|pages = 136|isbn = 978-0785124825}}</ref>

==="Age of Ultron"===
An alternate universe incarnation of the Defenders from Earth-26111 appears in ''[[Age of Ultron]]'', consisting of Doctor Strange, [[Captain America]], [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]], [[Wasp (character)|Captain Marvel]], [[Thing (Marvel Comics)|Thing]], [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cable]], [[Hulk]], and [[Star-Lord]]. This version of the group are Earth's premier superhero team following the disbanding of the Avengers.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Brian Michael Bendis|Bendis, Brian Michael]]|penciller= [[Brandon Peterson|Peterson, Brandon]]|inker= Peterson, Brandon|title= [[Age of Ultron]]|issue= 8|date= July 2013}}</ref>

===Iron Man: Fatal Frontier===
An alternate universe incarnation of the Defenders from Earth-10429 appears in the ''Iron Man: Fatal Frontier'' storyline, consisting of Captain America, Hulk, [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], and [[Ho Yinsen|Rescue]].<ref>{{cite book|last1= Ewing|first1= Al|author-link1= Al Ewing|last2= Gillen|first2= Kieron|author-link2= Kieron Gillen|last3= Edwards|first3= Neil|title= Iron Man: Fatal Frontier|publisher= Marvel Comics|year= 2014|pages= 240|isbn= 978-0785184560}}</ref>

===Secret Wars (2015)===
Several alternate versions of the Defenders from Battleworld appear in the "[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]" storyline.

* The [[Marvel 2099|2099]] Defenders consists of Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Valkyrie, [[Roman the Sub-Mariner]], and [[Hulk 2099]].<ref>{{cite comic|writer= David, Peter|penciller= Sliney, Will|inker= Sliney, Will|title= Secret Wars 2099|issue= 2|date= August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic|writer= David, Peter|penciller= Sliney, Will|inker= Sliney, Will|story= What the--|title= Secret Wars 2099|issue= 3|date= September 2015}}</ref>
* The Yinsen City Defenders consists of [[Faiza Hussain|Captain Britain]], [[She-Hulk]], [[White Tiger (Ava Ayala)|White Tiger]], [[Toni Ho|Kid Rescue]], and [[Prowler (Marvel Comics)|Spider Hero]].<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Ewing, Al|penciller= [[Alan Davis|Davis, Alan]]|inker= [[Mark Farmer (comics)|Farmer, Mark]]|story= Theirs Is A Land With A Wall Around It...|title= [[Captain Britain]] and the Mighty Defenders|issue= 1|date= September 2015}}</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
[[File:The Defenders in The Defenders (miniseries).jpg|thumb|The Defenders and [[Stick (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Stick]] from the [[The Defenders (miniseries)|2017 miniseries]] (L-R: [[Mike Colter]] as [[Luke Cage (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Luke Cage]], [[Scott Glenn]] as [[Stick (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Stick]], [[Finn Jones]] as [[Danny Rand (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Iron Fist]], [[Krysten Ritter]] as [[Jessica Jones (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Jessica Jones]], [[Charlie Cox]] as [[Matt Murdock (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Daredevil]]).]]
* The Defenders appear in ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show]]'' episode "Invader From the Dark Dimension!", consisting of [[Doctor Strange]], [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]], [[Hulk]], [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], and [[Silver Surfer]].
* An alternate timeline incarnation of the Defenders appears in the ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'' episode "Planet Doom", consisting of [[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Clint Barton]] / [[Bullseye (Marvel Comics)|Bullseye]], [[Falcon (comics)|Sam Wilson / Snap]], [[Spider-Man|Peter Parker / Slinger]], [[Punisher|Frank Castle]], [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Natasha Romanoff / Black Bride]], [[Iron Man|Tony Stark]], and [[Hulk|Bruce Banner]]. This version of the group serves as the world's sole team of heroes after [[Doctor Doom]] prevents the formation of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and takes over the world.
* The Defenders appear in a [[The Defenders (miniseries)|self-titled]] [[Marvel's Netflix television series|Marvel Netflix series]], consisting of [[Matt Murdock (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Daredevil]], [[Jessica Jones (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Jessica Jones]], [[Luke Cage (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Luke Cage]], and [[Danny Rand (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Iron Fist]].

===Video games===
* The Defenders appear in ''[[Marvel Avengers Academy]]'', consisting of [[Colleen Wing]], [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]], [[Patsy Walker|Hellcat]], [[Iron Fist (character)|Iron Fist]], [[Jessica Jones]], [[Luke Cage]], and [[Misty Knight]].
* The Defenders appear in ''[[Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order]]'', consisting of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and [[Elektra (character)|Elektra]] as playable characters and Jessica Jones as a non-playable character.

===Miscellaneous===
The ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' episode "The Terror Beyond" features [[Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)|Doctor Fate]], [[Aquaman]], [[Solomon Grundy (character)|Solomon Grundy]], and [[Shayera Hol|Hawkgirl]] banding together to fight the otherdimensional deity Icthulhu. According to series developer [[Bruce Timm]], the team is a homage to the Defenders, with each member paralleling a Marvel character (Doctor Fate / Doctor Strange, Aquaman / [[Namor]], Solomon Grundy / Hulk, and Hawkgirl / [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]]).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://jl.toonzone.net/episode19/episode19.htm|title= The Terror Beyond (#39–40)|date= n.d.|publisher= ToonZone.net|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140504054402/http://jl.toonzone.net/episode19/episode19.htm|archive-date= May 4, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* Milne, D.T. [http://www.defenders.ca ''The Defenders'': A Complete History of the Marvel Comics' Super-Hero Team]
* Hatcher, Greg. [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/08/05/trapped-in-a-friday-he-never-made/ "Trapped in a Friday He Never Made: Essay on Gerber's ''Omega'' and ''The Defenders''," Comic Book Resources (Aug. 5, 2006).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413173041/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/08/05/trapped-in-a-friday-he-never-made/ |date=2010-04-13 }}
* Latta, D.K. [http://www.pulpanddagger.com/maskedbookwyrm/saga/def_scorp.html "Who Remembers Scorpio?," The Masked Bookwyrm.] Discussion of the "Scorpio Saga" story-arc.

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[[Category:Defenders (comics)| ]]
[[Category:Characters created by Roy Thomas]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1971]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics American superheroes]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics superhero teams]]