The Defenders are a loosely organized team of fictional characters mostly, but not solely, superheroes in the Marvel Universe. For much of their history, there was no official membership. Thus, the Defenders had a reputation as being a non-team, a term which was coined in the pages of the comic.[volume & issue needed] All could be considered Defenders. The following list attempts to make sense of their membership but may not be complete.
Original "non-team"
[edit]Founders
[edit]These characters helped form the team in Marvel Features #1 (December 1971).
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Strange | Stephen Strange | Marvel Feature #1 (December 1971). | |
Hulk | Robert Bruce Banner | ||
Namor the Sub-Mariner | Namor |
Recruits of the early 1970s
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Clea | Clea | Marvel Feature #2 (March 1972). | Later became a recurring member in Defenders #39. |
Silver Surfer | Norrin Radd | Defenders #2 (October 1972). | |
Valkyrie | Brunnhilde of Asgard | Defenders #4 (February 1973). | 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; former member of the Secret Avengers. |
Hawkeye | Clint Barton | Defenders #7 (August 1973). | Left after issue #10 |
Nighthawk | Kyle Richmond | Defenders #14 (July 1974). | Reformed member of Squadron Sinister, replaced Namor. |
Power Man | Luke Cage | Defenders #17 (November 1974). | |
Son of Satan | Daimon Hellstrom | Giant-Size Defenders #2 (October 1974). | |
Yellowjacket | Hank Pym | Defenders #23 (May 1975). |
Recruits of the mid-1970s
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Red Guardian | Tania Belinsky | Defenders #35 (May 1976) | |
Hellcat | Patsy Walker | Defenders #44 (February 1977). | |
Devil-Slayer | Eric Payne | Defenders #58 (April 1978). | |
Wasp | Janet van Dyne | Defenders #77 (November 1979). |
Defenders for a day
[edit]The team had managed to keep its existence a secret from the general public until a television documentary film by supporting character Dollar Bill announced it to the world. Dollar made a 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 latter served for a single mission before quitting in Defenders #64 (October 1978).
Rival group
[edit]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).
Early 1980s recruits
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Gargoyle | Isaac Christians | Defenders #94 (April 1981). | |
Beast | Henry "Hank" McCoy | Defenders #104 (February 1982). | |
Overmind | Grom | Defenders #115 (January 1983). | The body of Overmind under spiritual possession. |
New Defenders
[edit]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.
Founders
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Angel | Warren Worthington III | Defenders #125 (November 1983) | Later changed codename to Archangel. |
Beast | Henry "Hank" McCoy | ||
Gargoyle | Isaac Christians | ||
Iceman | Robert Louis "Bobby" Drake | ||
Moondragon | Heather Douglas | ||
Valkyrie | Brünnehilde |
Later recruits
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cloud | NA | Defenders #127 (January 1984) | A sentient nebula who was able to assume human form. At first, it modeled itself after a human female Carol Faber. After falling in love with Moondragon, Cloud also developed a male form that was modeled after Danny Milligan. |
Candace Southern | NA | Defenders #138 (December 1984). | Angel's former girlfriend who is appointed leader. Deceased. |
Andromeda | Andromeda Attumasen | Defenders #147 (September 1985). | Member of the Homo mermanus race. Illegitimate daughter of Attuma of Atlantis. |
Interloper | NA | Defenders #151 (January 1986). | An Eternal. |
Man-Slaughter | NA | Defenders #151 (January 1986). | A psychotic assassin. |
Dragon Circle
[edit]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.[1]
- 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.[2]
- Doctor Strange: Associate member.
Secret Defenders
[edit]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
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Strange | Dr. Stephen Strange | Dr. Strange (vol. 3) #50 (February 1993) | Initial leader and recruiter of the group. |
Hulk | Robert Bruce Banner | ||
Ghost Rider | Daniel Ketch | ||
Silver Surfer | Norrin Radd |
Early recruits
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Spider-Man | Peter Parker | Fantastic Four (vol. 1) #374-375 (March–April 1993). | |
Wolverine | James "Logan" Howlett | Now a member of the X-Men, the Avengers, the New Avengers, and the co-leader of X-Force. | |
Darkhawk | Chris Powell | Secret Defenders #1 (March 1993). | |
Nomad | Jack Monroe | Served as the third Bucky during the 1950s. Later served as Scourge of the Underworld. | |
Spider-Woman | Julia Carpenter | ||
The Punisher | Frank Castle | Secret Defenders #4 (June 1993). | |
Namorita | Namorita Prentiss | ||
Sleepwalker | Inapplicable | ||
Scarlet Witch | Wanda Maximoff | Secret Defenders #6 (August 1993). | |
Thunderstrike | Eric Masterson | Secret Defenders #9 (November 1993). | |
War Machine | James "Rhody" Rhodes | ||
Northstar | Jean-Paul Beaubier | Secret Defenders #11 (January 1994). | |
Nova | Richard Rider |
Questing villains
[edit]From Secret Defenders #12-14 (February and April), the title of characters was an organized group of super-villains that was in the quest of finding and obtaining the Oracle of Ancient Knowledge. They apparently disbanded after the successful mission.
- Thanos: The leader and recruiter of this group.
- Geatar
- Nitro
- Rhino
- Super-Skrull
- Titanium Man
Final recruits
[edit]By Secret Defenders #15 (May 1994), Doctor Strange's duties and circumstances required him elsewhere. He retired after naming Doctor Druid as his replacement. The latter would serve as leader until the group disbanded in Secret Defenders #25 (March 1995).
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Druid | Anthony Druid | Secret Defenders #15 (May 1994). | The final leader and recruiter of this group. |
Luke Cage | Carl Lucas | ||
Deadpool | Wade Wilson | ||
Shadowoman | Jillian Woods | ||
Cadaver | Cody Fleischer | Secret Defenders #16 (June 1994). | |
Giant-Man | Henry "Hank" Pym | Secret Defenders #18 (August 1994). | |
Iron Fist | Daniel "Danny" Rand | ||
Archangel | Warren Worthington III | Secret Defenders #19 (September 1994). | |
Iceman | Bobby Drake | ||
Spider-Woman | Julia Carpenter | Secret Defenders #20 (October 1994). | |
Sepulchre | Jillian Woods | Secret Defenders #22 (December 1994). | |
Dagger | Tandy Bowen | Secret Defenders #23 (January 1995). | |
Deathlok | Michael Collins | ||
Drax the Destroyer | Arthur Douglas |
Note
[edit]Before and during the initial few months of publication of Secret Defenders, an advertisement that Marvel used depicted a team consisting of Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, John Blaze, Maverick, and Wolverine, a team which never existed in the comics. Neither John Blaze nor Maverick were ever part of a Secret Defenders team in any published story.
In Defenders (vol. 2) #1 (March 2001), four former Defenders were forced to regroup to help Nighthawk and Hellcat 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. Its activities were featured in The Order #1-6 (April–September 2002). The group disbanded again after Gaia lifted Yandroth's curse which was associated with her.
Founders
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Strange | Dr. Stephen Strange | Defenders (vol. 2) #1 (March 2001). | Became a member of The Order. |
The Incredible Hulk | Bruce Banner | ||
Namor the Sub-Mariner | Namor | ||
Silver Surfer | Norrin Radd | ||
Hellcat | Patsy Walker | ||
Nighthawk | Kyle Richmond | Reformed member of Squadron Sinister. |
Recruits
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Valkyrie | Samantha Parrington | Defenders (vol. 2) #4 (June 2001). | Transformed by the Enchantress to a duplicate of the original Valkyrie in both appearance and powers. |
Red Raven | Unknown | Defenders (vol. 2) #7 (September 2001). | Associate member. |
Recruits against The Order
[edit]This incarnation of the Defenders was divided among two rival groups. The Order (Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Silver Surfer) and the Defenders (Hellcat, Nighthawk, and Valkyrie). The three decided to recruit the so-called "female analogs" of their former teammates. They would serve until both teams disbanded.
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Clea | Clea | The Order #3 (June 2002). | |
Namorita | Namorita Prentiss | ||
She-Hulk | Jennifer Walters | ||
Ardina | The Order #4 (July 2002). | An actual female analog of Silver Surfer. It was created by combining the energy drained from him and by the magic of Clea that called the protector Goddesses Apalla (living embodiment of the Sun in Marvel Comics stories), Demeter, Hecate, Jord and Umar. |
Initiative Team (Last Defenders)
[edit]Kyle Richmond requested an Initiative version of the Defenders from Tony Stark, intending to fill the ranks with previous Defenders including Gargoyle, Hellcat, and Devil Slayer. However, Stark assembled an entirely different team in hopes of the Defenders maintaining a stable roster for once. The team was officially disbanded after its first mission was deemed a failure.
Founders
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Blazing Skull | Mark Todd | Last Defenders #1 (May 2008). | |
Colossus | Piotr Rasputin | Leaves the team in Last Defenders #2. | |
Nighthawk | Kyle Richmond | Reformed member of Squadron Sinister. | |
She-Hulk | Jennifer Walters | Last Defenders #6: Rejoins after the Initiative version of the team disbands. |
Last Defenders recruits
[edit]After the Initiative team disbands, Richmond attempts to continue by hiring registered mercenaries to replace the teammates that Stark had assigned to him. After he was forced to retire from his superhero career, he privately assembles and supports a version of the Defenders based on an encounter with a future version of that team. This team is later forcibly disbanded by H.A.M.M.E.R.[3]
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Atlas | Erik Josten | Last Defenders #3 (July 2008). | |
Junta | Manuel Diego Armand Vicente | ||
Paladin | Unrevealed | ||
Warlord Krang | Krang | Last Defenders #6 (October 2008). | |
Son of Satan | Daimon Hellstrom | ||
Nighthawk | Joaquin Pennysworth | Son of J.C. Pennysworth, Kyle Richmond's former business partner. Becomes a new Nighthawk in a possible future. |
Fear Itself: The Deep's Defenders
[edit]This incarnation of the Defenders was formed during the Fear Itself storyline in order to liberate Atlantis from Attuma (in the form of Nerkodd: Breaker of Oceans).
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Strange | Dr. Stephen Strange | Fear Itself: The Deep #1 (August 2011). | — |
Namor | Namor McKenzie | — | |
Silver Surfer | Norrin Radd | — | |
Lyra | Lyra | Now a student at the Avengers Academy. | |
Loa | Alani Ryan | A student of the X-Men. |
Defenders Vol. 4
[edit]The Defenders came together again when it comes to keeping the Concordance Engine from falling into the wrong hands.
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Strange | Stephen Strange | Defenders Vol. 4 #1 (November 2011) |
Also a member of the Heroic Age New Avengers team. |
Namor | Namor McKenzie | Also a Former member of the X-Men | |
Silver Surfer | Norrin Radd | — | |
Hulk | Bruce Banner | — | |
Red She-Hulk | Betty Ross | Joined the team again as Red Harpy in 2021. | |
Iron Fist | Daniel "Danny" Rand | Also a former member of the Heroic Age New Avengers team. | |
Black Cat | Felicia Hardy | Defenders Vol. 4 #8 | — |
Ant-Man | Scott Lang | Defenders Vol. 4 #10 | — |
Fearless Defenders
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Valkyrie | Brunnhilde | The Fearless Defenders #1 (February 2013) | Team leader. Is merged with Annabelle Riggs in The Fearless Defenders #7 (July 2013) |
Mercedes "Misty" Knight | — | Team leader. | |
Annabelle Riggs | — | Killed in The Fearless Defenders #6 (July 2013) Returns and becomes Valkyrie's host in The Fearless Defenders #7 (July 2013) | |
Danielle "Dani" Moonstar | — | The Fearless Defenders #2 (March 2013) | — |
Warrior Woman | Hippolyta | The Fearless Defenders #3 (April 2013) | — |
Clea | — | The Fearless Defenders #7 (July 2013) | — |
Elsa Bloodstone | — | The Fearless Defenders #8 (August 2013) | — |
Ren Kimura | — | The Fearless Defenders #10 (October 2013) | — |
Nova | Frankie Raye | The Fearless Defenders #12 (December 2013) | — |
Defenders Vol. 5
[edit]A new, street-level team calling themselves the Defenders form to stop crime. This team is based on the Netflix version of the team.
Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Daredevil | Matthew "Matt" Murdock | Defenders Vol. 5 #1 (August 2017) |
— |
Jessica Jones | Jessica Campbell Jones | — | |
Luke Cage | Carl Lucas | Previous member. Also a member of Heroes for Hire. | |
Iron Fist | Daniel "Danny" Rand |
Defenders Vol. 6
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cloud | — | Defenders Vol. 6 #1 (August 2021)[4] |
Previously a member of the New Defenders. Left the team after issue #4. |
Doctor Strange | Stephen Strange | — | |
Masked Raider | Carlo Zota | Former member of the villainous Enclave. | |
Red Harpy | Betty Ross | Previously a member of the team as Red She-Hulk. | |
Silver Surfer | Norrin Radd | Left the team after issue #2. | |
Taaia | — | Defenders Vol. 6 #3 (October 2021)[5] |
Mother of Galan of Taa (later known as Galactus), from the Sixth Incarnation of the multiverse. |
Defenders Beyond
[edit]Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Blue Marvel | Adam Brashear | Defenders Beyond #1 (August 2021)[6] |
— |
Ms. America | America Chavez | — | |
Taaia | — | — | |
Tigra | Greer Grant Nelson | — | |
Loki | Loki Laufeyson | — | |
Beyonder | — | Defenders Beyond #3 (September 2022)[7] |
— |
Marvel Cinematic Universe
[edit]Members of "The Defenders" appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Marvel's The Defenders. Each of the Defenders listed below have an individual series all leading up to the miniseries
Character | Real Name | Portrayed by | First appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Daredevil | Matthew "Matt" Murdock | Charlie Cox | Daredevil Season 1, Episode 1: "Into the Ring" |
Jessica Jones | Jessica Jones | Krysten Ritter | Jessica Jones Season 1, Episode 1: "AKA Ladies Night" |
Luke Cage | Carl Lucas | Mike Colter | |
Iron Fist | Daniel "Danny" Rand | Finn Jones | Iron Fist Season 1, Episode 1: "Snow Gives Way" |
References
[edit]- ^ "Dragon Circle". Marvunapp.com. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ "Dafydd ap Iowerth". Marvunapp.com. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ Marvel Zombies 4 # 1
- ^ "Defenders #1". Marvel. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
- ^ "Defenders #3". Marvel. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
- ^ "Defenders Beyond #1". Marvel. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ "Defenders Beyond #3". Marvel. Retrieved 2022-09-28.