List of Defenders members

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Marvel Feature #1 (December, 1971)
Enlarge
Marvel Feature #1 (December, 1971)

The Defenders were a loosely organized team of fictional characters, mostly but not solely superheroes, in the Marvel Universe. 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.

Contents

[edit] Founders

These characters helped form the team in Marvel Feature #1 (December, 1971)

[edit] Recruits of the Early 1970s

  • Clea. Joined as associate member in Marvel Feature #2 (March, 1972). Later became a recurring member in Defenders #39.
  • Silver Surfer. Joined in Defenders #2 (October, 1972).
  • 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).
  • Hawkeye. Joined in Defenders #7 (August, 1973).
  • Nighthawk. Joined in Defenders #14 (July, 1974).
  • Professor X. Joined as associate member in Defenders #15 (September, 1974).
  • Daimon Hellstrom, Son of Satan. Joined as associate member in Giant-Size Defenders #2 (October, 1974). Later became a recurring member.
  • Luke Cage. Joined as associate member in Defenders #18(December, 1974). Later became a recurring member.
  • Daredevil. Joined as associate member in Giant-Size Defenders #3 (January, 1975). Later became a recurring member.
  • The Thing. Joined as associate member in Defenders #20 (February, 1975).
  • 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).

[edit] 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).

[edit] Recruits of the mid-1970s

  • Red Guardian. Joined in Defenders #35 (May, 1976).
  • Howard the Duck. Joined as an associate member in Marvel Treasury Edition #12 (December, 1976 - January, 1977).
  • Hellcat. Joined in Defenders #44 (February, 1977).
  • Moon Knight. Joined as associate member in Defenders #47 (May, 1977).
  • Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers). Joined as an associate member in Defenders #57 (March, 1978).
  • Devil-Slayer. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #58 (April, 1978). Later became a recurring member.
  • Spider-Man. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #61 (July, 1978). Later became a recurring member.

[edit] 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, 1978).

[edit] 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).

[edit] Last 1970s Recruits

  • Moondragon. Joined in Defenders #76 (October, 1979).
  • Wasp. Joined in Defenders #76 (October, 1979).

[edit] Early 1980s recruits

  • Aeroika. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #79 (January, 1980).
  • Black Panther. Joined as an associate member Defenders #84 (June, 1980).
  • The Gargoyle. Joined in Defenders #94 (April, 1981).
  • Dracula. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #95 (May, 1981).
  • Ghost Rider. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #96 (June, 1981).
  • Man-Thing. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #98 (August, 1981).
  • The Beast. Joined in Defenders #104 (February, 1982).
  • Wonder Man. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #104 (February, 1982).
  • Mister Fantastic. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #105 (March, 1982).
  • Captain America. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #106 (April, 1982).
  • Nighthawk II. Former member of the Squadron Supreme. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #112 (October, 1982).
  • Scarlet Witch. Joined as an associate member in Defenders #112 (October, 1982).
  • 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).

[edit] 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.

  • Angel. Later changed codename to Archangel. Joined in Defenders #125 (November, 1983).
  • 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).
  • Interloper. Joined in Defenders #151 (January, 1986).

[edit] 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.
  • Doctor Strange. Associate member.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Founders

[edit] Early Recruits

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

  • Doctor Druid. The final leader and recruiter of this group.
  • Luke Cage. Joined in Secret Defenders #15 ( May, 1994).
  • 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).
  • Giant-Man. Joined in Secret Defenders #18 ( August, 1994).
  • Iron Fist. Joined in Secret Defenders #18 ( August, 1994).
  • Archangel. Joined in Secret Defenders #19 ( September, 1994).
  • Iceman. Joined in Secret Defenders #19 ( September, 1994).
  • USAgent. Joined in Secret Defenders #20 ( October, 1994).
  • Dagger. Joined in Secret Defenders #23 (January, 1995).
  • Deathlok II. Michael Collins. Joined in Secret Defenders #23 (January, 1995).
  • Drax the Destroyer. Joined in Secret Defenders #23 (January, 1995).

[edit] 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.

[edit] Founders

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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.

  • Clea. Joined in The Order #3 (June, 2002).
  • Namorita. Joined in The Order #3 (June, 2002).
  • She-Hulk. Joined in The Order #3 (June, 2002).
  • Ardina. An actual female analog to Silver Surfer. Created by combining energy drained from him and by the magic of Clea calling on protector Goddesses Apalla (living embodiment of the Sun in Marvel Comics stories), Demeter, Hecate, Jord and Umar. Joined in The Order #4 (July, 2002).

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../l/i/s/List_of_Defenders_members_6a9b.html"