Zarda , commonly known as Power Princess , is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . Multiple versions of the character have appeared, each from alternate realities in Marvel's multiverse .
72-655: Zarda may refer to: Power Princess , Marvel Comics character Zarda (food) , South Asian rice dish flavoured tobacco used in paan Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda was landmark case before the Supreme Court of the United States involving employment discrimination under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 related to sexual orientation. Topics referred to by
144-488: A chain of events leading to the destruction of the universe. In the final issue, Dr. Strange changes the past so that the reunion never happens, thus erasing all the events of the series. 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: The Fearless . It
216-552: A conclusion to Steve Gerber's Omega the Unknown series in two issues of The Defenders , at the end of which most of the original series' characters were killed. While Gerber seemed unhappy with Grant's conclusion, it nevertheless tied up the loose ends of the comic series, and is considered "canon" by Marvel. 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
288-456: A custom selection of heroes chosen for the mission at hand. At various times, War Machine , Darkhawk , Thunderstrike , Wolverine , the second Spider-Woman , Ant-Man , Iceman , Nomad , and many others were members. At the end of its existence, the group had a somewhat regular composition, including Cadaver, Sepulchre , Joshua Pryce, and Doctor Druid. In the Ultimate Marvel universe,
360-510: A dictatorial regime has taken over the world in their absence, and they have become fugitives. Proteus , enemy of the interdimensional Exiles , showed up in the Squadron's reality and tricked them into battling the Exiles, taking advantage of the distraction to move on to another reality. With the Exiles' assistance, the Squadron expose the corrupt government. Power Princess then invites herself into
432-501: A little girl find and kill four men of her tribe who stoned her mother and older sisters to death after they were raped by insurgents, Zarda said Inertia is now like her. Hyperion gives a press conference in Los Angeles of the "Long Walk" mission, during which he is confronted by Redstone . During their fight, Zarda intervenes, beating Redstone badly, but stops short of killing him when Hyperion has her fly Redstone's nuclear warhead into
504-677: A lustful power woman from Utopia Isle who wore a special necklace to dampen her powers when in her secret identity as a professional boxer. In the team's first mission, Power Princess and the Squadron Supreme of America fought Namor and the Defenders of the Deep, when they targeted a Roxxon oil platform off the coast of Alaska. Then, the Squadron Supreme visited another oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The Squadron Supreme then made short work of Namor and
576-469: A mission to colonize and conquer the planet, but she is quite erratic, confusing her memories with allegory . After separating, Zarda goes on a rampage, disregarding human life and private property. She attempted to remove Doctor Spectrum 's power prism but the crystal's intellect contacted her. It informed her that she was "broken" in some way (apparently referring to her seeming insanity) and that it could not fix her despite her request to do so. She then
648-505: A similar life force transfer to heal Hyperion when he receives life-threatening injuries. While it is possible to hurt her, she apparently even survived a direct nuclear explosion through a combination of her nigh-invulnerability and her life-force transference capabilities. Like Hyperion, she is able to survive the vacuum of space unaided for a considerable amount of time, enabling at least interplanetary travel via her flight capabilities. A version of Zarda called Warrior Woman appears in
720-511: 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." Due to
792-695: A team outside the Initiative with the Son of Satan , She-Hulk , Krang , and Nighthawk ( S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Joaquin Pennyworth). The team reappears in the mini-series Vengeance (2011). In the 2009 ongoing Hulk series (Issues #10–12), Red Hulk assembles a counter team of supervillains called the Offenders , which includes Baron Mordo , Terrax the Tamer , and Tiger Shark , and fights past versions of their enemies. During
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#1733086006330864-557: A thing from happening again, she resolved with the Squadron to assume control of the government of the United States of her world. With the Squadron, she battled the Institute of Evil . For a time, the Hyperion of Earth-616 masqueraded as his Squadron Supreme counterpart and developed an attraction to Zarda. Disgusted that she was already committed to the elderly Shelton, the villainous Hyperion suffocated Shelton and began romancing Zarda. Upon
936-591: Is a resistance against Morgan le Fay who has conquered half of Earth. In the Iron Man: Fatal Frontier storyline taking place on Earth-10429, a version of the Defenders consisting of Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor encountered Rescue, this reality's version of Ho Yinsen . After a brief fight over a misunderstanding, Rescue joins up with the Defenders. During the " Secret Wars " storyline, different versions of
1008-815: Is another voice in Hyperion's head and not the One True Voice. Zarda manages to free Doctor Spectrum by calling to the voice within the Power Prism, which takes control of Spectrum, and frees Hyperion. Later the Squadron are then ordered to take down insurgents in Ilam Province in Iran, an operation called "Long Walk". Zarda goes on a killing rampage. After Stanley Stewart sees her killing three unarmed soldiers, calling them harmless, Zarda says "Harmless, yes, for that minute. Now they are harmless tomorrow". After seeing Inertia help
1080-544: Is attacked by an alternate version of herself called Warrior Woman, who drains Zarda of her energy and powers and leaves her for dead. Zarda survives, landing on Earth-616, and dedicates herself to stopping her evil duplicate. This Zarda debuted in Supreme Power #2. Apparently a Greek goddess who slept in a mausoleum for millennia, at one point she wakes up and finds the injured Hyperion , healing him. She alludes to having similar origins to Hyperion (both are aliens) and
1152-595: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Power Princess The original version of the character was created by J. M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin , and first appeared in Defenders #112 (October 1982) as a member of the Squadron Supreme , an analog of the Justice League . More recently, the character joined the reality-hopping Exiles . Another version of
1224-582: Is later killed during a battle with Squadron Sinister of Utopolis during an invasion on the Supremia Province when Doctor Spectrum incinerates to ashes with energy. A variation of the Zarda Shelton version of Power Princess appears as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America. This version is a simulacrum created by Mephisto and programmed by the Power Elite. Power Princess was programmed to be
1296-585: Is seen on a wall overlooking a pile of ash in her apartment.) But running her background down is hard. She said that her codename is Zarda, but at her power level the government did not push it. Later a liaison officer asks her to fill in some identification and non-disclosure forms, but Zarda lies to the officer, saying she can not remember details due to an "accident". After General Richard Alexander asks why she calls herself Zarda, thinking it to be an old nickname , he informs her that focus groups came up with Power Princess . After he asked her what she thought about
1368-400: Is skilled in discus throwing. She has undergone advanced graduate level studies in both Utopia Isle and Cosmopolis. In addition to similar physical abilities she shares with Hyperion , such as supersonic flight, super-strength, greatly enhanced reflexes, superhuman senses and nigh-invulnerability, this Zarda has the ability to drain the life-force of others to rejuvenate herself. She uses
1440-561: The Age of Ultron to keep Ultron from being created, a splinter timeline called Earth-26111 is created. In the new timeline, the Defenders became the world's premier superhero team after the disbanding of the Avengers. The new Defenders line-up consisted of Doctor Strange, Captain America , Wolverine, Janet Van Dyne as Captain Marvel , Thing , Scott Summers as Cable , Hulk , and Star-Lord . The group
1512-447: The Exiles series. She is able to drain the life force of others. Zarda carries a transparent shield of Utopian design that can block tank shells and be used to redirect energy, and which she can throw so that its edges are able to slice through metal. Power Princess has extensive experience in hand-to-hand combat (according to her, she has over five centuries of combat experience ) and
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#17330860063301584-656: The Dragon of the Moon controlling Moondragon. The remaining mutant members leave the team to join 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 in issues of Solo Avengers , in Strange Tales vol. 2 #5–7, followed by issues #3–4 of
1656-596: The Silver Surfer and Iron Fist . The new series follows the reunion of the Defenders in Fear Itself: The Deep . During the battle against the Death Celestials the characters Black Cat , Nick Fury , and 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
1728-468: The Son of Satan and Luke Cage , and many temporary members. The publication was retitled near the end of the run as The New Defenders but featured 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 assembled different teams for each individual mission. The original team
1800-711: The Ultimates , and the Valkyrie was rewritten as having powers and skills akin to her Earth-616 counterpart, along with expertise in sword fighting, some degree of enhanced strength, and training by Thor. The Defenders return in Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates #1 (May 2010) with the original members now possessing superhuman abilities that fit their namesakes. It is revealed that Loki gave them these powers (Valkyrie included), to steal Thor's enchanted hammer Mjolnir . Following Wolverine 's murder of Hank Pym during
1872-582: 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. 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 , Darkhawk , Spider-Woman , Spider-Man , Hulk, Nomad , Ghost Rider , and others. This lasted for
1944-574: The 2011 " Fear Itself " storyline, Doctor Strange forms a new version of the Defenders with Lyra (daughter of Hulk), Namor , 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. Marvel launched a new Defenders series in December 2011, written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Terry Dodson. The new book features Doctor Strange , Red She-Hulk , Namor ,
2016-716: The 2015 Squadron Sinister miniseries, and later joins the Earth-616 iteration of the Squadron Supreme posing as the Earth-712 version of the character. Defenders (comics) The Defenders are a set of superhero groups with rotating membership appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . They are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders" who, in their prior adventures, are known for following their own agendas. The team often battle mystic and supernatural threats. Its original incarnation
2088-708: The Cognoscenti. The series was canceled with Secret Defenders #25. 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 mind controlled by Yandroth into forming
2160-692: The Defenders are a group of amateur vigilantes who dress up as superheroes. None of them have superpowers, although they claim to be experienced in crimefighting. Henry Pym is invited to join them, and he accepts, adopting a new identity, Ant-Man, to avoid the potential legal problems of using his growth serum, as it has become the official property of the government. Their members include Ultimate versions of Power Man , Hellcat , Nighthawk , Valkyrie , Black Knight , Son of Satan and Whiz-Kid . The Ultimate Defenders are much more interested in becoming celebrities rather than actually stopping crimes or saving lives. Since The Ultimates (vol. 3), Pym has rejoined
2232-503: The Defenders are featured: The Justice League two-part episode "The Terror Beyond" features Doctor Fate , Aquaman , Solomon Grundy , and Hawkgirl banding together to fight an ancient supernatural entity called Icthulhu. According to series developer Bruce Timm , the team was meant to be an explicit homage to the Defenders, with each member paralleling a different Marvel hero (Doctor Fate / Doctor Strange, Aquaman / Namor, Solomon Grundy / Hulk, and Hawkgirl / Nighthawk ). This homage
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2304-552: The Defenders of the Deep. During the War of the Realms storyline, Zarda was in the middle of a boxing class when she and the other members of the Squadron Supreme of America were summoned to Washington D.C., where Phil Coulson brought them up to speed with Malekith the Accursed 's invasion. Power Princess and the Squadron Supreme of America fight an army of Rock Trolls and Frost Giants . After
2376-578: The Duck in Marvel Treasury Edition #12 (1976). 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
2448-673: The Earth, a role she had assumed some years earlier as Power Princess. During this time, she was a member of the World War II team known as the Golden Agency, along with fellow members American Eagle and Professor Imam , the Sorcerer Supreme of the Squadron's Earth. Living in Capitol City, she became the common-law wife of Howard Shelton, a sailor whom she met during "the war". Howard was
2520-424: The Exiles, and under her guidance the team eventually defeats Proteus. Power Princess remains with the Exiles for a time to continue fixing damaged realities, but eventually leaves to return to the Squadron Supreme. Eventually, Earth-712 is destroyed by an Incursion, two realities colliding into one another. Zarda is the last survivor of her universe, escaping via an interdimensional portal. However, in transit she
2592-448: The Salawe region of Uganda. The US government identifies him as a superhuman after he survives an assassination attempt. The team is sent to the region to assassinate him, but early in the fight, Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum and Amphibian are affected by M'Butu's power to control anyone who hears his voice. M'Butu commands the trio to hunt down their comrades. Zarda immediately notices that there
2664-570: The Squadron Supreme caused the Frost Giants to retreat, Phil Coulson sends them to Ohio, which has become a battleground. Power Princess was with the Squadron Supreme when they attempted to apprehend Black Panther, when he infiltrated the Pentagon to confront Phil Coulson. Zarda possesses superhuman strength, agility, speed, reflexes, and has the ability to fly. Her aging process is extremely slowed, although she stated that she does not age at all in
2736-525: The Squadron. Defending the Earth-712 against an attack by the Nth Man , Power Princess and the Squadron Supreme were stranded on Earth-616. They encountered Quasar , and relocated to Project Pegasus . Power Princess was among the Earth heroes trying to save New York City from Eon's dying body. Some time later, with the help of the Avengers , the Squadron Supreme were returned to Earth-712. On arrival, they find
2808-776: The Ultimate Universe's equivalent of the Wrecking Crew as well as the Hulk . After the short battle with the Hulk, she and the Hulk have sex. She also contemplates how the local heroes keep her from simply killing those who annoy her. She recalls how she often goes naked in her homeworld, not seeing a need to cover up her own beauty. Zarda remains with the Ultimates during the Ultimatum event, assisting Reed Richards with retrieving Nick Fury from her own universe. When Loki returns to get revenge on
2880-648: The Ultimates, Zarda is hypnotized along with the other female members of the Ultimates into attacking her teammates by Amora the Enchantress. When Amora is killed, Zarda is freed, and returns to her own universe. Zarda, along with the rest of her universe's squadron, is killed by the forces of the Cabal during an Incursion. During the Secret Wars storyline, Zarda is shown to live in the Supremia Province in Battleworld . She
2952-498: The Utopians developed an advanced culture based on peace, fellowship and experience or learning. On their little island community, people knew no poverty , injustice , war , crime , or sexual discrimination . After the outside world made the first atom bomb , the Utopians believed their way of life was in jeopardy. Building a starship, they left Earth to find a new home. Princess Zarda chose to remain behind as their sole emissary to
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3024-422: The Valkyrie story by Kraft and Hannigan published three years earlier. 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, in response to an alien prophecy that states that these four, operating as a group, would be responsible for destroying the world. While The Beast reforms
3096-416: The ability to control him when it wants to. Later, Zarda kills a woman and steals her identification in hopes of starting anew, while working in a women's clothing store. After that she made herself known to the federal government of the United States , as Claire Debussy (it is implied that Zarda murdered the real Claire Debussy and assumed her identity, as a scorch mark in the shape of a young human female
3168-463: 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 the Avengers under the name of the "Titans Three". The Defenders first appeared as a feature in Marvel Feature #1 (December 1971), where the founding members gather to battle the alien techno-wizard Yandroth and remain as
3240-478: 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 – February 1979). 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. Steven Grant wrote
3312-405: The banner of The Defenders. Announced on August 24, 2018, the creative teams were respectively: In August 2021, Marvel launched a new Defenders series. Written by Al Ewing with art by Javier Rodriguez, this new version of the team features Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Masked Raider , Red Harpy and Cloud. Before the publication of the fifth and final issue of the 2021 series it was teased that
3384-496: The character appeared in Marvel's MAX imprint title Supreme Power . Princess Zarda of Earth-712 lived on Utopia Isle, a small island in the southern sea, untouched by outside civilization . The Utopians believe themselves to be the result of genetic experimentation conducted upon humanity by the alien Kree ; they are, indeed, the equivalent on the Squadron's Earth of the Inhumans . While most humans were making flint spearheads,
3456-615: The characters in Giant-Size Defenders #3 (January 1975) and became the writer of the main title with issue #20 the following month. He wrote the series until issue #41 (November 1976). Part of Gerber's oeuvre was reviving forgotten characters; he brought back three pre-Marvel characters, now organized as the Headmen , as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy . The Defenders met Gerber's Howard
3528-487: The decision to select other heroes for the team. The line-up is led by Nighthawk, with Blazing Skull , 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 . The team is disbanded for incompetence but Richmond eventually founds
3600-515: 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, leadership of the Secret Defenders passed to Doctor Druid and the series itself abandoned the revolving-door roster in favor of Druid and
3672-694: The middle of a story arc , leaving Thomas no choice but to resolve the storyline in other series that he wrote. In the story, Dr. Strange teams with Sub-Mariner and the Hulk to protect the Earth from invasion by Lovecraftian interplanar beings known as the Undying Ones and their leader, the Nameless One . Barbara Norriss, later the host of the Valkyrie , first appears in this story. In the second arc, featured in Sub-Mariner #34–35 (February–March 1971), Namor enlists
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#17330860063303744-404: The name, she said Princess of Power would be better, but the General said that it was already copyrighted (referring to She-Ra: Princess of Power , a cartoon related to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ). An African general named John M'Butu, a fast-rising tribal leader gifted with a powerful psychic suggestion ability and calling himself the Voice, is leading a genocidal campaign in
3816-467: The original four Defenders to battle Dormammu and Umar . This series focuses mostly on humor as the characters spend most of their time arguing with and criticizing one another. In 2008, Joe Casey wrote a new miniseries with a new line-up of Defenders as a result of the Super-Human Registration Act and the events of the Civil War . Nighthawk wanted a team made up of previous Defenders such as Hellcat and Devil Slayer but Tony Stark ( Iron Man ) makes
3888-660: The popularity of their tryout in Marvel Feature , Marvel soon began publishing The Defenders with Steve Englehart writing and Sal Buscema penciling, 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. Valkyrie was introduced to the team in issue #4 (February 1973). Englehart wrote "The Avengers–Defenders War" crossover in The Avengers #116–118 (October–December 1973) and The Defenders #9–11 (October–December 1973), leaving The Defenders afterwards because he "didn't want to keep doing two team books at
3960-477: The relaunched Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme series. 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. In 1993, Marvel sought to revive
4032-403: The return of the Earth-712 Hyperion, the truth was revealed and the impostor was destroyed. Although initially confused about her feelings for her teammate, Zarda and Hyperion eventually began a romantic relationship. Zarda then assumed leadership of the Squadron. Zarda participated in the final battle between Nighthawk , who had turned against the Squadron, and his Redeemers . She then disbanded
4104-406: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Zarda . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zarda&oldid=962706872 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
4176-473: The same time." Len Wein briefly wrote the series and introduced such characters as Alpha the Ultimate Mutant and the Wrecking Crew . Wein also added 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." Steve Gerber first worked on
4248-409: The sole survivor of a sinking ship and the first outsider Zarda met. Howard aged normally while Zarda appears to be the same age as she was when they met, 50–60 years earlier. As a member of the Squadron Supreme , Zarda became brainwashed by the Overmind . She battled the Defenders , but was cured. She then battled the Overmind and Null, the Living Darkness alongside the Defenders. To prevent such
4320-437: The stratosphere to prevent it from detonating in Los Angeles. She even survives the direct nuclear blast, something Hyperion obviously would not survive so easily. The Squadron Supreme invade the Ultimate universe after their world is devastated by a threat that originated there. At the resolution of this conflict , Zarda decides to remain in the Ultimate universe to keep an eye on things. Later she fights and easily beats
4392-412: The team as an official superhero team complete with government clearance. 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. 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
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#17330860063304464-400: The team consisting of Daredevil , Jessica Jones , Luke Cage , and Iron Fist . 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 #183 (November 1969), Sub-Mariner #22 (February 1970), and The Incredible Hulk #126 (April 1970) occurred due to the Dr. Strange series being canceled in
4536-418: The team would be returning after a short break in summer 2022 for another five part run. 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 Loki (a variant of the God of Mischief) to tackle a new cosmic threat. Defenders membership was fluid, yet a few members were relatively constant:
4608-413: The three founders (Doctor Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Hulk), the Silver Surfer, the Valkyrie , Nighthawk , the Hellcat , and the Gargoyle. Membership was clearer in the New Defenders era when the team was more formally organized. 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
4680-402: The unscripted artwork. David Anthony Kraft's run as writer included "The Scorpio Saga" (issues #46, 48–50) and the "Xenogenesis: Day of the Demons" storyline (issues #58–60). 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
4752-412: The villains that were on a rampage for what happened in Pleasant Hill. They were defeated when Nitro exploded. 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 Immortal Hulk , Namor , Doctor Strange and Silver Surfer which culminates in a final issue under
4824-436: 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. A fill-in issue set between these two series was published in 2011. A Defenders five-issue miniseries debuted in July 2005, by Keith Giffen , J. M. DeMatteis , and Kevin Maguire , featuring Doctor Strange attempting to reunite
4896-400: Was attacked by Amphibian in retaliation for harming Spectrum. It is indicated that both Doc Spectrum and Zarda have energy halos around them that bear an obvious resemblance to alien beings (Spectrum only exhibits this when the prism crystal takes control of him, revealing its origin and intelligence). Doc Spectrum subsequently has no memory of the exchange, revealing further that his prism has
4968-469: Was leaving Defenders , I was in [editor] Carl Potts ' office like a shot, and I got the gig." 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. The final issue was The New Defenders #152. In the final issue, several members (Gargoyle, Moondragon and Valkyrie), plus allies ( Andromeda , Manslaughter , Interloper ) seemingly die in battle with
5040-448: Was led by Doctor Strange and included Hulk , Namor , and—eventually— Silver Surfer . They first appeared as the Defenders in Marvel Feature #1 (Dec. 1971), before receiving their own title, 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 , Nighthawk , Hellcat , Gargoyle , Beast ,
5112-462: 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 . 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 premiered in 2017 on Netflix , with
5184-462: 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. In August 2017, Marvel launched a new Defenders comic book series starring Daredevil , Jessica Jones , Luke Cage and Iron Fist , based on the Netflix incarnation of the team . During the " Secret Empire " storyline, the Defenders were seen fighting
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