DEFENDERS FOR TODAY

This publish is Filed Under:

Home page Highlights,
Interviews as well as Columns

KC Carlson doesn’t have a great cape like physician Strange, however he has a hat…

A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

Defenders: the very best Defense

Whenever I’m asked what my preferred marvel Comics title (or concept) is, I never have to believe about it. It’s The Defenders.

For those that have never checked out or heard of the series, it wasn’t your typical comic book super team. First, the core members were unusual characters: queen of a lost underwater city, a (future) Sorcerer ultimate who is commonly solving issues in other dimensions, as well as one of the most powerful creatures on earth who commonly only has the intelligence of a young child.

Then there was the … ah… instability of the idea — basically, there was no formal team structure. Characters tended to find as well as go as they wished… commonly for months or years at a time. other members drifted in as well as out depending upon who they were, where they operated, as well as the way they protected.

I was in high school/college when The Defenders very first appeared, as well as their unstructured concepts of membership truly appealed to me, with my ultra-rigid institution as well as work schedules. I needed something goofy as well as strange to keep my mind off other things, as well as this comic book was most likely much better for me than any type of medication I might get my hands on.

DEFENDERS ASSEMBLE — KIND OF!

Marvel function #1

Usually referred to as a “non-team” in its early years, the core Defenders were physician Strange, the Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, as well as (occasionally) the Silver Surfer. They very first appear as a group in marvel function #1, cover-dated December 1971. But, unusually (a term commonly connected with the group), their actual origin appeared before that problem — in crossovers in private character titles, both written by Roy Thomas.

Sub-Mariner #22, part of an “unofficial” Defenders story.

The very first started in physician strange #183 (Nov. 1969) as well as continued into Sub-Mariner #22 (Feb. 1970) as well as The incredible Hulk #126 (Apr. 1970). The three-part story was originally organized to be published in physician strange #183-185, however this title was cancelled with #183 — leaving the other two parts of the story to be run months later in the other titles. This was just the very first in a extremely long listing of strange things about the Defenders. The next strange thing likewise occurs in this story — one of the characters, Barbara Norriss, later becomes the fourth routine Defender.

Sub-Mariner #35. Don’t fight the Avengers. That technique never works.

The other “proto-Defenders” story ran in Sub-Mariner #34-35 (Feb.-Mar. 1971), where Namor enlists both the Hulk as well as the Silver Surfer (a future part-time Defender) to stop an out-of-control weather condition experiment — which puts them into dispute with The Avengers (because comic books). They operate under the name of “Titans Three!” in this story only.

By the end of 1971, the team was understood as The Defenders (at least in the marvel offices), however there would be one more change/addition before the fans would find the full Defenders lineup. At this point in marvel history, Stan Lee was extremely protective of the Silver Surfer as well as wished to compose most of his stories. So he was unpleasant with having the character on a regular basis appear in a super-team title. Stan suggested to Roy Thomas that he utilize physician strange instead. So, that’s exactly how that happened. Going forward, the Silver Surfer would make occasional guest appearances in the series. Thomas has likewise speculated that Lee really came up with the name “The Defenders”.

SUCCESS WITH STEVES

Defenders #4 featuring Valkyrie

By this point, sales on the three Defenders problems of marvel function were rather good, as well as it was decided that The Defenders would get their own title. Steve Englehart would write, as well as Sal Buscema would pencil. Englehart would introduce, or more properly, establish the newest Defender — Valkyrie. She was, in fact, the delusional Barbara Norriss character very first introduced before the Defenders really formed. Valkyrie’s personal story established slowly over many problems of The Defenders, as well as it ended up being one of the more fascinating plots after Steve Gerber ended up being the routine Defenders writer in Giant-Size Defenders #3 as well as Defenders #20. (Len Wein likewise briefly composed the series between Englehart as well as Gerber’s runs.)

Defenders #33 featuring the villainy of The Headmen (only four of them, not 40,000 Headmen).

Gerber’s run on The Defenders lasted up until Defenders #41 (and artist Sal Buscema likewise departed keeping that issue). His time included many unforgettable stories, including assembling the Headmen (Dr. Arthur Nagan (a gorilla-man), Dr. Jerry Morgan (aka Shrunken Bones), as well as Chondu the Mystic, all of whom very first appeared in pre-Marvel Atlas Comics mystery/horror titles). prominent sufficient to return, they did, together with a new Gerber-created monstrosity. Ruby Thursday was a scientist who intentionally grafted an organic computer made from malleable plastic to her head that can presume any type of type she wishes. Later, she runs for president of the United States. (You have to wonder, if Gerber was still to life — he died in 2008 — what he would believe about present events as well as politics.)

The Defenders team up with the original Guardians of the Galaxy in problem #26

Gerber was likewise accountable for reviving the original Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as (in marvel Treasury edition #12) he teamed the Defenders with Howard the Duck. however the thing he was finest understood for by well-informed fans is his run on Man-Thing, which appeared in experience into fear #11-19 as well as lead into Man-Thing #1-22. Gerber himself appears in Man-Thing #22.

The Defenders brought on after Gerber left, however it was obviously not the same, as well as my rate of interest in it drifted away soon after Gerber’s departure in 1976. The Defenders kept going, in one type or another, on as well as off for decades. I suppose I have a great deal of catching as much as do.

___________________________________

Namor: the very best defense #1

KC CARLSON has been staring at copies of the very best defense featuring The Immortal Hulk as well as Namor, sitting on his desk next to the keyboard. Those two one-shots came out last week. physician strange as well as Silver Surfer are this week, as well as Defenders: the very best defense #1, the week after. Can the Defenders save the world — just before Christmas? We much better hope so! I’d dislike to believe what would occur if Hulk didn’t get his stocking or his hot Spiced Cider this year!

WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the stupid things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you. My stupid back is what’s irritating me right now! ARRRGH! KC SMASH!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.