The Defenders
The Defenders was always a unique and strange superhero squad in the Marvel Universe . What made the group so special was that they mostly considered themselves a non - team with no demonstrate leader and a circumvolve roster of grinder who are unite by a mutual delegation to aid save the world .
The Defenders were first form when Doctor Strange called on his fellow hero for help . After a couple of years , a steadfast lineup of Marvel ’s finest joined and stuck around for years . The team makeup , at least in the first few years , was eclectic and feature some of Marvel ’s most recognizable name .
Doctor Strange
The Defenders first appeared in the comic bookMarvel Feature#1 by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru . In this issue , Doctor Strange learned about a doomsday machine and set out to find help in stopping it before it could destruct the planet .
As the only man aware of the imminent danger , Dr. Strange set out to find other heroes to avail him vanquish the threat and accidentally formed the Defenders . The first two heroes he enter were Namor the Sub - Mariner and Hulk . He also tried to get the Silver Surfer to join , but the cosmic wedge could n’t leave Earth at the time .
Namor The Sub-Mariner
Namor the Sub - Mariner was the first person that Doctor Strange sought out to help him in demolish the doomsday machine . Namor agreed to avail as he know he needed to protect his underwater kingdom , which would be in risk if the Earth was destroyed .
As with his own comic stories , Namorbrought trouble with him as his arrogance and personality clashed with easily - angered Hulk . Namor was a member on many delegacy , but he never stuck around when the Defenders had more than two or three other members .
The Hulk
When Doctor Strange could n’t get Silver Surfer to help because the first mission took place off Earth , he sought out the Hulk . Doctor Strange knew that theDefenders require Hulk ’s powerful mightto ruin the Last Day machine , even if he was someone who could lose control and was a wanted fugitive .
The Hulk was also someone who fight to check in , especially with the haughty and arrogant Namor . However , when the squad start to form a squiffy mathematical group with the heroes Valkyrie and Nighthawk , the Hulk stayed with the team as a regular member for several adventures before resume his solo adventures .
The Silver Surfer
While the Silver Surfer could not join the Defenders in the outset because of his inability to leave behind Earth , he eventually teamed up with them down the line of descent . He was not a founding member , but he did formally became a member inDefenders#2 by Steve Englebart and Sal Buscema .
In that result , the Defenders are attempt to find the Silver Surfer , who is under a scoundrel ’s creative thinker restraint and struggle the squad . Once the squad unloosen him , Doctor Strange hint that they could help the cosmic hero retort to his house . The Silver Surfer check to join the Defenders and eventually returns to his own world .
Valkyrie
InDefenders#4 by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema , Valkyrie conjoin the squad . This was the first appearance of Valkyrie in Marvel Comics and was her basic bloodline story . Barbara Norriss was a booster of Hulk ’s in the Defenderscomics , and she ended up lose her sanity after a trip to the Dark Dimension .
The Enchantress twist Barbara into Valkyrie , which put the fabled Asgardian warrior Brunnhilde in control of Barbara ’s body , while Norriss remained dormant within . Valkyrie was a member of the Defenders for many years after bring together them .
Hawkeye
InDefenders#7 by Steve Englehart , Len Wein , and Sal Buscema , the Avenger Hawkeye connect the non - team . This was n’t the last team Hawkeye would connect either , as he was a extremity of myriad Avengers teams , the Thunderbolts , and S.H.I.E.L.D.
For the Defenders , he expect to join the squad because he just drop by the wayside the Avengers . The Defenders fought Attuma in that issue , which lay the groundwork for the fabled Avengers / Defenders War that pitted Earth ’s Mightiest Heroes against the new organise group . This war was engineered by one ofDoctor Strange ’s primary comic script villains , Dormammu , and the Avengers ' first villain , Loki . After the two teams defeated their various enemy , Hawkeye go forth the grouping and returned to his former super team .
Nighthawk
Kyle Richmond aka Nighthawk appeared for the first time inDefenders#13 by Len Wein and Sal Buscema . In this way out , the Defenders were in the middle of a battle with the Squadron Sinister . He informs the team that an outlander called Nebulon had convert the Squadron to build a weapon and he needed help stopping his honest-to-god teammates .
In the next issue , Nighthawk officially join the Defenders and was one of the squad ’s longest - lasting members . Nighthawk later became the group ’s first official loss leader when the team tried to stabilize its roll .
Luke Cage
InDefenders#17 by Len Wein and Sal Buscema , Luke Cage joined the team as Power Man and still wear his iconic yellow shirt with the silverish headband and mountain chain around his waist . Luke ’s initial encounter with the Defenders was more antipathetic than friendly .
As a Hero for Hire , Luke was contracted by a man to hold Kyle Richmond ’s buildings . When the Wrecking Crew plan of attack and the Defenders arrived to halt them , Cage mistakenly believes the protector are the unsound cat . After exonerate up the discombobulation and beating the traveling bag guys , Cage joins the squad and remains a Defender throughout the years .
Daimon Hellstrom
One of the most unique member of the Defenders joined inGiant - Size Defenders#2 by Len Wein and Gil Kane . When a demon telephone Asmodeus entice Hulk into a trap , the Defenders were at a loss as to how to get their teammate back . Since Asmodeus was a supernatural being , the Defenders sought assistant from an expert in that field : Daimon Hellstrom , the Son of Satan .
After successfully defeating Asmodeus , Hellstrom join the squad and remained with the chemical group for a long sentence . He even fulfill his next married woman Hellcat during his time with the team .
Yellowjacket
It might be well-situated to forget Hank Pym was ever in the Defenders , but he join while he was using the identity of Yellowjacket . Hank ’s enrollment occurred inDefenders#23 by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema .
The Sons of the Serpent are about to snipe Doctor Strange in retaliation for the Defenders stopping an early plan . Yellowjacket arrives to end them and helps the squad overcome the white supremacist terrorist group . Yellowjacket get together the team briefly before return to the Avengers .
NEXT:10 Strangest Romances In Defenders Comics
