List of Defenders members

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. All could be considered Defenders. The following list attempts to make sense of their membership but may not be complete.

Original "non-team"

Founders

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
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
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

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

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
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

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
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
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

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

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
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
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
Namorita Namorita Prentiss Secret Defenders #4 (June 1993).
Sleepwalker Inapplicable
Captain America Steve Rogers Secret Defenders #6 (August 1993).
Scarlet Witch Wanda Maximoff
Thunderstrike Eric Masterson Secret Defenders #9 (November 1993).
War Machine James "Rhody" Rhodes Secret Defenders #9 (November 1993); now a member of the Secret Avengers.
Northstar Jean-Paul Beaubier Secret Defenders #11 (January 1994).
Nova Richard Rider

Questing villains

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.

Final recruits

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
Sepulchre 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
U.S. Agent John Walker Secret Defenders #20 (October 1994).
Dagger Tandy Bowen Secret Defenders #23 (January 1995).
Deathlok Michael Collins
Drax the Destroyer Arthur Douglas

Note

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.

Cursed members and The Order

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
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
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

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)

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
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

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

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 Joined in Fear Itself: The Deep #1 (August 2011). N/A
Namor Namor McKenzie N/A
Silver Surfer Norrin Radd N/A
Lyra Lyra Now a student at the Avengers Academy.
Loa Alani Ryan A student of the X-Men.

Defenders Vol. 4

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 Joined in 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 N/A
Hulk Bruce Banner N/A
Red She-Hulk Betty Ross N/A
Iron Fist Daniel "Danny" Rand Also a former member of the Heroic Age New Avengers team.
Black Cat Felicia Hardy Joined in Defenders Vol. 4 #8 N/A
Ant-Man Scott Lang Joined in Defenders Vol. 4 #10 N/A

Defenders Vol. 5

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 Joined in Defenders Vol. 5 #1
(August 2017)		 Previous member
Jessica Jones Jessica Campbell Jones N/A
Luke Cage Carl Lucas Previous member. Also a member of Heroes for Hire.
Iron Fist Daniel "Danny" Rand

Marvel Cinematic Universe

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 Jessica Jones Season 1, Episode 1: "AKA Ladies Night"
Iron Fist Daniel "Danny" Rand Finn Jones Iron Fist Season 1, Episode 1: "Snow Gives Way"

References
  1. "Dragon Circle". Marvunapp.com. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  2. "Dafydd ap Iowerth". Marvunapp.com. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  3. Marvel Zombies 4 # 1
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