Harlekin said:
I don't see how that is closer to the Illuminati than it is to the Defenders. Perhaps, if the Hulk hadn't been there...
I suppose "just as close" would have been a better way of putting it.
The core members of the defenders are SS, Strange, Namor and Hulk.
The core (and only) members of the Illuminati are Strange, Namor, Black Bolt, Xavier, Mr Fantastic and Iron Man.
I say Nick Fury should be on the Illuminati because he's just as much of a world leader as the rest of them. He runs Shield which is a worldwide intelligence organization of almost limitless resources and authority.
Namor and Black Bolt have their own countries, Strange has the mystic arts, Xavier is a figurehead for mutants, Iron man is there for financial reasons i guess.... Reed is what? in charge of the world's science?
Nick Fury has (untill he went all fugitive at least) more influence than Reed, Strange or Tony. He's got the resources to be at least as much of an asset. He has as much reason to be there as they do.
And I agree that T'challa should be there too but I dont mind that he's not. At least they offered him membership and let him choose to turn it down. That's fine by me.