It's Either In You Or It's Not a.k.a. The Defenders

[Dread]

DEFENDERS #6 seems like an Iron Fist issue, and the cover looks spiffy. I imagine whatever happens with Misty Knight at the end of VILLAINS FOR HIRE will prep for her and Danny to reunite at some point under Fraction.

 

[Sebastos]

Defenders #4 preview:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11627

Awesome art from Lark and come on, this variant cover is just to cool.

Just noticed that's K'un-Lun in the background.

 

[Dread]

That is pretty bad ass.

And my willingness to tolerate "ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN" went up about 25% because Iron Fist will be in it.

 

[Sebastos]

LOL yes Danny's role in the show sounds so cool, I love how the creators understand him for who he is. It's going to be awesome seeing Iron Fist and Spidey fight side by side.

I also love how Danny is concerned about his comics in the preview.

 

[Sebastos]

Defenders in June solicits:

Defenders #7:

DEFENDERS #7 $3.99

(W) Matt Fraction (A/C) Terry Dodson

Strange and company find their way to Wakanda… and the Black Panther!
The Black Cat takes the job of a lifetime. The reward? Anything she desires!
John Aman, the Prince of Orphans, readies to defend his secret with his life!

NEW MUTANTS #44:

W) Dan Abnett & Various (A) Carmine Di Giandomenico (CA) Stephanie Hans

“FEAR THE FUTURE” Chapter 1!

Guest-starring the Defenders!
Dr. Strange’s team protects humanity from the impossible…so what does this uber powerful group want with the New Mutants?
It begins here: the culmination of all the super smart seeds that DnA have been planting…in “Fear The Future”!

Great month, Black Cat joins AND the team shows up in another book.

 

[Sebastos]

First look at Defenders #5:

http://marvel.com/news/story/18352/first_look_defenders_5

Intriguing stuff with the Concordance Engine.

 

[Sebastos]

Lettered preview for Defenders #5:

http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=46103

"It's Al Capone's vault!" LOL Betty.

Solicit for Defenders #8...Iron Fist and John Aman fighting? And it's classified?

DEFENDERS #8

(W) Matt Fraction (A) Victor Ibanez (CA) Terry Dodson

CLASSIFIED

 

[Dread]

First look at Defenders #5:

http://marvel.com/news/story/18352/first_look_defenders_5

Intriguing stuff with the Concordance Engine.

Indeed. Some far out artwork there.

I get the feeling Red She-Hulk is serving the role that Valkyrie traditionally would on the team, only Valkyrie has been busy with the SECRET AVENGERS (alongside Beast, another DEFENDERS mainstay), so Betty gets the nod. Fraction seems to be interested in hooking her up with Silver Surfer, which is bound to make Hulk jealous. Who'd have thought Norrin Radd would finally move on from Shalla Bal, right? I am not keen on EVERYONE in Hulk's cast becoming a hulk, and I miss Jen Walkers, Fraction's Rulkie isn't too bad for me.

At any rate, I think this is working because Fraction has twigged that what made the DEFENDERS unique was they fought the weird, far out stuff. While Rick Remender seems to be using that angle as well for his SECRET AVENGERS run, DEFENDERS is different.

Plus, it seems Wolverine and Spider-Man aren't the only Avengers on more than one team. Go Iron Fist!

 

[Sebastos]

Jamie McKelvie will be the new artist for Defenders!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=38245

His work will surely be a great compliment for this book, can't wait.

Also from Defenders #5, Danny and Jeryn bickering once again lol:

Spoiler

Reminded me of the Immortal Iron Fist days.

 

[batdude]

This Mckelvie seems pretty similiar to Kevin Maguire. it could work, but I'd have to see his Namor.

 

[Sebastos]

Defenders #6 Preview:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=12205

Great looking preview...I'm glad Danny was able to save Fat Cobra, but unfortunately the same can't be said about Dog Brother #1, Tiger's Beautiful Daughter and Bride of Nine Spiders.

Just who is killing the Immortal Weapons? Can't wait for this mystery to unfold...

 

[Sebastos]

Seriously how good was Defenders #6? So many interesting developments and damn it was good to see Orson and Confederates again. Looking forward to the team traveling to Aman's home of Z'Gambo next issue. Speaking of Aman,

Spoiler

he was on a team with Captain Nemo?!

Badass!

I would really like more stories of the Confederates, these pages were just to good:

Spoiler

I love the "Find Out in Confederates of the Curious #846!" What a tease...

 

[Dread]

I wasn't altogether thrilled with the idea of killing off all of the Immortal Weapons besides Davos (because he is one of Rand's only major villains) and Fat Cobra (the breakout character of the troupe). I though Bride Of 9 Spiders had some potential from SPIDER-ISLAND and the others coulda been contenders. Of course, since Fraction co-created all of them, he's arguably the one withe most creative authority to axe them off. It did seem surprising that John Amon was in the role he was, until one recalls that before he was buddies with people and teaming up with the SECRET AVENGERS, he was originally sent to kill Orson and was sort of considered the "ultimate' Immortal Weapon, the one who was intended to kill the others if and when he had to.

The new art looks good; I do hope this series can eventually keep an artist for more than 3-4 issues. It looks like Black Cat dons some armor for her Defenders stint. Between this and DAREDEVIL, Felicia's starting to branch out a bit.

 

[Sebastos]

I was glad Danny was able to save Fat Cobra and Fraction confirmed there will be a new Dog Brother, Tiger's Beautiful Daugher and Bride of Nine Spiders. The revelations in this issue were so good though, I'm still trying to figure out who the members on Aman on Nemo's team are:

Also here's an inked preview of New Mutants #44 featuring the Defenders!

http://marvel.com/news/story/18699/new_mutants_after_exiled

 

[Dread]

I was glad Danny was able to save Fat Cobra and Fraction confirmed there will be a new Dog Brother, Tiger's Beautiful Daugher and Bride of Nine Spiders. The revelations in this issue were so good though, I'm still trying to figure out who the members on Aman on Nemo's team are:

Fat Cobra and John Amon were easily the "breakout stars" of the Immortal Weapons; I am sort of sad to see the Bride go. It was the quick and swift method of execution which probably stunned me the most. "Oh, here, they're all dead one panel each". Well.

The dilemma is that it risks making the Immortal Weapons seem (mostly) interchangeable. Which won't help any attach to fans as characters besides the ones who already have.

As for the folks with Amon, I have no clue - although the dude in the suit and red cape looks a lot like Mister E from THE TWELVE, which would be awkward since he was supposed to be in suspended animation during that period.

 

[Sebastos]

Cover to Defenders #9:

One word: EPIC

 

[Sebastos]

Fraction just confirmed Ant-Man will be in #10 and Nick Fury will be in #9.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Which Nick Fury?

 

[Dread]

Which Nick Fury?

From the panels which appeared in earlier issues, the senior version and not the junior.

 

[Sebastos]

Yes, the senior version:

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Cool. I still probably won't read it, but it's nice to see White Fury still getting a bit of page-time.

 

[Dread]

Cool. I still probably won't read it, but it's nice to see White Fury still getting a bit of page-time.

Sure. Nothing in BATTLE SCARS suggested he wouldn't. It merely noted that since there is no more Infinity Formula, Nick Fury will now eventually grow old and die of natural causes. Considering this is the same Marvel Universe where Franklin Richards can exist for roughly 40 years and still not even be 12 years old, there is no reason why Nick Fury Sr. can't stick around a while.

Plus, Brubaker has him as an essential cog in WINTER SOLDIER and his other assorted Cap books.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

All roles that could easily be taken over by Black Fury for that cross-media tastiness, though.

 

[Dread]

Eh, Brubaker is one of the "Marvel Architects", their own Illuminati of writers. Given his success on CAPTAIN AMERICA I imagine they'll let him have whatever Fury he wants, and he utilizes the traditional Fury in WINTER SOLDIER. But there's no problem with Fury Jr. taking on those visible roles at SHIELD while the senior is out doing shady stuff in the shadows with Barnes and Widow.

Not everyone was a fan of BATTLE SCARS and while it was no masterpiece, I thought it did a solid job of finding an in-continuity method to get to what corporate demanded. I mean, they could have just killed Nick Fury Sr. off, or went through some complicated skin-change ordeal like the Punisher got in the 90's or even a "I am the real Fury, all the others were LMD's" retcon but Yost didn't do that. Instead Nick got a son, and I can live with that. Yeah, getting the son to lose an eye and his hair in battle was obligatory, but it's no biggie.

The bigger question may be who is Ant-Man, given the events in SECRET AVENGERS. Will Fraction even acknowledge them?

James McKelvie seems to be giving Black Cat a more functional outfit. Interesting. John Amon better not kill her off, though!

 

[Sebastos]

#9 solicit:

DEFENDERS #9
MATT FRACTION (W)
JAMIE McKELVIE (A)
Cover by TERRY DODSON
• The Concordance Engine unleashed!
• The Defenders…. lost in infinite space-time without a map!
• What alternate universe will they find first? And who is waiting for them?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Looking forward to this.