Let's Talk About The Defenders... NO... THE REAL DEFENDERS!

[KRYPTON INC.]

Kenneth Choi has also played two roles in the MCU.

My original thinking was that the Strange series would go darker and maybe even full horror with Midnight Sons as a follow up. But the Original Defenders had a slightly odd supernatural vibe that may fit better in the MCU. Bring on the Headmen!

In addition to the wonderful Defenders tribute, JL & JLU also put Galactus in the Source Wall, set Supes on fire as an Original Human Torch homage and had Commander Steel tossing a shield.

Lord, realized with modern SFX The Headmen could be super disturbing.

 

[Zarex]

Ruby Tuesday creeped prepubescent me the frick out. Yet for some reason I couldn't look away!

 

[ludovica]

I came to ask: Headmen, yay or nay?
Pleased to see I am late to the suggestion.

 

[metaphysician]

I feel like the Headmen can only work as either "very creepy" or "very campy". So, whether to use them would depend on if the movie or show in question is going for either of those tones.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I would hope if they ever actually gave us a Defenders movie something to discuss would be how this group is really a law unto themselves. The Avengers certainly act that way to a large degree but the public perception of them and their relationship with the authorities still plays a part in their dynamic as a group and with the wider world.

But the Defenders?

Strange is beholden to a responsibility that exceeds any thought towards law or government.

Namor? He's the ruler of a society separate from the rest of the world and indeed is often at loggerheads with the whole of humanity.

MCU Valkyrie is now herself ruler of a nation of peoples with their own separate traditions and culture. For all we know she's got some kind of diplomatic immunity.

Surfer is a creature of the cosmos now, with power to shrug off any threat to his freedom by most individuals or entities on Earth.

Moondragon was raised in an alien culture with mind powers that in the comics actually dwarf the capabilities of well known telepathy like Prof. X and Jean Grey.

The Supreme Power version of Nighthawk is like an unhinged Batman who is a vigilante that plays by his own rules.

The odd man out here might be Banner, but even then, he knows how the governments of the world can hunt and hound someone like him to the depths of desperation for the purposes of controlling or destroying him.



I think it would be cool to see an MCU super team that could not only be inclined to tell a Nick Fury to go jump in a lake but have the power to back that assertion up with.

 

[Iceman]

I have dreamed of this. Strange, Hulk, Namor, Surfer and Valkyrie all together. I have very high hopes for when the MCU eventually welcomes Namor and Surfer.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I have dreamed of this. Strange, Hulk, Namor, Surfer and Valkyrie all together. I have very high hopes for when the MCU eventually welcomes Namor and Surfer.

May your dreams come true Bobby.

 

[Roose Bolton]

You know, they’ll never ever ever ever do this given the tone and style, but there’s a LOT of cosmic horror elements to take from Al Ewing’s recent Immortal Hulk and Best Defence/Defenders work that would be pretty compelling to see on the big screen. It’d be like a superhero team as directed by 80s John Carpenter.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

You know, they’ll never ever ever ever do this given the tone and style, but there’s a LOT of cosmic horror elements to take from Al Ewing’s recent Immortal Hulk and Best Defence/Defenders work that would be pretty compelling to see on the big screen. It’d be like a superhero team as directed by 80s John Carpenter.

I haven't kept up with comics in a while but the concept sounds interesting and certainly hews closer to the Jekyl/Hyde dynamic.

Do you remember this David story?

I know they ended up going back to this idea of the Dark Matter Sorcerer Supreme attaching itself to Gray Hulk. In the original story the way to get him out of Banner was to go into the psychic plane of Bruce's mind and to attempt to unleash the Green Hulk. Well... If anyone disliked the smart Hulk of AEG, here's a way to get more into Bruce's MPD issues and bring back Green Hulk and perhaps get into the Gray Hulk (perhaps utilizing some of that Immortal Hulk angle rather than the pure Joe Fixit material which, let's be honest, needs more set up and time than the movies allow), all by using Dr. Strange's powers to facilitate it. You can have Bruce be taken over by the Dark Matter Sorcerer and this forces Strange to have to bring in all the other heroes. The resolution then brings Banner back to having to share his life with "the other guy" and maybe... Another guy? Now back to having to deal with the instability of his pre-Avengers life, Bruce must take refuge within the Sanctum.

Just spitballing here.

 

[JimThompson]

I have dreamed of this. Strange, Hulk, Namor, Surfer and Valkyrie all together. I have very high hopes for when the MCU eventually welcomes Namor and Surfer.

Me too!

 

[Roose Bolton]

I haven't kept up with comics in a while but the concept sounds interesting and certainly hews closer to the Jekyl/Hyde dynamic.

Do you remember this David story?

I know they ended up going back to this idea of the Dark Matter Sorcerer Supreme attaching itself to Gray Hulk. In the original story the way to get him out of Banner was to go into the psychic plane of Bruce's mind and to attempt to unleash the Green Hulk. Well... If anyone disliked the smart Hulk of AEG, here's a way to get more into Bruce's MPD issues and bring back Green Hulk and perhaps get into the Gray Hulk (perhaps utilizing some of that Immortal Hulk angle rather than the pure Joe Fixit material which, let's be honest, needs more set up and time than the movies allow), all by using Dr. Strange's powers to facilitate it. You can have Bruce be taken over by the Dark Matter Sorcerer and this forces Strange to have to bring in all the other heroes. The resolution then brings Banner back to having to share his life with "the other guy" and maybe... Another guy? Now back to having to deal with the instability of his pre-Avengers life, Bruce must take refuge within the Sanctum.

Just spitballing here.

Yeah this is where I think they could really have fun and get trippy as hell. And had you asked me 12 months ago, I would have said for certain that we’d see it in Endgame because it feels like this is really a necessity moving Ol Jade Jaws forward as a character. Plus, I think getting into the realm of our heroes minds could serve all of the Defenders pretty well from character standpoint. It’s pretty much a trope with Surfer at least that we get a mandatory scene of him watching his own memories as Norrin Radd with Shalla-Bal.

But yeah...I do recommend Immortal Hulk. It’s one of the few comics I still read on the regular and it’s pretty great with how it works all of the previous runs on Hulk into this new story. Lots of Peter David and Bill Mantlo stuff with the various personalities and Brian Banner being a central fixture. And the Prince Of Darkness/The Thing influences are great...

Spoiler

Blonsky had a run in with the Swedes...

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Yeah this is where I think they could really have fun and get trippy as hell. And had you asked me 12 months ago, I would have said for certain that we’d see it in Endgame because it feels like this is really a necessity moving Ol Jade Jaws forward as a character. Plus, I think getting into the realm of our heroes minds could serve all of the Defenders pretty well from character standpoint. It’s pretty much a trope with Surfer at least that we get a mandatory scene of him watching his own memories as Norrin Radd with Shalla-Bal.

But yeah...I do recommend Immortal Hulk. It’s one of the few comics I still read on the regular and it’s pretty great with how it works all of the previous runs on Hulk into this new story. Lots of Peter David and Bill Mantlo stuff with the various personalities and Brian Banner being a central fixture. And the Prince Of Darkness/The Thing influences are great...

Spoiler

Blonsky had a run in with the Swedes...

I too assumed that Hulk/Banner would get some spotlight leading to the merging of psyches in AEG but... They did the off screen resolution thing instead, which, I do get how that's unsatisfying. And you are right, they need to move Hulk/Banner forward. I know I sound like a broken record here but this is why I don't find the Hulk in AEG to be a true version of David's merged Hulk and much more like the Pre-Secret Wars (80's) version where Banner was in charge of the Hulk's body. Even in AEG he makes no mention of "the other guy", and in IW and Ragnarok Hulk is for sure a discrete personality from Banner, what with the argument in IW between them. So since he's not getting that solo, you are correct, a Defenders or at least a Defenders type movie is what can be used to continue to feature this popular character as well as move his story into new areas.

And there's much more a case to be made with some of the usual Defender's line up characters to delve into the horror genre. Demon possesed villains or people disfigured by dark gods from pre-creation are right up this team's alley.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Natalie Dormer already appeared in First Avenger. They're not hiring her for a different mcu role.

I'm sorry all... I just had to relive this...

 

[psylockolussus]

Of course, you can't help yourself. You are baiting.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

And yet that changes nothing about how your confidently stated absolutist opinion was wrong... Again.

 

[Rorschach2012]

I am all for this

and just imagine if they snagged Keanu for Silver Surfer. My god...

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

If not Keanu I would gladly accept John Lee Miller.

 

[HRPUFFSTUFF]

if you cant use the name or put them into their own movie make them apart of a Dr Strange movie. Have Dr Strange bring together a team to help him stop a threat.

 

[InCali]

I always thought DS would be part of a new Avengers lineup, but having a Defenders team opens up SO many possibilities, it's crazy. I think people would go whack if this were announced. FF, X, Defenders, Avengers....whoa....

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I always thought DS would be part of a new Avengers lineup, but having a Defenders team opens up SO many possibilities, it's crazy. I think people would go whack if this were announced. FF, X, Defenders, Avengers....whoa....

Don't get my hopes up.

 

[Iceman]

I always thought DS would be part of a new Avengers lineup, but having a Defenders team opens up SO many possibilities, it's crazy. I think people would go whack if this were announced. FF, X, Defenders, Avengers....whoa....

Might even be a better route.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

We'll have to see how DS2 turns out but right now I prefer Strange interacting with the wider MCU as in IW/E.G over his first solo.

Defenders would be glorious.
Also gives them room to keep on using Hulk/Banner. And before anyone chimes in with how Hulk was "ruined for all time".., Get a grip. I think they fumbled a bit with Jade Jaws by handling him as they did. He got lost in the mix (And, sorry Marvel Zombies but yes, they leaned into comedy too hard...) amid a cast of thousands.

But... Have ya'll ever read a comic book? Do you not realize how easy it is to write new paths for characters or how this actually mirrors a period in the comics where Banner was mentally in control but had deep fears about losing it again? There is lots than can still be done with Hulk and it doesn't even take a lot of imagination on fans' parts to see that the way we last saw Banner isn't the end all be all.

Is MS inclined to do something is the question?

 

[InCali]

Don't get my hopes up.

Don't tell me what to do.