The Last Defenders

[Darthphere]

So wait, these guys are being added on, or replacing the initial team?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think they're being added. Four people is pretty small for any team without the number "four" in their name, to be honest.

 

[RockSP]

According to Casey on Newsarama there is "change and upheaval" happening. So they could be replacing members, who knows.

 

[venom892]

Yeah, The Oath was one of the best mini-series I've ever read. I really, really wish we could've gotten a Strange series out of that.

Me too.I din't read so did Bendis ever showcase the romance between strange and the night nurse?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, I saw the Night Nurse in Strange's house in some Bendis comic a while ago.

 

[Dread]

Yeah, The Oath was one of the best mini-series I've ever read. I really, really wish we could've gotten a Strange series out of that.

Me too. Hell, I'd settle for another mini. Marvel could then sell the two as a hardcover. Win-win.

So wait, these guys are being added on, or replacing the initial team?

I think they're being added. Four people is pretty small for any team without the number "four" in their name, to be honest.

According to Casey on Newsarama there is "change and upheaval" happening. So they could be replacing members, who knows.

It could be a case of both. As Corp said, 4 members for any team that isn't the Fantastic Four is usually considered too small (and even the Four at times have had "associates" who tagged along on occasion, such as Sharon Ventura), so I figured at some point Nighthawk would want to add new members to the team, especially as he is hanging out with Gargoyle in the first issue. Nighthawk, Gargoyle, Hellcat, and Valkyrie were really the "C-Listers" who made the flesh of that team for long stretches during the 70's into the 80's when the founders often split for various reasons.

On the other hand, we have some members of this new roster who haven't been Defenders before, namely Blazing Skull and Colossus. She-Hulk was once, briefly. Maybe one of 'em can't handle it. Or heck, maybe one of them gets injured. Maybe Nighthawk is that one and the team has to function midway through without his leadership. After all, even in the older Defenders stories, his attempts to lead and organize the team rarely stuck for long. Could history repeat itself?

I really hope Valkyrie or Hellcat are one of the new members. Casey seemed to let it slip that at least two out of the three on the cover are male. I'd probably prefer Valkyrie to Hellcat, given that Hellcat at least had a MCP story recently and Valkyrie's still seemingly dead, but either one would be cool. If Nighthawk is meeting Gargoyle in issue #1 and he doesn't join up, there has to be some sort of reason.

It could be possible that "big guy" via the shadow IS Gargoyle. I kind of doubt it, because it would be anti-climatic, but who knows.

To repeat myself from about 2 pages ago, Casey mentioned the "Defenders for a Day" as a hint for one of the members, a story circa 1978 where a bunch of heroes joined up but then quit after one hectic mission. Out of that bunch, the only ones who aren't dead, off world or already on a current team are:
Captain Ultra
Captain Marvel (back for now)
Falcon
Hercules (although he is busy on INCREDIBLE HERC)
Paladin
Prowler
Stingray
Tagak the Leopard Lord

I highly doubt it will be Hercules, Capt. Marvel, Falcon, or Tagak. I mean, who'd care about Tagak!? He's had two appearences in the 70's and has a rather silly power/costume/dimensional origin. I suppose he could be reimagined as a Thundercat rip-off, but god, why?

So that leaves Captain Ultra, Paladin, Prowler, or Stingray. Frankly, I'd love if Stingray got some more exposure or stuff to do. Prowler would at least provide the obligatory black man to the team, and Paladin's a capable fighter who fights for the right pay. Capt. Ultra has never been used for anything other than comic relief, and has the worst costume ever.

People brought up the Thunderbolts, of which Nighthawk used to be working with, and it is possible that a few of them who aren't current members could be joining the team. Nighthawk seemed to have issues with Zemo and Speed-Demon, so I couldn't see him selecting them willingly. Maybe Mach-IV?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Mach-IV would be good. No one's used him for anything since Ellis' T-bolts overhaul, right?

It'd be great if the Black Knight could rejoin the Defenders. I'd trust Casey with him more than most.

 

[RockSP]

Capt. Ultra has never been used for anything other than comic relief, and has the worst costume ever.

Isn't Ultra leading an Initiative team? I know I read someone talking about that a while back on here. He was appearing in Iron Man.

 

[Blader5489]

Isn't Ultra leading an Initiative team? I know I read someone talking about that a while back on here. He was appearing in Iron Man.

Yeah, the Nebraska team.

 

[Anubis]

Currently in Iron man: Director of SHIELD fighting the mandarin.

 

[Dread]

Mach-IV would be good. No one's used him for anything since Ellis' T-bolts overhaul, right?

It'd be great if the Black Knight could rejoin the Defenders. I'd trust Casey with him more than most.

I don't recall anyone using him since the Ellis overhaul. Only Moonstone and Radioactive Man made the "new" team, and Zemo had a mini a while back. Yeah, Mach-IV (could he upgrade to Mach-V? Go Speed Racer, GO!) would fit. Nighthawk has hi-tech additions to his costume but I really don't consider him a "technology user" type hero like I would for Mach-IV or Iron Man or so on.

I'd also agree that it would be great if Black Knight rejoined the Defenders. He hasn't done much of anything in a while. Sure, there was a stint on EXCALIBER, but c'mon...he can do better. He's a great mix of mysticism and science and shouldn't go to waste.

Isn't Ultra leading an Initiative team? I know I read someone talking about that a while back on here. He was appearing in Iron Man.

Yeah, the Nebraska team.

Currently in Iron man: Director of SHIELD fighting the mandarin.

Wow, Captain Ultra, leading a state team, fighting Iron Man's nemesis...the Initiative really is taking all takers.

 

[Anubis]

he's actually doing pretty well dispite the fact that he's kinda an idiot.

 

[Dread]

he's actually doing pretty well dispite the fact that he's kinda an idiot.

He was an idiot with decent superpowers.

Anyway, if Capt. Ultra is busy, that sort of limits those "Defenders for a Day" to Paladin, Stingray, or Prowler. Paladin was usually involved with Heroes for Hire, but their book ended. Stingray could use the exposure. Prowler hasn't been on a team since the Outlaws, though.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I thought Paladin was with Silver Sable's group.

 

[Darthphere]

I thought he was dead.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Possibly. I haven't read Heroes for Hire.

 

[Darthphere]

Paladin, Junta and Atlas? Eh, maybe I'll pick this up.

 

[RockSP]

I thought Paladin was with Silver Sable's group.

At one time he was. But she doesn't have a group anymore...at least she didn't in that Sable & Fortune mini (or was it Fortune & Sable? Anyway...) from a couple years ago.

 

[Harlekin]

Holy ****! The return of Junta? I thought we'd never see him again.

I want this book, NOW!

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I dunno squat about any of those 3. Color me unexcited.

 

[Dread]

Paladin is a longtime merc (last worked with Heroes for Hire and Silver Sable), and Atlas was naturally a longtime Thunderbolt (and ex-Master of Evil).

Incidentally, you have to love how it seems one hand of Marvel's hype dept. doesn't know what the other is doing. Newsarama posted the cover to issue #3 with those guys blacked out to build suspence, and the May 2008 solicts spoil it within a week.

Least I was right about Paladin. Sort of.

As for Junta, he was created by Christopher Priest for his THE CREW series:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junta_(comics)

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I dunno squat about any of those 3. Color me unexcited.

I do know a bit about most of them, but I'm probably as unexcited as you for their arrival. Except Atlas. He's great. Junta was crap in The Crew and Paladin has never once been interesting to me in all the times I've seen him in comics. Hopefully, Colossus, She-Hulk, and/or Blazing Skull will stick around and these nubs are cast additions rather than cast changes.

 

[RockSP]

Glad to see Junta again (though I would've preferred it in a new Crew series, of course...). I guess he and Paladin will have a "who can be the biggest jerk" contest.

 

[Harlekin]

I do know a bit about most of them, but I'm probably as unexcited as you for their arrival. Except Atlas. He's great. Junta was crap in The Crew and Paladin has never once been interesting to me in all the times I've seen him in comics. Hopefully, Colossus, She-Hulk, and/or Blazing Skull will stick around and these nubs are cast additions rather than cast changes.

Dude, Junta was awesome in the Crew. Not as cool as White Tiger, but he was definitely pretty badass. Will be interesting to see how he functions with this team, and why he's even on it.

 

[RockSP]

All I know is "mother" better be there with him or there'll be hell to pay...