Defenders (Marvel)

The Defenders is a fictional superhero group from Marvel, who are among the many superhero teams from said comics and universe. 
The team was originally formed by Doctor Strange to stop the Undying Ones by manipulating Namor and the Hulk to assist him, but the Defenders still continues to rotate members from each era. Despite being considered a "non-team" due to most members not liking their teammates, they are willing to put aside their differences to protect the world from threats that are supernatural or mystical. The group would go through various revamps through the years, such as being re-titled as the New Defenders, and later the Secret Defenders before the original was revamped in the 2010s.
Since the debut of the team, the group has appeared in numerous media, such as in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Netflix series.
The team was created by and the late , and first appeared in Marvel Feature #1 in July-December of 1971.
==History==
===Formation===
When the Undying Ones traveled to Earth to invade, Doctor Strange attempted to thwart the demon but realized he needed assistance from others to stop them. The sorcerer would manipulate Namor into helping him from coming to Earth, and the two later worked with the Hulk to stop them once again. The trio would soon unite to stop Yandroth from using his doomsday device via Strange's persuasion, but Namor and Hulk swore to never work with him again. Despite their vow, the two would assist Doctor Strange on several occasions, and the three later formed the team to deal with mystical or supernatural threats.
===Adventures===
Following the formation of the team, the group started to find more members, who were often other heroes who assisted the trio during their adventures. The first being Silver Surfer, who had previously helped Namor and Hulk to stop a weather control experiment that could be devastating and was later assisted by the team against Calizuma and the Warrior Wizards. The next member was the Asgardian warrior Valkyrie, who remained the team for a long time after she helped them defeat Casiolena. Nighthwak would also become a long-term member after his reformation and later lead the "Last Defenders", and Hellcat would soon become a mainstay as well.
During the team's constant rotating members in its early tenure, the Defenders would come across numerous villains that became well known rogues' galleries. The team would learn that a group of minor demons calling themselves the Six-Fingered Hand were trying to merge Hell with the Earth, they went to stop them with the assistance of the Gargoyle, and later learned that the demons were manipulated by Mephisto. The team then faced the ancient dark lord Dormammu, who tricked the heroes into fighting the Avengers while helping Loki try to obtain the Evil of Avalon.
===Reorganization===
When Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor and Silver Surfer were tricked by the Tribunals into believing their interactions would cause Earth's end, the heroes decided to split away. The new recruit Beast decided to reorganize the team by branding it the New Defenders, which consisted of Valkyrie, Iceman, Archangel, Gargoyle, Moondragon and Cloud under Candy Southern's leadership. The founding members would return once they learned of the Tribunal's prophecy being false and managed to help the New Defenders defeat Shanzar.
===Ultimate Marvel===
In the Ultimate Marvel comics, the Defenders' origins are entirely different, as they are a group of vigilantes who cared more about fame and status than stopping threats. Though the members didn't have any powers, they've stated that are skilled combatants, wearing superhero costumes for a front. Things would change when the group invited Hank Pym into their ranks, and attempted to make him believe they were serious. After the team's first mission was disastrous, Pym left the group and rejoined the Ultimates, while the Norse god Loki tricked the Defenders by granting them powers.
==Members==
===Founding Members===
*Doctor Strange
*Hulk
*Namor the Sub-Mariner
===Later Members===
*Silver Surfer
*Clea
*Valkyrie
*Hawkeye
*Nighthawk
*Luke Cage
*Daimon Hellstrom
*Captain America
*Moon Knight
*Red Guardian (Tania Belinsky)
*Cloud
*Hellcat
*Devil-Slayer
*Gargoyle
*Iceman
*Wasp
*Yellowjacket
==Gallery==
===Videos===
The Defenders By Steve Gerber
==Trivia==
* speculates that the late came up with the team's name.
*The team is often seen as the foil to the Avengers, due to the group being low-profile, low status, and strange adventures that border on the weirder.
Category:Organizations
Category:Comic Book Heroes
Category:Marvel Heroes
Category:Hulk Heroes
Category:Science Fantasy Heroes
Category:Titular
Category:Superheroes
Category:Honorable
Category:Selfless
Category:Fighters
Category:Protectors
Category:Supporters
Category:Global Protection
Category:Good Vs. Good
Category:Protectors of Innocence
Category:Keeper of Secret Identity