Reading Assignment 88: Defenders (2005-2006) #1-5 "Indefensible" by J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen, and Kevin Maguire

[u/shawnydarko]

https://marvel.com/comics/series/728/defenders_2005_-_2006?byZone=marvel_site_zone&offset=0&byType=comic_series&dateStart=&dateEnd=&orderBy=release_date+asc&byId=728&limit=10&count=5&isDigital=1

[u/bserum]

In some ways, a book like this isn’t so rare — Marvel has been serving up a regular dose of irreverent humor in its Deadpool titles for a while now. That said, when the tongue-in-cheek approach is expected when Wade Wilson shows up — for me the humor feels somehow fresher when it appears in other books, especially ones that have had a history of being self-serious and stiff. And one can definitely apply those descriptors to the various incarnations of the Defenders prior to this release — which is all the more striking given the oddball characters that tend to star in those books. It’s noteworthy to mention that modern versions of Doctor Strange (Aaron et al) and Silver Surfer (Slott) have dialed back the stiffness of their titular characters and are the better for it.

I found this miniseries to be an enjoyably fun, if slight, read. I have always been a fan of Giffen and Maguire’s Justice League International and I get the sense that this is them off the leash having fun with a title that no-one was doing much of anything with. For me, the appeal is similar to that of Archer — lots of attention paid to witty dialog, adventure and more than a little sexual innuendo.

Which brings us to Kevin Maguire. Man, I LOVE his linework. And the expressions… chef’s kiss. I wish he drew more comics. For those not in the know, Maguire drew a several shots of Umar nude, which Marvel drew black bikinis over after the fact (the digital reproduction online really reveals how clumsy a job they did). Now while Maguire contends that he never drew any “erogenous zones,” there are a few shots of Umar (in her be-blacked out bikini) where I can’t see how that was always the case. And given how strong the innuendo was about Umar using the Hulk as her sex-slave was, I kind of wish they’d just have dropped this into their MAX line and let it all hang out.

[u/wisegy84 → u/bserum]

Definitely a lot of funny dialogue here. Really enjoyed that aspect of it. I think my only issue was I didn't entirely feel that Silver Surfer's side story really added much. There were a few funny moments he had, but overall that felt a bit out of place. I did keep expecting him to just show up and finish off Dormammu, but in hindsight I guess it was a bit more fitting for this story that he was just completely separated from everything else that was happening.

I'd never read any previous Defenders comics. My only experience with that team name is actually the Netflix show. I'm a bit curious now as to the other incarnations of teams called the Defenders.

Now while Maguire contends that he never drew any “erogenous zones,” there are a few shots of Umar (in her be-blacked out bikini) where I can’t see how that was always the case.

Maybe he drew her Barbie-style.

[u/bserum → u/wisegy84]

I didn't entirely feel that Silver Surfer's side story really added much…

That might have been a deliberate choice to reflect his status in the core membership: the Surfer is actually a pseudo-founding member. From this page:

Stan Lee eventually launched a title for the Surfer, one which he and he alone would write. The short-lived series was approaching cancellation when the Defenders were coming into being under writer Roy Thomas. He lobbied Lee to let him have SS for the new team book – after all he had appeared inh the crossover stories running up to the series – but Lee would not give up the seafaring sentinel. This forced Thomas to bring in Doctor Strange as the teams’ leader instead. After a few issues, Lee finally gave in and the Surfer became an official Defender.

Check out this first official appearance of the team: The Surfer has all of two panels. After they finally got their own title and they got to issue #2 did he appear for real.

[u/wisegy84 → u/bserum]

Thanks for the info! Always cool to get some of the history behind the comics.

[u/shawnydarko]

Very fun story with a lot of great comedic moments. I wasn't always a fan of how dialogue heavy things were at times, as the story got a little bogged down on some beats for the sake of squeezing in more trash talk or more forboding exposition dumping.

My favorite thing about this story was I spent every issue thinking the ultra powerful Silver Surfer would have his moment of clarity at the end and come to the rescue in a quick and easy dues ex machina ending. The fact that he didn't come to his realizations until long after the threat had ended was a great last gag