THE DEFENDERS: MEMBERSHIP

The Defenders are a loosely-knit band of costumed super-humans who have no official charter or by-laws, no government sanction, no permanent headquarters, and no fixed membership roster. The team began when Doctor Strange, the Hulk and the Sub-Mariner joined forces to battle a common foe, and agreed at the battle's victorious resolution to band together again when appropriate. At first, Doctor Strange was the nexus that brought the team together. Then, the arrival of the Valkyrie became instrumental in keeping the team together on more than a sporadic basis. Due to the unofficial nature of the Defenders, it could be said that any individual who assists the Defenders is a Defender. But, only certain individuals fit the two major criteria of membership:

1.That they consider themselves to be a Defender
2. That they are accepted by the continuing core group as a Defender

The following is a list of the three levels of Defenders membership: The Core Group, The Temporary Members and The Guest Heroes.

The Core Group: These Heroes have met the two criteria for core Defenders classification. Portions of this are still under construction.

*Appeared as Barbara Norriss in Defenders #3.

The Temporary Members: The following Heroes participated in Defenders exploits at various times, but were either regular members of other teams or did not remain in the group long enough to become part of the core membership. Portions of this are still under construction.

*The Defenders brought the stone statue of the Black Knight back to Doctor Strange's home in Defenders #4. Issues #5 to #11 dealt with the team's efforts to restore the Black Knight to human form. In the end, the Knight remained in the period of the Crusades fighting along side Richard the Lion Hearted and his "petrified body" remains in Strange's sanctum sanctorum.

The Guest Heroes: These Heroes were guests of the Defenders for one afternoon only appearing in Defenders #62-64, a story arc titled Membership Madness. This portion is still under construction. If you know any Heroes I may have missed, please advise me.

If you notice anything which you suspect may be incorrect, please advise me by email HERE.

Most of this information is taken from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #3 (C-D) March 1983.