Controversial Defenders Opinions

[Nomads1]

Well, this is my favorite thread over in the Avengers forum, and, with the ressurgence that the Defenders are experiencing now, I think it's high time we had a Controversial Opinions thread about them. I'm sure there will be pleanty to be discussed.

To kick start it, let me give one of my own:

The New Defenders would have been much more successful if J.M. DeMatties hadn't left the book and if a "cooler artist" such as Sal Buscema or Mike Zeck (or even Alan Kupperberg) had stuck with it, rather than Don Perlin.

Looking foward to see the controversial opinions that you all may have over the long history of the Defenders.

Peace

[Rheged]

I will say, though I don't think it's controversial, that the Defenders didn't get a lot of love in the A-List artist department, especially in the later issues.

[Shellhead]

My controversial Defenders opinion is that the original series ended with issue #65.

[Nomads1]

I will say, though I don't think it's controversial, that the Defenders didn't get a lot of love in the A-List artist department, especially in the later issues.

At the end, sure. I mean, except for a few fill-ins, Perlin was the penciler from around 80 something right until the final issue, and while he was a competent enough penciller I think he lacked a bit the imagination to illustrate most of the high fantasy concepts of the Defenders. The choice of inker actually also influenced a lot his pencils. IMHO, Kim DeMulder was too dark and gritty for him. The final couple of issues with Dell Barras, I think it was, were actually quite good.
But, in the early days, The Defenders actually had some pretty good artists. Ross Andru to begin with, and Sal Buscema had a huge run on the book during his best years. Some would say that his collaboration with Klaus Janson produced some of the best work of his carrer. Keith Giffen also did some great work on the book, but around his run, and Ed Hannigan's that came afterwards, fill in artists started to become quite common on the book until Perlin came along.

My controversial Defenders opinion is that the original series ended with issue #65.

That is at the very least, an interesting point of view. Care to elaborate?

Peace

[FanboyStranger]

Ed Hanningan's "Tunnelworld" saga is perhaps the worst multi-issue storyline Marvel ever produced.

[Corey W]

I am not that up on my Defenders, but love the controversial Avengers opinions so much that I will pick up whatever Essential Defenders volumes and collected editions there are just to participate.

Let's hope the Fraction book doesn't get cancelled in the meantime.

[AcesX1X]

nighthawk should have never been a defender.

[Corey W]

nighthawk should have never been a defender.

That is controversial. Why so?

[Shellhead]

That is at the very least, an interesting point of view. Care to elaborate?

Peace

The Defenders had a great run from the very beginning (that Undying Ones crossover) up through about the end of Gerber's strange stories. After that, the title was hit or miss for a while, but included some great stories. The last really good Defenders story was the Day of the Defenders, when a whole bunch of heroes and villains all became Defenders for one day.

Then the quality started to slide, with stories fumbling around with minor characters like Arisen Tyrk, Foolkiller and Omega. And as FanboyStranger mentioned, the Tunnelworld saga was very disappointing. Also, the guys with wings growing out of their ears looked really stupid. After that, lots of guest stars, including a phase when lots of Avengers were showing up in the book. In the final stretch, the team mutated into a line-up that resembled the Champions more than the Defenders.

[Ofpromise]

Any Defender line up without Hulk, Namor, and Strange in the forefront is doomed to failure. That Namor/Hulk bickering is what I love about the team.

[SJNeal]

Probably not too controversial, but She-Hulk should have been on the current team as opposed to She-Rulk.

[Shinglepants]

If its not Hulk, Namor, Strange and Surfer, its not Defenders.

Any Defender line up without Hulk, Namor, and Strange in the forefront is doomed to failure. That Namor/Hulk bickering is what I love about the team.

I love the bickering.

[Frank]

I prefer the Defenders like Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Gargoyle, Hellcat, etc... to the big characters like SS, Namor, Hulk and Strange.

[Brannon]

The Defenders is the only team that makes sense for Spider-Man...yet he's never been a member to my knowledge. Brilliant, Marvel.

[The Black Guardian]

I prefer the Defenders like Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Gargoyle, Hellcat, etc... to the big characters like SS, Namor, Hulk and Strange.

Honestly, I've liked every Defenders team that didn't have the big four on it better. Even the Last Defenders.