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The Defenders
(aka: Defenders2010s Members)

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Character sheets for The Defenders.

This sheet refers to characters from The Defenders comic book series.

Remember, except where it directly states otherwise, this page is for characters and examples from the main Marvel Universe (Earth-616) Defenders only. Please do not list characters, or examples from other shows, movies or alternate universes here. If you have thought of a trope that fits The Defenders from another universe please take that example to its respective page.

WARNING: There are unmarked spoilers on these pages for all but the most recent comics.


Prime Marvel Universe note 

Defenders Members

    open/close all folders 
    Defenders On Other Pages 
    Defenders For a Day 

70's Defenders

    Nighthawk 

Nighthawk

Characters in The Defenders

Alter Ego: Kyle Richmond

First Appearance: The Avengers Vol. 1, #69 (October 1969)

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #14 (July 1974)

Kyle Richmond was a thrill-seeking playboy who became the costumed adventurer Nighthawk. Starting out as a villain, Richmond soon found altruism a greater pursuit. As Nighthawk, he became a mainstay of the Defenders and has also acted alongside the Squadron Supreme, the Redeemers, the Thunderbolts, and the Initiative.


  • Alternate Self: His most famous counterpart is the one from Earth-712, the reality of the Squadron Supreme. His other well-known counterpart is the black Kyle Richmond of Earth-31916, home of Supreme Power.
  • Animal-Themed Superbeing: Animal alias variety. It's been noted that hawks aren't nocturnal.
  • Badass Cape: His impressive red cape, which he can use as Cape Wings and glide.
  • Badass Normal: Just like the character he's based on, he doesn't have any superpowers but is a well-known and valued member of the Defenders.
  • Expy: Easily the most famous of Batman's Marvel's expies.
  • Handicapped Badass: After a battle against the Six-Fingered Hand, he was paralyzed except at night when he regained his mobility. After an adventure in Hell, he got better.
  • Heel–Face Turn: Started off as a rich brat who got his girlfriend crippled when he was driving drunk, then joined the Grandmaster's Squadron Sinister. Eventually becomes a Defender and member of various groups.
  • Primary-Color Champion: His costume is mostly dark blue with a red cape and golden accents.
  • Sucksessor: The Nighthawk of Earth-31916 thinks he's little more than Dumb Muscle and unimpressed with Kyle's mixed-bag adventuring history.
  • Super Serum: Sure he can't shoot lasers out of his eyes, but he's definitely not all that human. He was given an alchemical serum when he was recruited to Squadron Sinister and these permanently gave him low-tier superhuman strength, toughness, and other attributes. And these abilities double in power at night.
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: It is unknown what happened to him when it was exposed he had been replaced by a Skrull. It gets even more unclear when a new, black Kyle Richmond appeared as part of a new Squadron Supreme assembled by Phil Coulson and Mephisto.

    Red Guardian 

Red Guardian

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/red_guardian_tania_belinsky.jpg

Alter Ego: Tania Belinskaya

Notable Aliases: Starlight

First Appearance: The Defenders #35 (May, 1976) note ; Quasar #19 (Febuary, 1991) note 

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #35 (May, 1976)

The brilliant Russian neurosurgeon Dr. Tanya Belinsky would take first the mantle of the Red Guardian for some time. An encounter with a powerful villain made her the nuclear powerhouse Starlight.


  • Atomic Superpower: Sergei Krylov exposed Tania to cobalt radiation and a nuclear explosion which resulted in her gaining the ability to generate, store, and release massive amounts of nuclear energy.
  • Combat Medic: Red Guardian, who also was a skilled surgeon (she was the one who put Nighthawk's brain back to his body when it was stolen during a horrific surgery by the Headmen).
  • Friendless Background: She never knew real friendship until she joined the ranks of the Defenders.
  • Legacy Character: One of the many people that has taken the codename of Red Guardian.
  • Radiation-Induced Superpowers: How she became Starlight.
  • Red Is Heroic: Her costume is red and she's not antagonistic like the previous Red Guardians.

    Devil-Slayer 

Devil-Slayer

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/devil_slayer.jpeg

Alter Ego: Eric Simon Payne

Notable Aliases: Agent of Death, The Reaper of Souls, "Cape Man"

First Appearance: Marvel Spotlight Vol. 1 #33 (April, 1977)

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #58 (April, 1978)

A former soldier came into possession of a cape which made him Devil-Slayer, the demon hunter. Devil-Slayer served with the Defenders, and more recently, the Hawaiian Initiative team The Point Men and Wonder Man's anti-Avengers team.


    Captain Ultra 

Captain Ultra

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/captain_ultra_5.jpg

Alter Ego: Griffith Gogol

First Appearance: Fantastic Four #177

A lesser-known hero, Captain Ultra is nonetheless one of the cool guys of Marvel. He was one of many heroes to join the Defenders after hearing about laid-back they were from a documentary and then quit after a single day..
  • Alliterative Name: Griffith Gogol.
  • Captain Superhero: Captain Ultra.
  • Expy: Can be seen as one for DC's Martian Manhunter, sharing most of his powers with the exception of shapeshifting and formerly having a phobia to fire.
  • Flying Brick: He has the classical power set, being super strong, fast, resilient and capable of flight.
  • Hidden Depths: He's very good at making balloon animals.
  • Immune to Mind Control: Or at least resistant to mind control and other psychic attacks.
  • Impossibly Tacky Clothes: He proudly claims to have designed his costume himself. The Trapster's response? "I can tell."
  • Intangible Man: Captain Ultra is able to phase through solid matter.
  • Primary-Color Champion: While his outfits do have some green and orange, Captain Ultra's costumes are also mostly yellow with some blue and red.
  • The Resenter: The reason why he joined the Revengers and attacked Avengers' Mansion was because he resented being ignored when he asked to join the Avengers.
  • Super-Scream: Captain Ultra is able to shatter solid objects with an incredibly loud and destructive sonic scream.
  • Weaksauce Weakness: In his first appearance trying out for the Frightful Four, he had a paralyzing fear of fire that caused him to faint at the sight of a cigarette lighter. A captured Johnny Storm was happy to suggest the team accept him, because it's not like they're going to be regularly fighting people with fire powers anyway, right?

    Tagak the Leopard Lord 

Tagak the Leopard Lord

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tagak_leopard_lord_marvel_comics_daredevil_h1_big.jpg

Alter Ego: Tagak

First Appearance: Daredevil #72

Tagak is a member of an extra-dimensional blind humanoid race. To see, members of his race bond with large jaguars or leopards.

    Torpedo 

Torpedo

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/torpedo.jpg

Alter Ego: Brock Jones

First Appearance: Daredevil #126


  • Blue Is Heroic: The Torpedo outfit is mostly blue.
  • Legacy Character: Took over the title of Torpedo after the death of Michael Stivak. He himself would be succeeded by Mike Jeffries and Michiko Musashi under the alias of Turbo.

80's Defenders

    Gargoyle 

Gargoyle

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gargoyle_derwyddons_earth_616_from_gargoyle_vol_1_2_0001.png

Alter Ego: Isaac Christians

First Appearance: The Defenders Vol. 1, #94 (April, 1981)

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #94 (April, 1981)

Trapped in the immortal body of a gargoyle, Isaac Christians tries to redeem his previous evil acts as one of the Earth's defenders.


  • The Atoner: Chose to join the Defenders as a way to atone for his past actions, including trying to kill Hellcat under orders from the Six-Fingered Hand.
  • Barrier Warrior: One of the ways he can manipulate bio-mystical energy is by creating a field of protection.
  • Flight: He has wings, but those aren't why he can fly. He actually flies using telekinesis.
  • Older Than They Look: He's a WWI veteran, but thanks to his Gargoyle body, he remains alive even after over a century.
  • Our Gargoyles Rock: Unlike Grey Gargoyle, Gargoyle looks like a more typical statue brought to life.
  • Secondary-Color Nemesis: Subverted. His body might be orange and has a purple outfit, but he's one of the good guys.
  • Was Once a Man: A former human whose spirit was transferred to the body of a gargoyle-like creature.
  • Wings Do Nothing: He doesn't actually use his wings to fly. He uses telekinesis.

    Cloud 

Cloud

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3129351_ohotmu_defenders_1_page_8.jpg

First Appearance: The Defenders Vol. 1, #123 (September, 1983)

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #127 (January, 1984)

Cloud is a nebula that took human form, and upon arriving on Earth was brainwashed by the Secret Empire. During a battle with the Secret Empire, the Defenders rescued Cloud and they joined the team.


  • Ambiguous Gender: Not being human, they can take both male and female human forms. In Defenders (2021), they create a third, gender-neutral form that better reflects how they see themself.
  • Censor Steam: Kind of literally. They use a cloud to cover their private parts.
  • A Dog Named "Dog": They're a cloud named Cloud, mores specifically a Nebula.
  • Genius Loci: Cloud turned out to be a sentient nebula with amnesia.
  • Non-Human Non-Binary: Specifies in Defenders (2021) that they prefer they/them pronouns, regardless of what form they're in.
  • Sentient Stars: Cloud was a living nebula, a celestial body that becomes a star, that came down to Earth and took on the form of a recent car crash victim.

    Andromeda 

Andromeda

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andromeda_attumasen_earth_616_from_defenders_strange_heroes_vol_1_1_001.jpg

Alter Ego: Andromeda Attumasen

Notable Aliases: Andrea McPhee, Genevieve Cross, Lady Andromeda

First Appearance: The Defenders Vol. 1, #143 (March, 1985)

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #147 (September, 1985)

The beautiful and heroic Atlantean warrior is a member of the Defenders. Like Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner, Andromeda defends her people and the surface dwellers with honor and might. She uses a serum that temporarily allows her to breathe air while on land. She has proven her mettle on both land and sea.


  • Action Girl: She's an Atlantean warrior trained by her father.
  • Apparently Human Merfolk: Other than having blue skin, she's pretty similar to humans.
  • Fiery Redhead: She's an auburn-haired Atlantean lady and fearless in combat.
  • Fusion Dance: Her original body was killed at the end of the battle in Defenders vol. 1. She was restored in "Dr. Strange" vol. 3 #3 by merging with Genevieve Cross, a Welsh woman. For some time she could shape-shift between the Andromeda and Genevieve forms. The Genevieve form has not appeared for some time, and the personalities may have merged.
  • Heroic Bastard: Illegitimate daughter of Attuma and loyal follower of Namor.
  • Heroic Build: Very much so. She may not be She-Hulk, but she's pretty well-built (before even considering the inherent density of Atlantean bone structure), and is very loyal and heroic.
  • Leotard of Power: Her default outfit.
  • Statuesque Stunner: She stands at 5' 8" and is very attractive.
  • Super Not-Drowning Skills: Andromeda uses a serum that allows her to breathe air for 12 hours while on the surface. It is noted that her Atlantean ship's onboard computer replicates the serum, all but making her limitation a nonissue for her.
  • Undying Loyalty: For Namor. This includes joining the Defenders of the Deep despite Namor bringing them into conflict with the surface world and the Avengers.
  • Wanted a Son Instead: The main reason Andromeda abandoned her father and joined Namor.
  • You Go, Girl!: Many of her adventures, from joining the military to adventuring on the surface, have come from her wanting to overcome the patriarchal limitations of Atlantean society.

    Man-Slaughter 

Man-Slaughter

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/manslaughter.png

Notable Aliases: Roger Loomis

First Appearance: The Defenders Vol. 1, #133 (July, 1984)

Joined Team In: The Defenders Vol. 1, #151 (January, 1986)

Man-Slaughter is a super-villain in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a psychopathic killer who has fought the Defenders and later briefly joined their team.


  • Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name is unknown.
  • Psychic Powers: Taught by Interloper, Manslaughter can psionically interfere with a person's accuracy as well as inflict pain.
  • Psycho for Hire: Similarly to Bullseye, he made a living as a hired killer, more for fun and thrill than money.
  • Token Evil Teammate: While the Defenders have had morally dubious members at times, Manslaughter is just a killer.

90's Defenders

    Sepulchre 

Sepulchre

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sepulchre.jpg

Alter Ego: Jillian Woods

Notable Aliases: Shadowoman

First Appearance: Quasar Vol. 1, #45 (April, 1993)

Joined Team In: Secret Defenders Vol. 1, #15 (May, 1994)

Currently going by Sepulchre, Jillian Woods was first known as Shadowoman.


  • Casting a Shadow: Shadowoman has control over the Darkforce which she could manipulate giving her the ability to fly, cast a shadow field, phase through or merge with the shadow.
  • Dark Is Not Evil: Despite her codename, powers, and appearance, she's one of the good guys.
  • Identical Stranger: Her original Shadowoman costume looked very similar to Jessica Drew's, only in purple instead of red.
  • Pronouncing My Name for You: During her interview with Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, all she says is that her name is not pronounced "Sep-Ulch-Re".
  • Statuesque Stunner: She's 5'9"/175cm tall.

    Cadaver 

Cadaver

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cadaver.jpg

Alter Ego: Cody Fleisher

Notable Aliases: Agamotto's Avatar, Pale Horseman, Fist of Agamotto

First Apperance: Secret Defenders Vol. 1 #16 (June, 1994)

Joined Team In: Secret Defenders Vol. 1, #16 (June, 1994)

Cody Fleisher was killed and resurrected as Cadaver. After the reaction of friends and family to his new appearance, Cadaver decided to remain with Dr. Druid and the Defenders.


2000's Defenders

    Ardina 

Ardina

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ardina_4.jpg

First Appearance: The Order Vol 1, #4 (July, 2002)

Joined Team In: The Order Vol. 1, #4 (July, 2002)

The feminine version of the Silver Surfer, created to restore balance to the world.


    Junta 

Junta

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/manuel_vicente_earth_616_from_official_handbook_of_the_marvel_universe_a_z_update_vol_1_4_0001.jpg

Alter Ego: Manuel Vicente

First Appearance: Black Panther Vol. 1, #9

Joined Team In: Last Defenders Vol. 1, #3 (July, 2008)

Junta was a member of The Crew, an ally to Black Panther and War Machine, and briefly a member of the Defenders.


    Nighthawk 

Nighthawk

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/5556021_4de807ecc0aa3.jpg

Alter Ego: Joaquin Pennysworth

First Appearance: Last Defenders Vol. 1, #1

Joined Team In: Last Defenders Vol. 1, #6 (October, 2008)

Joaquin Pennysworth is the current Nighthawk and leads his own team of Defenders independent from the main team. A former SHIELD agent, Pennysworth took up the Nighthawk mantle when Kyle Richmond was forced to retire.


  • Badass Cape: Has an impressive white cape to contrast with Kyle's red cape.
  • Blue Is Heroic: Unlike Kyle's red and golden outfit, Joaquin's Nighthawk is mostly blue and white. This actually makes his suit very similar to the one the Kyle Richmond of Earth-712 used.
  • Legacy Character: Took the moniker of Nighthawk from Kyle Richmond.

2010's Defenders

    Geatar 

Geatar

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/geatar_earth_616_from_defenders_strange_heroes_vol_1_1_001.jpg

First Appearance: Silver Surfer #38

Nebula's second in command. He joined Thanos's team of Defenders.


2020's Defenders

    Masked Raider III 

Masked Raider III

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/masked_raider.jpg

Alter Ego: Carlo Zota

First Appearance: Marvel Comics #1000 (August, 2019) (as the Masked Raider)

This mysterious man was entrusted the Eternity Mask by Jerome Hamilton, the vigilante known as Blind Justice, before he died by the hand of the Enclave. Having realized that he needed to take responsibility for the power he had been given, the man gathered several interviews with different superheroes, even doing a few on his own, to get into their mindset and mentally prepare himself to carry on Hamilton's fight as the new Masked Raider.

In his quest to stop the last member of the Enclave, he teamed up with Doctor Strange and a new version of the Defenders in Defenders (2021).


  • Badass Longcoat: Wears one.
  • Beneath Notice: Whoever he is, he managed to talk to various superheroes without them finding anything unusual about him.
  • Coat, Hat, Mask: Has all three.
  • Cool Mask: The Eternity Mask, which makes him an equal to anyone he fights, as long as he is fighting for what is right. This doesn't mean he'll win every battle, only that he has a fighting chance.
  • Costume Copycat: While he is named after the Masked Raider, his outfit is designed after the Operative, a retconned-in Golden Age superhero and other previous wielder of the Mask.
  • Depleted Phlebotinum Shells: Whatever's in those guns he's carrying, they aren't just ordinary bullets. He implies he's even got ones that could take out the Silver Surfer.
  • Fan of the Past: Why does he dress like a cowboy? Simple - he just likes cowboys.
  • Guns Akimbo: Usually wielded two guns at the same time.
  • Heel–Face Turn: He's Carlo Zota, last of the Enclave, from slightly ahead of 'now', having taken the Eternity Mask off himself, and been shocked by what he'd done became the new Masked Raider.
  • Legacy Character: The third person to use the "Masked Raider" name. Adding in those who've worn the Eternity Mask, and he's a legacy to quite a few other characters.
  • Power Copying: The power of the mask grants an equal chance against whoever he's fighting. If he's up against someone like Daredevil, he gains his radar sense. Elektra, her fighting abilities. However, it does also come with any drawbacks that power might have, so he's extremely reluctant to copy the Fourth Cosmos's Galactus equivalent's powers because he'd get the Power Cosmic and the relentless hunger.
  • Spider-Sense: The Raider has limited Cosmic Awareness due to the Eternity Mask. He knows when there is something that needs investigating, but beyond that, it's up to him.
  • You Can't Fight Fate: Apparently he knew ahead of time he couldn't stop Zota reviving Korvac, or Korvac turning on him, but tried (and failed) anyway. It turns out this is because he is Zota, and knows he'll die trying to convince himself to change. But he still tries anyhow.
  • You're Nothing Without Your Phlebotinum: Without the powers the Mask grants him, he's got no fighting skills of his own, meaning Doctor Strange can clobber him in a fistfight.

    Taaia 

Taaia

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taaia.jpg

First Appearance: Defenders (Vol. 6) #1 (August, 2021)

A Scienceer of the Sixth Cosmos and the mother of Galactus.


  • Action Mom: By the time the Defenders meet her, she's already had Galen.
  • Air Quotes: Tends to talk like this, in imitation of Jack Kirby's writing style.
  • Awful Truth: She finds out what fate has in store for her son in Defenders: Beyond, and is horrified.
  • BFS: Her "weapon of choice", a sword bigger than she is.
  • Boisterous Bruiser: She likes a fight, does Taaia. Not what you'd expect from a scientist.
  • Gadgeteer Genius: Since the Sixth Cosmos seems to be the universe of crazy Kirby-esque tech.
  • Irony: The Defenders meet her while Taa is fighting off the World Eater. Taaia has no idea she's got the guy's future replacement sitting back in her lab in need of a diaper change.
  • Large Ham: She's a boisterous scienceer of the Sixth Cosmos! She has no "indoor voice"! Almost every sentence she has is shouted!
  • Opposites Attract: Betty Ross figures she's the opposite of Stephen Strange in every way... and yet they flirt.
  • Painting the Medium: Her tendency to shout her words is emphasized by her text being in all-caps while the text in the Defenders books where she appears are properly capitalized.
  • Science Hero: According to the Silver Surfer, the Scienceers of the Sixth Cosmos are closest things to super heroes of the Seventh and Eigth Cosmos. Seeing as how she's currently fighting to save her planet from the World Eater of the current cosmos, the description is accurate.
  • You Can't Fight Fate: Because Galen will always become Galactus. Even learning of what he will become, Taaia is told she can't go back to her time and retain the information.

Enemies

Ultimate Marvel Universe note 

Marvel Cinematic Universe note 


Alternative Title(s): Defenders 2021, Fearless Defenders, Defenders1970s Members, Defenders1980s Members, Defenders1990s Members, Defenders2000s Members, Defenders2020s Members, Defenders For A Day, Thanos Defenders, Defenders2010s Members

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