Overview

The Hulk! The Sub-Mariner! Silver Surfer! Dr. Strange! Marvel's #1 loners unite in this new ongoing series! A monster, an invader, an alien and a master of the dark arts. They're four of the world's most powerful and feared figures?and they like each other about as much as the rest of the Marvel Universe does! What force could make these loose cannons join as a team? Why must they band together in defense of our planet? And how will Nighthawk, Hellcat and the Valkyrie react to their alliance? Co-writer and penciler Erik Larsen isn't spilling any beans: "These characters don't really like each other. But Kurt Busiek came up with a neat idea of why they stay together. I won't say what it is... but it works really well. Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, Hulk?all these guys have attacked the Earth. And then Dr. Strange is just creepy. When the Avengers show up, everyone says, 'Oh, good, the Avengers are here. They'll save us.' But the Defenders? When they show, everyone runs for their lives!"

Plot

Patsy Walker is in San Fransisco on her book tour, when on her way home she runs into a homeless man on the street. Feeling a connection to the man she takes him to Tommy Joints for a bite to eat. Soon the man starts to speak and informs Patsy that he needs to reach "mother".

3 weeks later in Washington DC, an alien fleet of Toad Men are attacking the capital, where Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, just happens to be. The doctor, changes into his alter ego, the Angry Hulk and attacks the fleet. Hulk then learns that the Toad Men, didn't know they were on Earth until they saw the Hulk.

Meanwhile in Greenwich Village, at the home of Dr Steven Strange, the doctor's astral form returns to physical body to learn that monsters are attacking New York. At first, he blows this off as a job the Avengers or The Fantastic Four but then he senses another presence and flies off. Soon the Doctor comes face to face with The Night-Crawler.

In the City of Atlantis, Namor is holding consul to discuss the humans that pollute his oceans, but he is interrupted by an earthquake. He learns that the Mindless ones from the Dormammu's Dark Dimension are attacking the guards. The king takes his anger out on the mindless invaders.

In Hawaii, Silver Surfer explains to Alicia Masters that he needs to head back to the stars, but she doesn't want to leave Earth. The pair are attacked by Quasimodo and although Silver Surfer is able to get Alicia to safety he still needs to contend with Quasimodo.

In Maine, Yandroth, the homeless man from earlier, continues to make threats appear around the globe. In the dungeon Pasty wakes up and changes into Hellcat and attempts to escape. She finds giant Gaea the Earth Mother and realizes that was the mother the homeless man was talking about. She escapes and calls Nighthawk, who sends the Defenders to help Hellcat.

Hulk, Strange, Namor and Silver Surfer are teleported against their will to Manie where they start fighting, blaming each other for their teleportation. Hellcat breaks up the fight when she explains that she and Nighthawk called them there to help stop Yandroth.

Yandroth, appears on cue and sends the Ravagers of Creation on the heroes who work together to defeat one and thus defeating all of the Ravagers. Yandroth, is mortally wounded and with his dying breath curses the Defender to be joined together.

Hulk, Namor, and Silver Surfer, believe the curse to be nothing and leave Strange to wonder what Yandroth meant.

References

Stange Tales #168

Marvel Feature #1

Defenders #5 & #69 & #119