Published Dec 2019 by Marvel
1st printing
Written by Peter B. Gillis and J.M. Dematteis
Art by Don Perlin, Kim DeMulder, Luke McDonnell, Art Nichols, Sal Buscema, Dell Barras, Alan Kupperberg, Randy Emberlin, and Mark Badger
Cover by Arthur Adams and Mike Mignola
Back Cover by Mike Mignola
Softcover, 488 pages, full color

All things must come to an end - and the Defenders will fight their way to the finish in epic fashion!

Moondragon seeks to master her arrogance, leading to a new outlook and a new uniform. But despite outward appearances, her internal struggle continues - and she soon succumbs to the power of the Dragon of the Moon, the cosmic entity that eradicated all life on Titan! Now the remaining Defenders must battle their own teammate, or Earth will suffer the same fate. It's a struggle that just might end with the deaths of the Defenders!

Plus: Beast's fight for mutant rights, Cloud's identity conflict, the return of Manslaughter, the debut of Andromeda - and Gargoyle's solo adventure!

NOTE: Book 9 of the Defenders Epic Collection - Years Covered: 1984–1986.
Collects Defenders (1972-1986 1st Series) #138-152 and Gargoyle (1985 Marvel) #1-4.

Cover price $39.99.

The ninth Defenders Epic Collection brings the first run of the series to an end (presumably they will now go back and release volumes 1-5 until the entire run is finished), and quite the doomy ending it is, too. Defenders has always been a somewhat quirky, often comedic series, especially when a team-change saw it become the New Defenders, but much of this last volume is quite laden with threat.

Most of that threat revolves around Moondragon, and the deadly force she has been holding in check since before she first appeared. Before long, the rest of the Defenders find themselves up against that force, with the fate of the world at stake. It's all suitably apocalyptic, and writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Don Perlin do a pretty good job of ramping up the menace all the way to the end. Along the way we also get conclusions to Cloud's identity crisis and add a new member in Atlantean warrior Andromeda (arriving just in time for the finale).

Also included is the Gargoyle miniseries, courtesy of J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Badger, also quite downbeat and emotional as the character confronts his own past and the origins behind his current demonic form. It's fine, although doesn't seem to mesh that well with Gargoyle's more heartfelt presence in the main series.

Extras include a Marvel Age article about the miniseries, several Marvel Fanfare pinups, the letters-page logo and the cover of the final Essentials volume. Defenders will never be a team book with the same renown as the Avengers or the X-Men, but it had its own distinct character and charm, and the stories collected here really do feel like the end of an era.

Before checking out, please check out my other listings HERE!
Questions?  Comments?  Send a message!

Excelsior!