Request for Info

Can anyone give me a brief (one- or two-paragraph) summary of Mark Millar’s version of the Defenders in *Ultimates* Vols. 1 and 2?

(No, there’s no problem with Mark Millar. No, this has nothing to do with suing anybody. It has to do with a potential future project and the wish to avoid accidental similarities.)

10 Responses to “Request for Info”

  1. Brian Spence Says:

    I think they don’t appear until Ultimates Vol 2, and I think they’re only in, like, two issues. Ant Man gets kicked out of Ultimates because he beat up the Wasp. So he gets together with these “wanna be” types that basically don’t have any superpowers. He has sex with a 19 year old Valkyrie.

    On their first mission, they royal screw up, and one member nearly dies.

    After that, it’s hazy. Basically, the Defenders are hacks that can’t cut it.

    It’s been a while since I’ve read it though.

  2. david Says:

    Only to be a bit more specific:
    thus far, the Defenders have only popped up in Ultimates 2, #6. Basically, a group of untalented teens who want to cash in on the Ultimates’ stardom. their roster, aside from dr. pym:
    darkhawk, the black knight, hellcat,
    power man, son of satan, and the valkyrie. none of them appeared to have any extra abilities or super powers.

  3. Alistair Says:

    Future project!!!

  4. Steve Gerber Says:

    Thanks!

  5. Greg Hatcher Says:

    What everyone else said, plus I’d add that Millar’s Defenders were characterized a lot like those people who are always on the edge of a profession while claiming they’re squarely in it and on the verge of fame and riches. Like the guys with fan-fiction websites trying to pick up girls by claiming to be authors, or the roadies that claim they’re actually in a famous band. That seemed to be what he was riffing on. There was something oddly mean-spirited about the whole thing. It was the third or fourth time I read something of Millar’s and wondered if he actually likes anybody in his stories.

  6. david Says:

    yeah, that seems to be a big part of miller’s schtick.

  7. Jonathan Nolan Says:

    I only wish

    1. Mark Millar actually liked ANYTHING
    2. Someone ripped into whatever it was HE liked… for money.

  8. Brian Spence Says:

    “oddly mean spirited”

    Yeah, I think Ultimates can be like that a lot. Why is Captain America such an asshole? I WANT to like him, but can’t because he’s a “let’s kick some ass” Republican.

  9. Alex Krislov Says:

    Hate to rain on your parade, Steve, but it looks like there’s another new take on the Defenders. A five-issue limited series by Giffen just started. Number 1 just hit the shops.

  10. Steve Gerber Says:

    The project I’m working on has nothing to do with the Defenders. Or Marvel, for that matter.