The Defenders
Cast: Crash landing in the middle of New York City, Kang the Conqueror is bewildered to see what has happened to the 21st Century he left not a year ago. As history told him, his presence in the Avenger's history was to shape the heroes they were to become. After his formation of the Young Avengers the older Avengers were to form into a group of heroes that would lead humanity into a peaceful society until his time in the 30th Century. Seeking out the cause of this warp in history, Kang seeks out his ancestor Reed Richards for help. Told that the Fantastic Four can be of no help to him, Kang steals Richard's protocols, and assembles a team of heroes to be put in place in case the Illuminati were ever unable to form together. These heroes are now protectors of humanity's future, defending the future that Kang foresaw.
Nathaniel Richards; Kang the Conqueror
Potentially the greatest villain in Avenger's history, Kang the Conqueror is in fact their greatest ally. A master manipulator who has long been thought of as evil, Kang has in fact been shaping the Earth for millennia for years in order to shape it into a utopia. He traveled into the past sporadically to see how progress was being made and to battle the Avengers whenever history said that he was supposed to. Accessing the files of Reed Richards, he assembled a group that had the power and influence to defend the time stream and make things right.
T'Challa; Black Panther
King of Wakanda, T'Challa has long been considered the individual that Reed Richards respected the most. Choosing him for his intellectual might, Kang needs a leader to convince the other members of the group to follow this seemingly mad plot. The Panther isn't easy to convince, but accepts when he learns that the entire future of Wakanda is at sake.
Daimon Hellstrom; Son of Satan
As the forces of the universe have been completely turned over the mystical world has been thrown into turmoil. Though Doctor Strange selected Jericho Drumm as the Sorcerer Supreme, Daimon Hellstrom is the one he trusts to take on the darker forces of magic in the universe. A demon of unparalleled might, Hellstrom is prepared to take on the forces of the underworld that seek to corrupt mankind's future.
Pepper Potts; Rescue
Tony Stark is nowhere to be found by Kang so he goes after his second in command in Stark Industries: Pepper. Learning that she has no idea where he is, but having developed similar powers of her own, Pepper is told of the trouble to the future that is at hand. Donning her Rescue armor, Pepper joins Kang's group, and helps him to find the other individuals he is seeking for.
Absolon Zebardyn Mercator; Mister M
The history logs that Kang read told of a mutant so powerful that he had the power to unite all of the mutants of the world with the humans. Knowing that this person was Mister M, Kang is shocked to find that he was killed after the unexpected decimation of the mutant population. Searching for his grave sight, Kang is met with a resurrected Absolon who agrees that the future is in danger. No one knows where Absolon has been, but they are all weary of his intentions as a mutant messiah.
Beta Ray Bill
Someone who was prophesized to become a member of the great team of Avengers that he foresaw, Kang approaches Bill with the offer that he can help shape the future. A unique being that is a mixture of magic and science, Bill is offered his enchanted hammer Stormbreaker back and a spot on the team. Bill accepts this responsibility to shape his and the rest of the world's destiny.
Jim Hammond; Human Torch
The first Marvel, Jim Hammond has recently been reconstituted as the Human Torch. Questioning his status as a hero and viewing himself as obsolete, Kang offers him the knowledge that he is an inspiration to millions in the future and will save the world in a feat of heroism never witnessed before. Growing optimistic about the future, Jim takes the offer to become a member of Kang's group.
Story Arcs:
Assimilate- Gathering his forces to protect the future, Kang sends the group to find the cause of the time discrepancies in the first place: Scarlet Witch. While everyone on the team suspects that Kang is up to something else, they follow him in order to right the wrongs in time. Traveling from Genosha to Wungadore, the Defenders find Wanda, and try to right her wrongs against the mutant population.
Avenge- Seeing their original enemy Kang running around and professing himself as a hero, the Young Avengers attack the Defenders in an attempt to avenge Iron Lad. Being outmatched the Young Avengers are given a vision of their own futures by Kang, all leading to destruction if they don't allow the Defenders to operate. Stature is also greeting with knowledge that her father should be alive in this reality that Kang sees.
Awaken- As the Defenders attempt to reignite the mutant population with Wanda's help, Absolon reaches out to every mutant mind but is attacked by a force that even Kang and Hellstrom can't pinpoint. Absolon is left in a coma, which leaves the lives of every mutant in the balance. Kang sends his Defenders after whatever attacked Absolon, and they find that the being pulling Norman Osborn's strings has formed a Cabal of his own.
Oppose- The Defenders are met with opposition from Norman Osborn's HAMMER forces and are almost destroyed. Facing off against the Dark Avengers, Dark X-Men, Thunderbolts, and HAMMER the Defenders barely survive but defeat everyone. The Defenders are then met with Mephisto, who tells them that they are interfering in everything he has planned. The Defenders are the only ones left as the rest of the hero community lays fallen around them.
Defend- It's the final standoff between the Defenders and Mephisto's forces, as the unlikely group uses their powers to unite the mutants, superhumans and villains of the world against a force so powerful it threatens to split the world in two.
Writer- Mark Millar
Artist- Gabrielle del Otto