Defenders #1

Writer: Al Ewing Artist: Javier Rodriguez Publisher: Marvel Comics Release Date: August 11, 2021 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 17 User Reviews: 49
8.1Critic Rating
7.7User Rating

SUPERSTARS AL EWING & JAVIER RODR GUEZ REUNITE FOR A COSMOS-COLLIDING JOURNEY!
When existence itself faces extraordinary threats, it needs an extraordinary defense! That's when you call...THE DEFENDERS!
DOCTOR STRANGE and the MASKED RAIDER take a non-team of Marvel's weirdest, wildest heroes on a mission that will uncover the hidden architecture of reality itself! This cosmos was not the first to exist...but if the DEFENDERS can't track Marvel's oldest villain through the deepest trenches of time - it might be the last!
Rated T+

  • 10
    Comic Watch - B. Radtz Aug 11, 2021

    Ewing continues to show why hes the consummate master of his craft here, as he flawlessly builds upon storylines hes been cultivating for almost a decade. The disparate parts fit together perfectly creating a perfect synthesis between classic and new. Ewing continues to showcase his vast knowledge of Marvel history by referencing a story that took place before the creative team was even born, and does it flawlessly.Add in Javier Rodriguezs classical style, and you get a comic thats perfect from cover to cover. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Nerdly - Daniel Clark Aug 17, 2021

    As fun as this was, I genuinely get the impression Ewing was holding back his best stuff for the next issue or two. Any book going forward with Galactus's Mum is a must buy for me. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Nerdly - Dean Fuller Aug 17, 2021

    As fun as this was, I genuinely get the impression Ewing was holding back his best stuff for the next issue or two. Any book going forward with Galactus's Mum is a must buy for me. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Multiversity Comics - Joe Skonce Aug 12, 2021

    Featuring groovy art, an intriguing team, and a compelling mystery, "Defenders" #1 adds to Ewing's impressive mythology building. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    But Why Tho? - William Tucker Aug 11, 2021

    Defenders #1 is a great start to an epic adventure. Ewing is the best writer around in regards to crafting a tale with the scale that this one has. There are a lot of factors at play. And the small cast allows the comic to be swamped by the magnitude of its settings. This is a book that revels in both magical grandiosity and universal majesty, and Rodrguez makes both look absolutely stunning. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comics Bookcase - Keigen Rea Aug 11, 2021

    As much as I thought the plot was alright, the art was always the reason to pick Defenders #1 up. This might have been a slow opening, but I'm wildly excited for the rest of whatever this story ends up being. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Jake Palermo Aug 11, 2021

    Defenders #1 makes a great first impression in terms of showing off its POV character, Doctor Strange, and how dire the full series plot will be with its pacing. Read Full Review

  • 8.7
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Aug 11, 2021

    Javier Rodriguez delivers some fantastic art throughout the issue. There are so many fantastic visual elements throughout the issue and the look is perfect for this type of story. A visually fun ride all around. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett Aug 11, 2021

    What is truly impressive about this debut is not the plans it lays out for itself, although those may be great indeed, but how it makes even the most mundane storytelling tasks something to ponder. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comics: The Gathering - Charles Martin Aug 11, 2021

    Defenders #1 is a comic that feels both fast and slow. The Masked Raider brings an ultra-high-stakes problem to Dr. Strange, and the magician speedily pulls together a team to address it. This issue accomplishes a great deal, and it looks gorgeous doing it. But it's also loaded with a lot of exposition; fortunately, it all goes down smoothly. Read Full Review

  • 7.7
    Major Spoilers - Jonathan Cadotte Aug 13, 2021

    The Defenders #1 is a gorgeous book that is somewhat hamstrung by a simple plot that's muddled by narration overwrought with jargon and vague statements that don't explain what's actually happening. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    The Comicbook Dispatch - Dispatchdcu Aug 9, 2021

    THE DISPATCHThe question I asked myself was while reading was, isnt DOCTOR STRANGE going to die soon? Marvel has been pushing the DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE for months now leaving this reviewer to wonder about the relationship to this book right here and now. Are the two connected? Truth be told, youll get absolutely no inkling this week. However, readers will get a rather confusing, over-the-top, deep diatribe from the Sorcerer Supreme as he conjures this new DEFENDERS team together. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Geek'd Out - Nico Sprezzatura Aug 11, 2021

    And even with Ewings caliber of plotting, Javier Rodrguez matches and possibly even exceeds what he brings to this issue with tremendous visuals. Im not surprised to see great art from him, but his retro pulpy art style is perfect for Defenders, and it seamlessly conveys the script through clever panel composition. His last big project, History of the Marvel Universe, pushed that angle a bit further than he does here, but its hardly something I would level as a complaint. Frequent collaborator lvaro Lpezs inks are also worth a mention, as they really give Rodrguezs pencils a graphic quality that leads to some lovely contrast in the colors and linework. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Comic Crusaders - Johnny "The Machine" Hughes Aug 9, 2021

    The original Defenders book was a cult classic; Secret Defenders was a mutt of a book. It will interesting to see how this new mini series fares, especially given the up and coming publicised Death of Doctor Strange, Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    AIPT - Nathan Simmons Aug 10, 2021

    This first issue is extremely dense when it comes to continuity and exposition, but fans of Cosmic Marvel will be chomping at the bit to find out where this goes. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Razorfine - Alan Rapp Aug 23, 2021

    Defenders #1 offers the kind of weird set-up you would expect from a Defenders title. I'm happy to see the Surfer here, although I'm unsure what to make of Cloud or the Raider. After a prolonged set-up, the adventure begins in earnest in the next issue. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    BGCP - David Myles Aug 15, 2021

    Let us know if you enjoyed our Review of Defenders #1 if you read the book or rate it yourself. Read Full Review

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