Depending on when and where you entered the Marvel Comics universe, there are essentially two very distinct Defenders units to consider. The first is the epic “non-team,” beginning with Namor, Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, and Hulk, an Avengers-like collection of heroes who refuse to formalize the thing and hold roll call like a bunch of cubscouts.
The second unit of Defenders is straight from the gritty binge watch of Marvel Netflix, featuring Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.
Prior to the Netflix reincarnation, the Defenders were Marvel’s oddball squad, not quite as immaterial as The Champions, but sporting an ever-rotating lineup and glorious willingness to just get weird.
Doctor Strange may well be the team’s most consistent member, but depending on the era, fans may nominate Valkyrie, Nighthawk, or the elf with a gun as their favorite recurring character (just kidding; no one would nominate Nighthawk).
Below you’ll find a complete reading order to all eras of Defenders comics at Marvel.
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Related Reading Orders:
The Coming of the Defenders!
Collects: Sub-Mariner (1968) #34-35, Marvel Feature (1971) #1-3 And Defenders (1972) #1-6
Collects: Defenders (1972) #7-16, Giant-Size Defenders #1 & Avengers #115-118
Avengers Epic Collection: The Avengers/Defenders War
Collects: Avengers (1963) 115-128, Giant-Size (1974) 1, Defenders (1972) 8-11, Captain Marvel (1968) 33, Fantastic Four (1961) 150
Collects: Defenders (1972) #17-21, Giant-Size Defenders #2-4, Marvel Two-In-One #6-7; And Material From Mystery Tales #21, World Of Fantasy #11 And Tales Of Suspense (1959) #96
Collects: Defenders (1972) #22-30, Giant-Size Defenders #5, Marvel Super-Heroes (1967) #18
Collects: Defenders (1972) #31-41, Annual (1976) #1, Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #12
Collects: Defenders (1972) #42-57 And Material From Foom #19
Defenders (Marvel Essentials, Vol. 4)
Collects: Defenders #61-91
The New Defenders!
Defenders Epic Collection: The Six-Fingered Hand Saga
Collects: Defenders (1972) 92-109; Marvel Team-Up (1972) 101; Captain America (1968) 268
Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes
Collects: Defenders (1972) 110-125, Avengers Annual (1967) 11
Collects: Defenders (1972) #122-124 And New Defenders (1972) #125-131
Defenders Epic Collection: The New Defenders
Collects: Defenders (1972) 126-137; Iceman (1984) 1-4; Beauty And The Beast (1984) 1-4
Secret Defenders in the 1990’s!
Doctor Strange and the Secret Defenders
Collects: Secret Defenders 1-11
Deadpool and the Secret Defenders
Collects: Secret Defenders 15-25
Defenders of the 2000’s!
Collects: Defenders #1-5
Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis reunite to bring their Justice League International style to Marvel’s Defenders
Collects: The Last Defenders #1-6
Defenders by Matt Fraction – Volume 1
Collects: Defenders (2012) #1-6
Defenders by Matt Fraction – Volume 2
Collects: Defenders 7-12
Fearless Defenders of Marvel NOW!
Fearless Defenders Volume 1: Doom Maidens
Collects: Fearless Defenders 1-6
Fearless Defenders Volume 2: The Most Fabulous Fighting Team of All
Collects: Fearless Defenders 7-12
Marvel Netflix Defenders!
Defenders Vol. 1: Diamonds Are Forever
Collects: Defenders 1-6, Free Comic Book Day 2017 (Defenders Story)
Defenders Vol. 2: Kingpins of New York
Collects: Defenders 6-11
Latest Additions
Collects: Immortal Hulk: The Best Defense #1, Namor: The Best Defense #1, Doctor Strange: The Best Defense #1, Silver Surfer: The Best Defense #1, Defenders: The Best Defense #1
Collects: Defenders (2021) #1 to #5, material from Marvel Comics (2019) #1000 to #1001
Collects: Defenders: Beyond #1 to #5