Defenders issue one opens up with a bunch of people in Bucharest losing their minds, due to a raging black monster who may or may not be shattering reality, based on the dialogue. The rest of the issue sets up the premise of the book. Doctor Strange is having sexual relations with a comely grad student, who he regrets sleeping with, and Fraction shows him grappling with plenty of his other internal demons, until he is visited by the Banner-less Hulk, who has something to do with the black monster in Bucharest.
The rest of the issue has the two of them go on to recruit the rest of team, Namor, Silver Surfer, Red Hulk, and Iron Fist to take on the Rage monster, who is a left over out of Fear Itself. Fraction does a great job introducing each character and blending the different personalities. I’m particularly enjoying Namor’s scenes with the Silver Surfer, and Doctor Strange’s interplay particularly with Iron Fist. There isn’t a ton of action in the issue, but definitely am intrigued to see where this is headed. It really seems like this book is going to be a lot of fun, and that Fraction is having a blast writing it.
Terry Dodson’s art is dynamic and perfectly suited for a book like this. The characters are all larger than life personalities, and Dodson draws them like that. Also really impressed with Rachel Dodson’s inks, and Sonia Oback’s colors. Can’t wait to see what they are going to do in the coming issues.
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Last thing, is on the bottom of nearly every page, there are messages from the editor(?), Fraction(?), Marvel HQ(?), Space(?) about everything from plot teases, to advertisements for other books (such as Avengers Academy), to notations for where the plots continues. Not sure if this is going to be a new trend for all Marvel books, or just this one, but I am not sure how I feel about it. If it is to add to the story, I say great. If it’s not, it has to go.
Story: 9/10
Art: 10/10
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