The Defenders Reading Order

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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The Coming of the Defenders!

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 1

Collects: Sub-Mariner (1968) #34-35, Marvel Feature (1971) #1-3 And Defenders (1972) #1-6

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 2

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

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 3

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

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 4

Collects: Defenders (1972) #22-30, Giant-Size Defenders #5, Marvel Super-Heroes (1967) #18

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 5

Collects: Defenders (1972) #31-41, Annual (1976) #1, Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #12

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 6

Collects: Defenders (1972) #42-57 And Material From Foom #19

Defenders (Marvel Essentials, Vol. 4)

Collects: Defenders #61-91