The Atom and The Defenders

 

Can the world's greatest non-team subdue a dwarf star-infused hero out of control?  And just what happened to Ray Palmer anyway?  The answers are only sixty cents away!

Katana and Valkyrie

 

Katana is better at wielding a sword, but Valkyrie has Asgardian strength to back her up.  This would be an interesting match up.  But just why would Brunnhilde want The Soultaker in the first place?

Vixen and Valkyrie

 

This would be a different issue, with both heroines adapting to situations outside their usual worlds.  One of the great things about having characters with well defined personalities is the fun a writer can have by taking them out of their comfort zones.

Crusaders of Camelot

 

This is a team concept that I have had rattling around in my brain for a while, and I am glad that I finally got around to putting it together.  It would be cool to see the adventures of a superhero team from the Middle Ages.

The Defenders Vs. Abnegezar, Rath & Ghast and Neron

 

The Defenders seemed to spend as much time or more battling demons and supernatural threats as they did traditional super-villains.  It might be interesting to see how they would fare against the denizens of DC's underworld.

The Defenders and Johnny Thunder

 

Marvel has all the ingredients for a Defenders film, but they don't seem interested in making one. I thinks getting Hulk, Dr. Strange and Valkyrie together with a Namor variant (one closer to the comics please) in an adventure that introduces The Silver Surfer (thus avoiding having him first appear in an FF film for a second time) would make for a great tale. We'll see if they ever get around to getting the non-team together, but as for now I am not holding my breath.

Superman and Valkyrie

 

Superman and Lois continues to entertain in its second season.  I am really impressed by how the super heroic feats are presented on a TV show budget.  I do have one nitpick, admittedly a minor one.  Why does Superman/Clark constantly seem to have a five o'clock shadow?  That looks works for The Punisher, Daredevil or even Batman - but in my minds eye, the Man of Steel should usually be clean shaven.  Hasn't TV Superman learned the "shaving with heat vision and a mirror" trick?

Wonder Woman and Valkyrie in: "Corruption of the Amazon!"

 

Valkyrie always seemed to me to be the closest equivalent to Wonder Woman in the Marvel Universe (aside from the obvious homage, Power Princess of course), so I thought that she should have a bigger presence.  Now that she's a popular character in the MCU (well a Valkyrie at least, I'm not sure if she's officially Brunnhilde or not), perhaps that will change.

Wonder Woman previously met Valkyrie in STF #1357...  

I was glad to use a WW image by the truly talented Jai Lee here.  I was lucky enough to pick up a Wolverine sketch by him several years back:

Xena and Valkyrie

 

Fraiser joins the ever growing list of series that are coming back for new seasons after a run that concluded several years ago.  Some of these have been welcome and some should probably have not returned  Xena is one show that I would love to see revisited, at least as a streaming movie.  Lucy Lawless is still in good shape and it would be cool to see what has become of  The Warrior Princess as well as Gabrielle and Joxur.  It would be nice to see at least one episode with today's special effect capabilities, too.

Shining Knight and Valkyrie

 

When these two heroes first appeared together in STF #2568, Bob Greenwade (a patron of this blog) suggested that I revisit the pairing, but with the two their winged horse companions.   Well, here you go, Bob! I can't blame him for the request, one Pegasus makes for a majestic sight, why not two?  Well for one reason, two can be tough to fit on a single cover!  I was glad I found a way, though.

The Defenders and Superman in: "Crime in a Bottle!"

 

I was hoping that the DC Fandome event would shed some more light on the future of Superman in the movies.  There was some speculation that an announcement of The Man of Steel's involvement in Black Adam or even a solo sequel would be made, but alas no mention of such things.  DC Fandome continues this coming weekend, though It looks to be focusing more on the TV, print and gaming aspects of DC Comics.  Henry Cavill keeps teasing that he id not done with the role, but I'd like to know some more specifics as to what that will mean.

Superman met an earlier version of The Defenders in STF #2849...

Valkyrie and The Shining Knight

Morgaine le Fey (or Morgan le Fay, among other spellings) is one of those public domain characters that have made their presence known in various types of literature, including both Marvel and DC Comics.  I like to think that it's the same character appearing in both, creating an unofficial crossover between the superhero universes.

Hawkgirl and Valkyrie

This is a pairing that I am surprised I had not done before.  I think it would make for a cool story.  What is Hawkgirl/Woman's status these days?  We saw a wingless version of Kendra Saunders in the Dark Knights: Metal event, but I am not sure if she is a part of the new Hawkman series that  spun out of that.

Firestorm and The Defenders

Now that Marvel has access to virtually their entire library of characters for movie treatment, there's no reason we cant get a proper Defenders team up on the big screen. They already have Hulk, Dr. Strange and Valkyrie established to anchor the non-team.  Heck, they could even use the group as a lead up to their next big crossover film - live action Avengers/Defenders War, anyone?

Katana and Valkyrie

I was hoping to see Tessa Thompson in the classic blue/black outfit with the breastplates during her turn as Valkyrie in the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok.  Alas, judging by the trailer,  they kept the blue cape but not much else.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that she will eventually make a change into a costume that very closely resembles her white and gold outfit that she wore for a time in The Defenders, so that will be pretty cool.

Power Girl and Valkyrie

I'd love to see these two heroines share an adventure together.  While they have the power of characters like Superman and Thor, their personalities  are decidedly different.  Impulsive, quick tempered and ready to battle at a moments notice, they are also loyal to their allies until the bitter end. I'm not sure if they would find fast friends in one another or if they would clash, but it would be a fun read.

The Defenders and The New Teen Titans (with Vision & Scarlet Witch)

It's too bad that Marvel has decided to give the Defenders name to the Heroes for Hire crew, because it seems to me that makes it much less likely that wee will ever see a live action version of the classic Non-Team.  I loved the core group of Dr. Strange, The Hulk, Namor and The Silver Surfer - and enjoyed the group even more when lesser know heroes like Hellcat, Valkyrie, Nighthawk and The Gargoyle joined the ranks.  Hopefully some of the Defenders will find a home on the big screen one of these days.

These two teams first met n STF #384...

The Teen Titans Vs. Valkyrie and Thor

I was glad to hear that Valkyrie will be making her cinematic debut in Thor: Ragnarok.  Tessa Thompson has been cast as the character and it will be interesting to see what she does with the part.  I enjoyed her performance in Creed, but this is a very different type of role.  Hopefully she can do Valkyrie's fiery personality justice - I'd love to see Aragorn the flying horse make an appearance as well.

Wonder Woman and Valkyrie

Rumors have been swirling regarding the possible inclusion of Hippolyta and who will play her in the upcoming Wonder Woman movie.  Negotiations with Nicole Kidman seem to have fallen through, and now Robin Wright is being associated with the role.  I prefer Wright at an actress, so I am OK with this move (assuming the part is for Diana's mother, rather than Circe or another character).  Still, there's a part of me that would love to see Lynda Carter in the role - she is still gorgeous, decades after she originally played the Amazonian princess.

The Defenders Vs. Darkseid

I still think it is a bit odd that Netflix is using The Defenders as the title of the series which combines Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, when Heroes for Hire seems to be a much more appropriate title. Not only that, it lessens the chance that we will see an actual live action Defenders show or film featuring the classic cast featured in the cover above.  I loved that non-team growing up and have been waiting to see it featured in a cartoon or movie.  It's funny, the closest we have gotten is when Justice League Unlimited presented a pseudo-Defenders team made up of Aquaman, Solomon Grundy, Dr. Fate and Amazo on "Wake the Dead", a great episode.