7 Great Defenders Characters Still Not in the MCU

The Defenders are a time-honored superhero group from Marvel Comics, often hovering between the “not quite a team” label. Similar to other superhero squads, their primary objective is to safeguard the world and assist those in need. Unlike teams like the Avengers or Fantastic Four, the Defenders’ members generally pursue personal objectives, which can make them prone to disagreements and internal conflict at any given moment, creating a sense of unease. As a result, the team has undergone numerous changes over the years, welcoming new heroes and leadership. Remarkably, some of these characters have yet to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Defender team from the Marvel Cinematic Universe initially made their debut on Netflix, featuring characters like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. Although they only collaborated for a single season, their impact on fans has been significant. Given that Daredevil is now part of Disney+’s lineup, speculation among fans is high about the possibility of a new Defenders formation. The intriguing aspect is determining what shape this group will take next. Will it follow the traditional approach similar to the Netflix series? Or might we witness a different version like the Secret Defenders or another adaptation?

No matter what the future course might be, we have a rich pool of heroes to draw upon.

1) Hellstorm (Daimon Hellstrom)

Daimon Hellstrom, more commonly known as Hellstorm, is not your typical offspring of a human mother and Satan (Marduk Kurios). Contrary to popular belief, he has fought for good causes and even teamed up with The Defenders. Notably, his stint with The Defenders was significant for the character’s development. During this period, he met and fell in love with Hellcat, or Patsy Walker. He also managed to overcome his father during this time. Eventually, Daimon and Patsy decided to depart from The Defenders when they got married. While comic aficionados are aware of the subsequent twists in their marital journey.

Daimon Hellstrom is a multi-dimensional character in Marvel Comics, boasting a rich and extensive background. Born with extraordinary abilities, he possesses superhuman strengths and durability, and notably, he can summon, control, and emit various types of fire, including soulfire. It’s no wonder that prior to his official induction as a Defender, he lent his aid to the team on numerous occasions – like the time he played a crucial role in rescuing the Hulk from Hell.

2) Darkhawk (Christopher Powell)

Throughout various phases, the Defenders have undergone numerous transformations, such as the Secret Defenders’ stint in the 1990s. In this specific version, the team was spearheaded by an unusual quartet – Doctor Strange, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Silver Surfer. As you might expect, it’s quite an eclectic group, but wait until you hear about the other members! Darkhawk, Noman, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Namorite, Captain America, Thunderstrike, and many more heroes joined forces during this run. Surprisingly, the lineup of characters was quite extensive for a unique spin on the team.

Meet Christopher Powell, better known as Darkhawk – a ’90s icon characterized by his design and origin story. With a police officer father, Chris developed a strong stance against crime as he transitioned into superhero duties. The Darkhawk Amulet grants him the ability to exchange bodies with the Darkhawk Armor, and wielding this artifact, he initially patrolled the city streets. It didn’t take long for Darkhawk to venture into space, dealing with extraterrestrial perils. On several occasions, Darkhawk teamed up with Earth-bound hero groups, such as the Defenders.

3) Moondragon (Heather Douglas)

In a new rendition, the Defenders were rebranded as the New Defenders, led by Beast who aimed to give them a more traditional feel. The lineup included familiar faces such as Angel, Iceman, Valkyrie, Gargoyle, Moondragon, Cloud, and Andromeda, along with some unexpected additions. However, Moondragon’s involvement created more issues than solutions, largely due to the influence of the Moon Dragon entity. The situation escalated dramatically, resulting in the tragic loss of half the team. But remember, this is the comic book universe, so many heroes returned from the dead prematurely.

Heather Douglas is famously recognized as Moondragon, a cosmic hero boasting immense psychic abilities. Within the Marvel Universe, she’s closely connected with various characters: she hosts the Moon Dragon, is married to Phyla-Vell, and is the daughter of Drax the Destroyer. Her most notable association is with the Guardians of the Galaxy, although she’s collaborated with numerous teams throughout her career. Notably, her collaboration with the Defenders, while uncommon, focused on Earth-based issues. This could explain why events didn’t unfold as intended during that period.

4) Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond)

It’s fair to conclude that Kyle Richmond, also known as Nighthawk, has a deep-rooted association with the Defenders. His connection goes back to before he officially became a member, when he wasn’t entirely recognized as a hero. Finding Nebulon’s plans for Earth menacing, Nighthawk couldn’t reach the Avengers in time. Instead, he sought aid from the Defenders. Naturally, they were ready to help him out. In this critical mission, Nighthawk made the ultimate sacrifice, but the Defenders took action and offered parts of their souls to revive him. Given such a selfless act by the Defenders, it’s no surprise that Nighthawk later became an official member of the team.

Over time, Nighthawk has consistently reappeared among the Defenders, with frequent comings and goings throughout the years. Regarding Kyle Richmond’s background, he once operated as a supervillain, aligning himself with groups such as the Squadron Sinister. However, he has since changed his ways, demonstrated by his heroic attempts to save Earth from Nebulon’s destruction. Nighthawk derives his powers from a special potion that amplifies his already superhuman abilities during the night, giving him his superhero moniker. He exhibits extraordinary strength, durability, speed, and more. Furthermore, he is an accomplished fighter with some understanding of the mystical arts, which has proven beneficial in various situations.

5) Andromeda (Andromeda Attumasen)

Andromeda, a less recognized hero hailing from Atlantis, made her debut working alongside the Defenders. She was indeed part of the New Defenders as mentioned before, which led her into the conflict surrounding Moondragon. In this same group, it’s reported that she perished, but in actuality, her body was annihilated while her spirit journeyed to another dimension. Fortunately, Doctor Strange managed to assist Andromeda in overcoming this predicament. Over time, Andromeda has occasionally resurfaced, even joining the Defenders of the Deep on various occasions.

Andromeda, who hails from Atlantis, has a rich and intricate past, even though it’s not often in the spotlight. It was later unveiled that she is the daughter of an Atlantean king, and she waged a fierce battle against him for the throne. Due to her Atlantean heritage, she boasts incredible strength, resilience, and speed, but needs regular access to water to sustain these abilities.

6) Paladin

On Earth-616, Paladin is among several mercenaries, but his true identity remains undisclosed to readers. He’s had dealings with both sides of the superhero world, working alongside and against characters like Daredevil. His exploits range from pursuing the Purple Man to accepting payments from Silver Sable’s group. However, you might find it surprising that Paladin has connections with the Defenders, though his tenures with the team were generally brief. Notably, he was part of the “Defenders for a Day” storyline, where several superheroes were considering joining the Defenders, including Paladin. The allure lay in the Defenders’ unconventional approach to teamwork. Regrettably, it turned out to be a hoax, as Dollar Bill produced a fake documentary about the “team,” causing many potential recruits to back out.

In the series “The Last Defenders,” Paladin re-entered the group. However, much like previous instances, this iteration of the team was active for just one mission. Members like Atlas, Junta, Nighthawk, and others were part of this team, tasked with shielding New Jersey. This assignment was part of a broader project to equip each state with its own superhero defense squad. Unfortunately, during their initial and only mission, the New Jersey team encountered difficulties and ultimately failed, leading to the decision for everyone to abandon the effort.

7) Cloud

Another lesser-known Marvel character is Cloud; they joined forces with the New Defenders when Beast was leading the group. In essence, Cloud is a conscious Nubula, an incredible revelation! The Cosmic Cube Kubik transformed them into a humanoid form. At this stage, Cloud didn’t yet have a name and, unfortunately, inadvertently put two teenagers into comas during their first encounter. Subsequently, Cloud adopted the personalities and appearances of these teenagers. Not long after, Cloud opted to work alongside a superhero team and eventually became a New Defender.

Readers weren’t done witnessing Cloud team up with the Defenders, as he reappeared in 2021 when Doctor Strange assumed leadership. The storyline kicks off with Doctor Strange performing an intricate spell to provide Cloud with a new form, but things take a turn for the worse when the group gets transported into the Sixth Infinity. This scenario echoes typical Doctor Strange scenarios and marked the start of a series of ongoing events and journeys.

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2025-08-14 02:32