Holy crap! Marvel and Netflix are bringing us four new original television series featuring Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, and then they're going to combine them for a miniseries event to dub them The Defenders. That's amazing!
For those not in the know, The Defenders have always been Marvel's lovable second-tier superteam, Initially, it was formed by the Hulk, Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, and Namor the Sub-Mariner, and later expanded to include a revolving door of characters that were enjoyable, but not quite beloved enough to support their own series. However, it looks like the TV version will be much more in the vein of Heroes for Hire, with founding members Power Man (aka Luke Cage) and Iron Fist there and all. With Daredevil in the mix, it also brings in a Marvel Knights element, which was a short-lived, dysfunctional team of street level heroes which even included the Punisher. That's not even mentioning the fact that Cage has led the Thunderbolts and is currently in a specific subset group called the Mighty Avengers.
That's a massive tapestry of potential superheroes to choose from, but we're going to pick out the best characters that would fit seamlessly in this new street-level Netflix pantheon of Marvel's. So here are 10 characters we want to see in these new Defenders series.
Oh, and longtime Defenders die-hards wondering why Valkyrie isn't on this list? We still want her in the next Thor movie.
10 Defenders We Want To See On Marvel's Netflix Series
-
1. DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON
Colleen Wing and Misty Knight are an absolute must for any series starring Luke Cage and Iron Fist, and not just because Knight is Iron Fist Danny Rand's longtime lover. They are badass core members of Heroes for Hire, and they perfectly fit the vibe.
-
2. CLOAK AND DAGGER
There is no better embodiment of 'street level hero' than Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen, because they live on the streets. Teenage runaways with co-dependent darkforce-lightforce powers forced on them, they try to find a way to do right in a world that always wrongs them.
-
3. ELEKTRA
If you're giving new live-action life to Daredevil, you have to do the same for the Mexcian Appetizer - er, Greek assassin Elektra Natchios, whose fortunes were crushed by a really bad movie. This time, we'll get back some of her malevolence and her dark association with the ninja cult known as The Hand. No more teeter-totter fights.
-
4. SHANG-CHI
There is no adventure series that wouldn't be made better with the addition of Bruce Lee, and that's what you get with the Master of Kung-Fu here. Digging deeper into the Iron Fist legend, he could also bring the Immortal Weapons into the action, and that means Fat Cobra is along for the ride. You know you want some Fat Cobra.
-
5. MOON KNIGHT
Marc Spector was a mercenary, became a millionaire crimefighter, moonlit as a cabbie to keep his street cred, and in recent years, has somehow gone batshit, multiple-personality, "carve your face off and wear it" insane. Still, his Egyptian avatar business brings a mystic element to the show, which opens the door for a parade of magical weirdos. Such as...
-
6. BLADE
The rights to the Daywalker are back at Marvel, although he hasn't been seen since the failed TV series starring Sticky Fingaz (you forgot about that, didn't you?). Honor the character who started the Marvel movie madness and let him step back into the limelight by killing some suckheads and dropping occult knowledge on the Defenders.
-
7. GHOST RIDER
A couple of crap movies have tarnished his star, but it can certainly be revived on the small screen - and there are several versions of this hotheaded demonic biker to choose from. Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch, Alejandra, whoever the new one will be... they all still need streets to ride that hog around in search of vengeance.
-
8. HELLCAT
A longtime Defender from way back, Patsy Walker was also a supermodel in the Ultimate universe, a prospect which will likely make casting directors drool. She is also a magic-hunter who had a score to settle with the hoary netherworlds thanks to demonic pact her mother made. It led her to a very traumatic relationswhip with the next guy on our list...
-
9. DAIMON HELLSTROM
The Son of Satan is not "Damien Hell Storm," but he's close enough. He's been back and forth on the moral spectrum, hunting black magic jerks as well as being one, and being around him eventually drove Patsy Walker to insanity and suicide. This guy could easily be the threat that unites the Defenders in the miniseries, after a heartbreaking betrayal that they should've seen coming.
-
10. PUNISHER
Frank Castle is another ex-movie star in need of some image resuscitation, and his eternal antagonism with Daredevil about the use of lethal force is a perfect place to begin that process. He's not a team player, but he'll make for a great recurring guest star who shows up and kills the hell out of threats DD stops. He did try to work with him in the 'Marvel Knights' team, and the results were as disastrous as you'd expect. Entertaining, though!
