Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #3
Published January 1975
Cover Price 0.50
Pages 68
Editing Roy Thomas
Notes Letters page replies by Steve Gerber. Possible Wilson cover penciler credit provided 2006 by Nick Caputo.

Cover Details - "When the Grandmaster plays-- the prize is Earth!"

Characters Defenders [Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Dr. Strange [Stephen Strange]; Sub-Mariner [Namor]; Valkyrie (Inset only)]; Daredevil [Matt Murdock]; Grandmaster
Genre superhero
Pencils Ron Wilson?
Inks Joe Sinnott
Letters Gaspar Saladino
Notes Letters page replies by Steve Gerber. Possible Wilson cover penciler credit provided 2006 by Nick Caputo.
Reprinted In Essential Defenders (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

32 page Defenders, The story "Games Godlings Play!"

Characters Defenders [Nighthawk [Kyle Richmond]; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Sub-Mariner [Namor]; Dr. Strange [Stephen Strange]; Valkyrie]; Daredevil [Matt Murdock]; Grandmaster; Kang (in flashback); Avengers [Goliath; Iron Man; Captain America; Thor] (in flashback); Squadron Sinister [Hyperion; Dr. Spectrum; Whizzer; Nighthawk] (in flashback); Dr. Doom (in flashback); Nick Fury (in flashback); Prime Mover; Aragorn; Takkor; Grott, the Man-Slayer; Korvac
Synopsis The Grandmaster and the Prime Mover play a game for the fate of the Earth. The Grandmaster selects the Defenders for his "pieces" and the Prime Mover selects several alien "pieces" and combat begins.
Genre superhero
Script Steve Gerber (script, plot); Jim Starlin (plot); Len Wein (plot)
Pencils Jim Starlin (layouts); Dan Adkins (finished art); Don Newton (finished art); Jim Mooney (finished art)
Inks Dan Adkins (pages 1-7, 10-11, 22-27, 43); Don Newton (pages 14-19, 31-36, 38); Jim Mooney (pages 8-9, 30, 37, 39, 44)
Colors Glynis Wein
Letters Charlotte Jetter
Reprinted In Essential Defenders (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

2 page Defenders Dialogue letters page

Notes Includes letters from Dean Mullaney and Mary Jo Duffy

7 page Sub-Mariner story "The World Destroyers!"

Characters Sub-Mariner; Betty Dean
Genre superhero
Script Bill Everett
Pencils Bill Everett
Inks Bill Everett
Letters Bill Everett
Notes The GCD credits Bill Everett (pencils, inks, script) in the original.
Reprinted from Sub-Mariner Comics (Marvel, 1954 series) #38 (February 1955)

9 page Dr. Strange story "The House of Shadows!"

Characters Doctor Strange
Genre superhero
Script Stan Lee
Pencils Steve Ditko
Inks Steve Ditko
Letters Sam Rosen
Reprinted from Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #120 (May 1964)