Comic books in 'Marvel Epic Collection: Defenders'

1st printing. Collects Doctor Strange (1968 1st Series) #183, [Prince Namor, the] Sub-Mariner (1968 1st Series) #22 and #34-35, The Incredible Hulk (1962 Marvel 1st Series) #126, Marvel Feature (1971-1973 1st Series) #1-3, The Defenders (1972-1986 1st Series) #1-11, The Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) #116-118 and material from The Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) #115.

Written by Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart, and Len Wein. Art by Sal Buscema, Gene Colan, Herb Trimpe, Ross Andru, Bob Brown, Marie Severin, Don Heck, Jim Mooney, Tom Palmer, Johnny Craig, Bill Everett, Frank Giacoia, John Verpoorten, Frank McLaughlin, Frank Bolle, and Mike Esposito. Cover by Neal Adams. Back Cover by John Buscema and Frank Giacoia.

The day of the Defenders has come!

Roy Thomas joined his Titans Three of the Incredible Hulk, the Sub-Mariner and the Silver Surfer together with Doctor Strange to create comics' greatest "non-team," the Defenders! They don't rely on bylaws and butlers like other teams. They join together in moments of utmost crisis to face inenemies! But when they encounter heroes of a more conventional stripe, it's war - the watershed hero vs. hero Avengers/Defenders War, no less!

The original Defenders are soon joined by Hawkeye and Valkyrie and face Dormammu, the Enchantress, Loki, the sorcerer Cyrus Black and the horror of the Nameless One in this historic Epic Collection!

Softcover, 480 pages, full color. Rated T

NOTE: Book 1 of the Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection - Years Covered: 1969-1973.

Cover price $44.99.

1st printing. Collects Defenders (1972-1986 1st Series) #92-109, Marvel Team-Up (1972-1985 1st Series) #101 and Captain America (1968-1996 1st Series) #268.

Written by J.M DeMatteis and Mark Gruenwald. Art by Don Perlin, Joe Sinnott, Al Milgrom, Sal Trapani, Jack Abe, Mike Esposito, Chic Stone, Jerry Bingham, and Mike Zeck. Cover by Michael Golden.

The greatest non-team in comics gets the Epic treatment! J.M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin take Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Nighthawk, Hellcat and the Son of Satan on wild adventures into the occult - and against each other! These weird tales begin with a broken Eternity; evolve to include demons, Dracula and the Devil-Slayer; and culminate in a double-sized issue #100 extravaganza! If the Defenders can't prevail, it'll be hell on Earth - literally! Known as "The Six-Fingered Hand Saga," this is one of the most compelling Defenders adventures of all time. Plus: Captain America teams up with the non-team in hopes of staving off the beginning of World War III. And witness the shocking death of a Defender!

Softcover, 480 pages, full color.

NOTE: Book 6 of the Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection - Years Covered: 1981-1982.

Cover price $39.99.

1st printing. Collects Defenders (1972-1986 1st Series) #110-125 and Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) Annual #11.

Written by J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Gruenwald, and Steven Grant. Art by Don Perlin, Mike Esposito, Mike Mignola, Al Milgrom, Sal Buscema and Jack Abel. Cover by Brent Anderson.

The Defenders face threats Satanic, Seussian and everything in between!

Marvel's greatest non-team will take you on adventures made with their own special brand of action and interpersonal drama, topped by a heaping helping of the absurd! In this Epic Collection, the Defenders battle the cosmic Over-Mind, the alternate-Earth Squadron Supreme, the fan-favorite Elf with a Gun, the Avengers, and even themselves! Patsy Walker's relationship with Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, will flower, while classic Defenders - Hulk, Namor and the Silver Surfer - will return!

Out of it all, the New Defenders - featuring Iceman, Angel, Beast and Moondragon - will rise, and nothing will be the same. Same as it ever was!

Softcover, 440 pages, full color.

NOTE: Book 7 of the Defenders Epic Collection - Years Covered: 1982-1983.

Cover price $39.99.

1st printing. Collects Defenders (1972-1986 1st Series) #126-137, Iceman (1984 1st Mini-Series) #1-4, and Beauty and the Beast (1985 Marvel) #1-4.

Written by J.M. DeMatteis, Peter B. Gillis, and Ann Nocenti. Art by Alan Kupperberg, Sal Buscema, Mike Zeck, Don Perlin, Mike Mignola, Kim DeMulder, and Mike Gustovich. Cover by Kevin Nowlan.

The Defenders, Marvel's weirdest non-team, have a new roster, a new headquarters and a new leader - they've evolved into a New Defenders! Their adventures are some of the most far-out trips Marvel has ever presented, but what more could you expect from a group consisting of a Valkyrie, a gargoyle, a cosmic psychic, a sentient cloud and a pair of ex-X-Men? Together they'll take on an all-new Secret Empire, killer nuclear spores in human form, the deadly Manslaughter and towering disembodied demons! Guest-starring Nick Fury, Odin, the New Mutants and more!

Also featuring two limited series starring the Defenders' Iceman and Beast in solo action - plus rare articles from Marvel's 1980s behind-the-scenes magazine, MARVEL AGE!

Softcover, 488 pages, full color.

NOTE: Book 8 of the Defenders Epic Collection - Years Covered: 1983-1985.

Cover price $39.99.

1st printing. Collects Defenders (1972-1986 1st Series) #138-152 and Gargoyle (1985 Marvel) #1-4.

Written by Peter B. Gillis and J.M. Dematteis. Art by Don Perlin, Kim DeMulder, Luke McDonnell, Art Nichols, Sal Buscema, Dell Barras, Alan Kupperberg, Randy Emberlin, and Mark Badger. Cover by Arthur Adams and Mike Mignola. Back Cover by Mike Mignola.

All things must come to an end - and the Defenders will fight their way to the finish in epic fashion!

Moondragon seeks to master her arrogance, leading to a new outlook and a new uniform. But despite outward appearances, her internal struggle continues - and she soon succumbs to the power of the Dragon of the Moon, the cosmic entity that eradicated all life on Titan! Now the remaining Defenders must battle their own teammate, or Earth will suffer the same fate. It's a struggle that just might end with the deaths of the Defenders!

Plus: Beast's fight for mutant rights, Cloud's identity conflict, the return of Manslaughter, the debut of Andromeda - and Gargoyle's solo adventure!

Softcover, 488 pages, full color. Rated T

NOTE: Book 9 of the Defenders Epic Collection - Years Covered: 1984–1986.

Cover price $39.99.