Defenders

The Defenders were the world's first team of superhumans. Banding together to fight off the Axis powers, the Defenders gathered allies from all over the world.

They were initially a loose roster of 'mystery men' recruited by Franklin Roosevelt, agents who reported directly to the White House outside of the US Army's chain of command. From 1939-1941, their actions were covert and the Defenders fought against Axis allies both home and abroad.

On Dec 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Congress declared war on the 1st of January, 1942, and several of the 'mystery men' were transferred to the OSS.

On 15 August 1942, Steve Rogers led a rescue operation for captured members of the 107th Infantry Brigade. Roosevelt signed an order declassifying the roster and assigned Captain America as the field commander of the assets in Europe.

The Defenders broke into roughly two groups. The "Great Lakes Defenders", named for Alan Scott and Jay Garrick, defended the homefront against a variety of incursions from invaders and saboteurs. They recruited similar 'mystery men' such as Orson Randall who were present in the area and willing to defend the homeland.

By the 25th of October, 1942, the Defenders had assembled as a team in Europe for the first time, in force. After the war, the Defenders 'officially' dissolved though many of them remained in close contact with each other and maintained government relationships.

They would be known as the Golden Age of heroes, and their exploits become the stuff of legend for decades to come.

Membership

• Steve Rogers
• The Human Torch
• Logan Howlett
• Hippolyta
• Dinah Drake Lance
• Jor-El
• Zinda Blake
• Jay Garrick
• Namor
• Alan Scott
• Howard Stark, Jr.
• Thomas Wayne, Sr.
• Carter Hall
• Sheila Hall
• Peggy Carter
• Nicholas Fury
• Kit Walker
• Orson Randall
• T'chaka
• Kent Nelson
• Al Pratt
• Wesley Dodds
• Jim Harper