THE DEFENDERS (2017) ISSUE #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Marquez
Color Artist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The Defenders found out that the returning crime boss, Diamondback, is the one behind the assassination attempts made against them. Cage already confronted Diamondback and failed! Now Iron Fist, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones take their shots.
What You Need To Know:
In issue #1 we were introduced to the new team of Defenders as they dealt with assassination attempts by an unknown enemy. One attack left Jessica Jones in the hospital with a gunshot wound.
Scorn after finding out that his wife was shot, Luke Cage confronted her attacker alone. This attack did not go as Cage planned and he ended up being left for dead, poisoned by Diamondback. Cage’s brutal beating was purposefully witnessed by the Black Cat, Perhaps this was a message from Diamondback to show just how serious he is about taking control.
What You’ll Find Out:
Jessica Jones rushed to Cage’s side at the medical center. Cage, unresponsive in a hospital bed. The night nurse, Linda Carter, tells her the Black Cat brought Cage in and said that he was poisoned by Diamondback.
Things look grim for Cage when Linda Carter identifies the poison as a top secret S.H.I.E.L.D. grade compound, the antidote of which won’t just be found laying around. Lucky for Cage, Blade shows up at the last minute and gives them an antidote. Blade gives no explanation on how he got it or how he knew Cage needed it. He just says that Cage owes him and leave. Maybe this won’t be the last time we see Blade.
Next, Wilson Fisk, the previous Kingpin and Crime boss of the underground, hosts what appears to be a charity event. We learn that Fisk left his life of crime behind him, leaving the position open for Diamondback. At the event, Fisk is visited by Danny Rand (The Iron Fist) who asks for information on Diamondback. When he refuses, Rand tells him that a new kingpin would probably want to “gut” the old one. Implying It would be mutually beneficial if Fisk helped him. Whether or not this persuasion worked is unknown to us, the reader.
Lastly, Diamondback waits for news that Cage has been found dead, when he doesn’t get it, he regrets not watching Cage die for himself. Jessica Jones shows up to fight Diamondback and his henchmen, soon joined by Daredevil and the Iron Fist. The Defenders learn that Diamondback has superpowers as he holds his own for a while but runs away at an unnaturally fast speed.
What Just Happened:
This comic was an excellent follow up to issue #1. A few questions were answered, like what happened to Cage and why the position of kingpin was free for Diamondback to claim. While still keeping secrets from us, like what Diamondback’s ultimate plan is for the Defenders and what Black Cat’s role may be in all of this.
I, personally, had been wondering how Diamondback was going to fair against the Defenders with no superpowers but seeing him display super speed and hearing Iron Fist’s comment during the final pursuit “I just feel it’s making us look like we’re getting our ***** kicked by a normal strong person when I think it’s important for us to agree that he’s very fast“ makes it clear he at least possess super speed. What other powers might he have up his sleeve?
In this series, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are also husband and wife, this was an interesting change from the Netflix series where they were ex lovers after a very brief relationship. Twice now we’ve seen one them get injured by Diamondback and the other go after him alone in retaliation. I look forward to seeing how this might continue to effect the characters.
Rating: 9/10
Final Thoughts: This series continues to be very compelling. The characters and the storyline are developing nicely.