[Kinda Book Report] New Defenders #1

I got this book in the bargain bin from a local comic shop. I was very excited to get into this one because I read the essentials volumes 2,4, and 5 back in 2017. I enjoyed the feel of this "non-team". The cover of the New Defenders featured some of my favorite characters: Angel and Beast. I was all in.

But this book, that gathers Defenders 122 through 131 is not great.

First, there is a story line where X-mas elves take Dr Strange, Hulk, Silver Surfer, and Namor to the future where they are told they will destroy some unnamed random alien that will lead to the destruction of Earth if they band together as the Defenders again. I mean... WHAT? Superheroes that when told that just go. "Uh... okay we will disband now." That premise was just stupid and spanned like 3 issues. Then they show up and say "bye" to the "new" defenders.

Where is the "we won't let that happen!" They just give up and leave.

By then I was pretty bored... Even after Beast forms the new Defenders, with Iceman, Angel, Gargoyle, Valkyrie, and Moondragon. Moondragon has a bit of an interesting side plot but all the others are there just "because". The team has no identity, no villains to give them a nemesis, they are just 3 former X-men with randos.

At one point both Beast and Valkyrie vie for the title of team leader but they never resolve this discussion as things happen. Personally, of the characters, Angel or Valkyrie would be interesting leaders but nothing comes of it. This seems to be a recurring theme. Thankfully, the title would be cancelled a short time later in favor of the much more interesting X-Factor title.

One of the most interesting story, which came in a one-off plot is when Beast gives a conference to a college and craziness ensues with a super-powered moron and Frogman.

Basically, you have cool characters without any reason to be together, no leader, no plot, no nemesis, nothing. No wonder this title failed.

Review-wise, I would give this a 2/5. I thought of a 2.5 but .5 was just because of the characters themselves, not the story or the book, so I have to drop this to 2. Two is about right.