Marvel Comics appears to be launching a new volume of Defenders with teaser art featuring a throwback cast of superheroes.
The teaser artwork by Javier Rodriguez shows original Defender Doctor Strange standing beside the Masked Rider. "Call on the New Defenders -- or time itself is doomed!" Masked Rider is displayed shouting to Doctor Strange. Stephen Strange replies, "I'm trying, Masked Raider! But my magic is... alive!"
Doctor Strange can also be seen elevating various tarot cards with the magic that he claims has come alive. Each tarot card features a cast of heroes with former ties to the Defenders, including Daimon Hellstrom, Cloud, Hulk, Moondragon, Brunnhilde's Valkyrie, Betty Ross/Harpy, Beast, Silver Surfer and Namor. Other tarot cards are shown from the back, keeping the identities of even more recruits a secret.
Masked Raider received a recent overhaul the last two years, with the character now donning the cosmic Eternity Mask in Marvel Comics #1000. At the time Marvel teased that Masked Raider would play an important role in its universe down the line, and his appearance next to Doctor Strange in a Defenders revival may be the first step in the publisher's master plan for the character.
Many of the possible Defenders are currently busy in other series or events across the Marvel Universe. Hulk hasn't worked on an official team since he became the Immortal Hulk, Moondragon is a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Beast is living with the X-Men on Krakoa, Silver Surfer is now the color black instead of silver and is about to renew his feud with Knull in King in Black, and Namor is vying to become the new host of the Phoenix in Avengers.
As for a release date for Defenders, Marvel states it's "Coming this summer."
Source: Marvel