Home » Hulk » Terrific Defenders Cake

Terrific Defenders Cake

Defenders Cake

This terrific Defenders Cake was made by Jean Schapowal from Cakes With Character. 

When I mention a superhero group named The Defenders, what first comes to mind?

I suspect that most people think of the popular Netflix series featuring Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.

There was a group called The Defenders long before this. Back in 1971, Dr. Strange, Hulk, and Namor appeared in Marvel Feature #1 as The Defenders.

 

image1

Here is the cover of Marvel Features #1.

They were a group of outsiders who fought supernatural and magic threats. Doctor Strange led the group. The members of the group varied from 1972 through 1986, but for the most part, Dr. Strange and the Hulk stayed members. Some of the other members over the years included Valkyrie (if you look carefully, you’ll see her on the cake), Hawkeye, Nighthawk, Hellcat, Gargoyle, Beast, Angel, Iceman, the Son of Satan, and Luke Cage.

In Doctor Strange #183, Sub-Mariner #22, and The Incredible Hulk #126, Doctor Strange teams with Sub-Mariner and Hulk to protect the Earth from the Undying Ones.  The reason for this crossover was Doctor Strange had been canceled, so Roy Thomas wrapped up the story begun in Doctor Strange in those issues of Sub-Mariner and The Incredible Hulk. This gave Roy Thomas an idea.  So in Sub-Mariner #34-35, Namor asks Silver Surfer and the Hulk to help stop a weather control experiment. In Marvel Feature #1, Dr. Strange, Hulk, and Namor fought a wizard called Yandroth and reluctantly became The Defenders after that.  It is such a relucant team that Hulks says “Hulk Never Wants To Get Together Again. Never! Hulk was in group once – called Avengers. Didn’t Like It.” 

 

Hulk Doesn't Want To Be In The Defenders

 

The Defenders appeared again in Marvel Feature #2 & #3.  After these three issues, The Defenders were awarded their own title.

This terrific Defender cake was based on these original Defenders. Hulk is a 3-D character that comes out of the comic book cover. He was made using modeling chocolate. The entire piece is hand-painted and drawn. Wafer paper was used to create the torn comic book pages.

 

Gaint Sized Defenders 1

Here is the cover of Giant-Sized Defenders #1 drawn by Gil Kane which Jean’s awesome cake is based upon.

The comic book stories I mentioned above are available from Amazon.

 

437351._SX1280_QL80_TTD_

Doctor Strange Epic Collection: A Separate Reality includes the three part story I mentioned above – Doctor Strange 183, Sub-Mariner #22, and Incredible Hulk #126.  It also includes the 1st Defenders comic book from Marvel Feature #1.  It features the tail end of Roy Thomas and Gene Colan’s classic run and the beginning of Steve Englehart and Richard Brunner’s run.  The later is considered by many to be the best run on Doctor Strange ever.  This volume is a really great sampling of silver age Doctor Strange and contains some of the best artwork Marvel ever published.

 

381775._SX1280_QL80_TTD_

 

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 1 contains the team-up with Namor, Hulk, and Silver Surfer from Sub-Mariner #34 & 35.  It also features the Defenders three try-out issues from Marvel Feature. It concludes with the first six issues of the Defenders.

 

386680._SX1280_QL80_TTD_

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 2 reprints Giant-Size Defenders #1.  This volume also contains the most popular Defenders story ever – the classic Avengers / Defender
s Wars. You get Hawkeye and Nighthawk joining the Defenders.  Plus, the Defenders take on the X-Men’s most famous foe – Magneto.   I highly recommend this volume.  This is as good as silver age Marvel Comics get.