Essential Defenders #3

When Chondo’s mind is returned to his body, he’s shocked to find it altered in ways he never asked for—upgraded, reshaped, and no longer quite his own. Meanwhile, Red Guardian arrives in America with a dangerous mission: to restore Kyle Richmond’s consciousness to his long-lost body, risking everything to bring back the man he once was.

In "A Garden of Eartly Demise!", Valkyrie faces confinement while Hulk and Jack Norriss race to rescue Aragorn. Nighthawk, his mind restored only to be captured, joins Dr. Strange and the Red Guardian in the clutches of the Plantman, as the fate of the team hangs in the balance.

In "Exile to Oblivion!", the Defenders fight their way out of a hostile dimension, only to face new dangers on Earth—capturing Porcupine and Eel in a tense, high-stakes showdown. With Valkyrie still imprisoned and a mysterious Elf wielding a gun turning deadly, the team must confront the aftermath of their ordeal before the situation spirals further.

In "Love, Anarchy and, Oh Yes... The Assassin!", Valkyrie finds herself cleared of charges thanks to a surprising ally—Matt Murdock—while donning a striking new gold costume gifted by Clea. Meanwhile, Red Guardian faces a dangerous threat from an anti-communist group, setting off a chain of events that blurs lines between justice, loyalty, and personal risk.

In "World Gone Sane?", the Defenders are scattered across the globe as the Headmen seize control, capturing Red Guardian and Nighthawk in France, Power Man and Valkyrie in India, Jack Norriss in a tense showdown with Ruby Thursday, and even Dr. Strange and Nebulon. With the team fractured and the stakes rising, the Hulk’s relentless assault becomes the last hope to break the Headmen’s grip before the world is remade—on their terms.

In "And in this Corner: The New Emissaries of Evil!", Egghead unleashes a trio of villains—Solar, Rhino, and the newly arrived Cobalt Man—on the Defenders in a high-stakes bid to steal the Star of Capistan. With Solar and Rhino already in motion, Egghead gambles everything on Cobalt Man’s explosive potential, setting the stage for a clash that could end in ruin or redemption.

When Egghead, Rhino, and Solarr descend on New York to seize the Star of Capistan, the Defenders stand in their way—only to face a far greater threat as the artifact hijacks Dr. Strange’s body, transforming him into the Red Rajah.

In "We Must Free The Defenders!", Red Guardian, Hellcat, and Valkyrie team up with Clea in a daring mission to rescue Dr. Strange from the clutches of the Star of Capistan, unraveling the Red Rajah's sinister plan and setting the stage for a pivotal showdown.

In "Who Remembers Scorpio?", Nighthawk and the remaining Defenders relocate to their country headquarters after Dr. Strange, Power Man, and Red Guardian depart, only to find Scorpio already waiting—silent, expectant, and very much a part of the place. The story quietly builds tension around a past that refuses to stay buried, as the team confronts a presence that feels both familiar and deeply unsettling.

In "Night Moves!", Nighthawk seeks quiet at the new Defenders headquarters, but peace shatters when Hellcat returns to Avengers Mansion with Valkyrie—sparking an unexpected clash between Wonder Man and the team. Meanwhile, Moon Knight makes a daring rescue, pulling Jack Norriss from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s grasp.

When a nuclear explosion intended to empower Sergei and the Red Guardian goes catastrophically wrong, the Defenders find themselves trapped beneath the crushing depths of the ocean, fighting for survival as the water closes in. The stakes are higher than ever as they struggle to endure the extreme pressure and dwindling air, testing their limits in a desperate bid to stay alive.

In "The Power Principle Part Three: Emotion, Ego...and Empty Expectations!", the Defenders face their most personal trial yet, battling not just a rogue agent and a captured comrade, but the lingering cost of victory—radiation sickness that tests their resolve. With the help of an unexpected ally from the deep, they confront the consequences of power, but the victory comes at a steep, uncertain price.

In "Val's New York Adventure!" from Essential Defenders #3, Jo finds herself caught in a high-stakes international standoff when Dr. Banner aids Soviet scientists in treating Namor, Hellcat, and Nightwing for radiation poisoning. With Red Guardian—now a being of nuclear energy—held under Russian control and the rest of the Defenders forced to leave the country, Valkyrie takes on the enigmatic Lunatik in a fight that tests her limits.

When a cult of demon worshippers steals the Eye of Agamotto from Dr. Strange, chaos erupts across dimensions. Valkyrie and the Hulk clash with Devil-Slayer in a fierce confrontation that ignites a battle for cosmic control.