The Defenders #27
The Defenders #27 marks the cameo debut of Starhawk (Stakar Ogord), the enigmatic cosmic powerhouse who would grow into one of the most conceptually ambitious figures in Marvel's 31st-century timeline — a self-described 'One Who Knows' fated to relive his own life across infinite cycles and secretly architect the formation of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Published in September 1975, this issue deepened Marvel's boldest ongoing inter-team crossover of the Bronze Age, weaving together the present-day Defenders and the future-set Guardians against the genocidal Brotherhood of Badoon across three simultaneous narrative threads. That structural ambition, combined with Steve Gerber's characteristically strange, socially-aware voice, elevated what could have been a routine team-up into a genuinely serialized cosmic epic. The issue's letters page also carries a note from a then-unknown fan named J. Marc DeMatteis — the future writer who would eventually take over The Defenders himself — making it a small but remarkable document of fandom feeding directly back into the medium.
In "Three Worlds to Conquer!", the Defenders find themselves scattered across alien worlds after a Badoon assault on the Guardians of the Galaxy strands Vance Astro and Valkyrie on one planet, while Yondu and the Hulk are hurled to another. Steve Gerber’s sharp storytelling, brought to life by Sal Buscema’s dynamic art and Vince Colletta’s bold inks, sets up a high-stakes cosmic journey across unfamiliar terrains. Gil Kane’s cover captures the moment of separation with dramatic flair, while Joe Rosen’s lettering keeps the tension tight.
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Steve Gerber had assumed the writing reins of The Defenders with issue #20 (February 1975), after a brief stint in Giant-Size Defenders #3, and was deep into what would later be recognized as one of the landmark runs of 1970s Marvel. Issue #27, titled 'Three Worlds to Conquer!', continued a multi-part arc begun in #26 in which the present-day Defenders travel to the year 3015 alongside the original Guardians of the Galaxy to challenge the Badoon's occupation of Earth. Interior art was handled by Sal Buscema on layouts finished by inker Vince Colletta, while the cover — which notoriously spoiled a key story revelation about the female Badoon — was penciled by Gil Kane and inked by John Romita Sr., under the editorship of Len Wein with Marv Wolfman as editor-in-chief. Starhawk was created for this story by Gerber and Buscema, though the character shares a name with a figure advertised but never published in a 1969 Marvel Super-Heroes advertisement; whether any deliberate connection existed between those two concepts remains unresolved.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First (cameo) appearance of Starhawk (Stakar Ogord, Earth-691), who would become a core member and secret architect of the original Guardians of the Galaxy; his first full appearance follows in The Defenders #28.
- Starhawk was created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Sal Buscema.
- The story is titled 'Three Worlds to Conquer!' and is the second chapter of a multi-part Defenders/Guardians of the Galaxy crossover arc against the Brotherhood of Badoon, set in the 31st century (year 3014–3015).
- Interior credits: script by Steve Gerber; pencil layouts by Sal Buscema; finished art and inks by Vince Colletta; colors by Al Wenzel; letters by Joe Rosen; editor Len Wein.
- Cover penciled by Gil Kane, inked by John Romita Sr. — and according to contemporaneous sources, the cover inadvertently spoils a key in-story revelation about the female Badoon.
- The issue's letters page ('Defenders Dialogue') includes a letter from J. Marc DeMatteis — the future writer of The Defenders — who was, at that time, simply a fan of the series.
- A Mark Jeweler advertisement insert variant of this issue exists, distinguishable from the standard edition.
- The issue has been collected in multiple editions: the Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Heroes Omnibus (2018), the Guardians of the Galaxy Epic Collection Vol. 1 – Earth Shall Overcome (2023), and The Defenders Omnibus Vol. 2 (2023).
Cast · 17 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
In an attack on the Guardians of the Galaxy by the Badoon, two Defenders and two Guardians are transported across the galaxy. Vance Astro and Valkyrie to one planet, Yondu and Hulk to another.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).