The following contains major spoilers for Defenders Beyond #1, available now by Marvel.
The current iteration Doctor Strange’s Defenders has met with the Beyonder, one of Marvel’s most feared villains.
Defenders Beyond #1 sees Adam Brashear, aka Blue Marvel, brought together with a host of other heroes by the last vestige of Doctor Strange’s magic left over after the Sorcerer Supreme’s untimely demise. The Defenders travel through space and time without knowing where they’re going, as Blue Marvel joins America Chavez and Tigra in their role of Blue Marvel. The heroes make a spectacular trip to the Second Cosmos and find themselves far from home.
A gilded and gleaming figure stands before the team, proclaiming simply “I am beyond,” making it clear that the Beyonder is back. Eternity has warned heroes about the Multiverse’s next enemy and it seems that the Beyonder may be poised to change reality. It is possible that the Omega Force secrets have been unlocked or acquired by the Beyonder through the omega symbol on his chest. The power or concept of the Omega Force is a mysterious one.
The Beyonder first appeared in 1984’s Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 written by Jim Shooter and illustrated by Michael Zeck. The Beyonder, despite his appearance as a humanoid, is actually a member the alien race that shares his name. The Beyonder was fascinated by humanity’s individuality after years spent observing Earth. The Beyonder was driven by his wish to create a new universe and captured various villains and heroes to participate in the trials on Battleworld. The Beyonder returned in the years that followed to host another Secret Wars ,, but he is not the threat to the Defenders as a direct threat.
The Second Cosmos was introduced in 2017’s Ultimates #6 written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Travel Foreman. The Second Cosmos was born from the fragments of the First Firmament. It set the standard for the rest of the Multiverse. The Defenders’ last team travelled through the Cosmoses together and saw the new concepts each one brought to life. The last Defenders failed to discover the Omega Force or Second Cosmos. Science, magic and comic book archetypes were just some of the many discoveries made along the way.
Defenders Beyond #1 is written by Al Ewing with art by Javier Rodriguez and letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna. Rodriguez provided the main cover artwork. Other variant covers were created by Lee Garbett and Rom Lim, Rachelle Rosenberg and Jordie Bellaire. Natacha Bustos, Phil Noto and Leonardo Ramos also contributed. Marvel Comics now offers Defenders beyond #1.
Source: Marvel
