Marvel will launch a new force of female fury in Fearless Defenders starring Valkyrie and Misty Knight. More of Marvel’s finest women (including Dani Moonstar of New Mutants) will join as the title progesses. Writer Cullen Bunn, Editor Ellie Pyle and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort talked about the new team on Marvel.com.

  “The team will come together slowly over time, but Valkyrie and Misty Knight are in the forefront. They are the co-leads. If ever there an odd couple, I can’t imagine more of one than Brunnhilde and Misty. They’re fun to write individually, but they’re so much fun to write when they’re interacting with one another. They immediately set this team apart from any other super hero group out there.

 

  We’re introducing a new villain right off the bat from the first issue. She’s seen an opportunity because there are no shield maidens in operation right now. There’s a void. This woman starts working some very bad mojo that puts Valkyrie on the defensive immediately; it’s her fault. We’ll meet the Doom Maidens who are exceptionally bad news,” said Bunn.

   “This is not a traditional team. They don’t have a headquarters. There’s a whole slew of characters who will pass in and out of the book. Valkyrie, Misty Knight and Dani Moonstar are there for the long haul. It’s different from the average Marvel group book” explained Brevoort.

   Valkyrie and Misty will be joined by a new warrior designed by Phil Jiminez.

 

  “The character on the cover to issue #3 is a new member of the group, Hippolyta, somebody we’re bringing back from the dead but with a new approach. We’re playing with what was there before and are introducing her in a different way.” 

“She will be going by the hero name Warrior Woman–whether she wants to or not,” added Ellie Pyle.

  Valkyrie was the lead of Fear Itself: The Fearless. Bunn co-wrote Val’s epic quest that took her on a world tour of the Marvel Universe and interacting with heroes, villains and demons of all genres. This new book will same the same versatility and variety.

  “This book opens itself up to any number of genres. It the first arc, we see Misty more in Valkyrie’s world, but it will be just as much fun when we see Valkyrie on a street level.

  “The cast will rotate depending on the arc. Brunnhilde has been tasked with assembling a new group of valkyrie. She’ll bring together eight women she feels are worthy. That said, I don’t intend to write every arc with a nine member team. We will have smaller groups and we will have guest stars who are not core cast members. When the full team comes together, it’s for a huge, world-destroying threat.”

“Valkyrie came out of The Fearless with a new found sense of purpose that overwhelmed her and swallowed her up.”

Fearless Defenders launches in February. Will Sliney is the artist. Mark Brooks provides covers.

Here’s the Marvel.com link for the entire liveblog.

I’m thrilled. I love Valkyrie, Misty Knight, The Fearless and The Defenders not to mention Dani Moonstar. This may be my new most anticipated Marvel Now book of 2013!

By Editor