Publishers / Marvel / Giant-Size Defenders (1974) / #1
1July 1974
$0.50

Giant-Size Defenders #1

Marvel · July 1974 · on sale 1974-04-23

First appearance: Pavel PlotnickFirst appearance: Mister RasputinOrigin: Bruce Banner
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Giant-Size Defenders (Marvel, 1974 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
July 1974
Key date
1974-07-00
On-sale date
1974-04-23
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.50
Pages
68
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Pavel Plotnick - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Mister Rasputin - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Bruce Banner, Hulk.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Gil Kane, John Romita; inks: Frank Giacoia, John Romita; letters: Danny CrespiBruce Banner, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor, Norrin Radd, Silver Surfer, Stephen Strange, Sub-Mariner
1The Way They Were! [Prologue]comic story3script: Tony Isabella; pencils: Jim Starlin; inks: Al Milgrom; colors: Jim Starlin, Petra G.; letters: Dave HuntBruce Banner, Clea, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor, Barbara Norriss, Stephen Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie, Wong
2[The Way They Were] Part 1: Banished to Outer Spacecomic story11script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Petra Goldberg; letters: Artie Simek; editing: Stan LeeBruce Banner Origin, Hulk Origin, Rick Jones, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
3The Way They Were!, Interlude 1comic story1script: Tony Isabella; pencils: Jim Starlin; inks: Al Milgrom; colors: Jim Starlin, Petra Goldberg; letters: Dave Hunt; editing: Roy ThomasBruce Banner, Clea, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor, Barbara Norriss, Stephen Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie, Wong
4[The Way They Were] Part 2: Bird of Prey!comic story4script: Bill Everett; pencils: Bill Everett; inks: Bill Everett; colors: Petra Goldberg; letters: Bill Everett; editing: Stan LeeFen, Namor, Sub-Mariner
5The Way They Were!, Interlude 2comic story1script: Tony Isabella; pencils: Jim Starlin; inks: Al Milgrom; colors: Jim Starlin, Petra Goldberg; letters: Dave Hunt; editing: Roy ThomasBruce Banner, Clea, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor, Barbara Norriss, Stephen Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie, Wong
6[The Way They Were] Part 3, To Catch a Magician!comic story10script: Steve Ditko, Denny O'Neil; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; colors: Petra Goldberg; letters: Artie Simek; editing: Stan LeeDoctor Strange, Mister Rasputin First, Pavel Plotnick First, Stephen Strange
7[The Way They Were] Part 4: The Once and Again Doomscomic story4script: Tony Isabella; pencils: Jim Starlin; inks: Al Milgrom; colors: Jim Starlin, Petra Goldberg; letters: Dave Hunt; editing: Roy ThomasBruce Banner, Clea, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Mister Rasputin First, Namor, Barbara Norriss, Pavel Plotnick First, Stephen Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie, Wong
8Good Evening! This is the Eleventh-Hour Bullpen!text article0.67script: Roy Thomas; pencils: Neal Adams; inks: Neal Adams; colors: Petra GoldbergDefenders [Doctor Strange [Stephen Strange]; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Sub-Mariner [Namor]]
9-promo (ad from the publisher)0.33pencils: Rich Buckler; inks: John RomitaAvengers [Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Scarlet Witch [Wanda Maximoff]; Thor [Donald Blake]; Vision]
10The Peerless Power of the Silver Surfercomic story12script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Frank Giacoia; colors: Petra Goldberg; letters: Artie Simek; editing: Stan LeeQuasimodo, Norrin Radd, Silver Surfer
11The Dynamic Defenders!illustration2script: Steve Englehart; pencils: Sal Buscema; inks: Sal Buscema; colors: Petra Goldberg; letters: John CostanzaBruce Banner, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor, Barbara Norriss, Norrin Radd, Silver Surfer, Stephen Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Essential Defenders #2
ISBN 0-7851-2150-1		2006On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders #2
ISBN 978-0-7851-4216-4		2010On eBay ›
Marvel Firsts: The 1970s #2
ISBN 978-0-7851-6381-7		2012On eBay ›
The Defenders Omnibus #1
ISBN 978-1-302-92859-9		2021On eBay ›
Enter - The Headmen
ISBN 978-1-302-95531-1		2024On eBay ›
Giant-Size Marvel Omnibus #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-96388-0		2025On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

1 of 5#2 ›

Sources

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