Giant-Size Defenders issue 3 page 29 (says 38) by Jim Starlin and Don Newton

Jan 1975- What can I say about this book I have not already said. This is my 2nd favorite comic of all time just behind Avengers Annual 7. Love Starlin and Newton and only wished they had worked together more often. With all of the power on the Defenders it's Matt's guile and cunning that won the day. I didn't like that he cheated (even as a kid) but the stakes were incredibly high and Grand-master was trying to stack the deck in his favor as well. So.....???
ComicLink Comments:
This 1975 Jim Starlin page from Giant-size Defenders #3 has a lot going for it. First, it was penciled by the legendary Starlin , the godfather of "Cosmic Marvel", during his initial prime era Bronze Age stint with Marvel. Second, it features the Grandmaster, a villain who will be receiving a tremendous amount of exposure in the near future as Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park and Independence Day) will be portraying the character in this year's blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok. Third, it's packed with key Marvel heroes including Hulk, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie and Nighthawk. Fourth, it has inks by Don Newton, a talented artist who would go on to make his mark working on Batman in the 80s.

The Defenders first appeared as team in Marvel Feature #1 (1971). The original team consisted of the Hulk, Doctor Strange and the Sub-Mariner, three characters who did not fit in well with the Avengers. Valkyrie and Nighthawk would join the Defenders early on and become core members throughout the 1970s. Daredevil was not a member of the team, but appeared as a guest star in the story featuring this page. Daredevil will be a key member of the MCU version of the Defenders, which will have its own Netflix series in the near future, Marvel's Defenders, also featuring Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones.

The Grandmaster is one of the Elders of the Universe and has appeared in many Marvel sagas over the decades. He first appeared in Avengers #69 (1969).

Jim Starlin is the legendary creator chiefly responsible for the cosmic expansion of the Marvel Universe that took place starting in the Bronze Age when he introduced the characters of Thanos, Drax the Destroyer and Eros in Iron Man #55. Starlin then moved on to create his "Thanos Saga" that ran in Captain Marvel #25-34 and in Strange Tales #178-181 and Warlock #9-15. He returned to the characters in the early 1990s with the epic Infinity Gauntlet and has continued to periodically depict the adventures of Thanos and company ever since.

Don Newton was a fine artist who the comic book industry sadly lost very early when he passed away at age 49. He was one of the more active producers on Batman during the 1980s. Newton is also remembered for his work on Aquaman, Captain Marvel and the Phantom.