Defenders issue 11 page 31 by Sal Buscema and Frank Bolle

1973- The Avengers Defenders War was a great crossover but I didn't appreciate the art on the Avengers side of the arc, at the time, so those 116 to 119 pages haven't worked their way into my collection BUT I love Sal's art at this time in his career. Plus I loved the Defenders! I mention the cross over, which this page wasn't part of but that was based on the Evil Eye on this page. I digress all over in this description so I'll add- Add my love for Black Knight and I really wanted this page.



Now here is CL long winded write up- Offered here is some pure Bronze Age goodness, a Sal Buscema page from Defenders #11 (1973) featuring three of the original Defenders team members--Hulk, Doctor Strange and the Silver Surfer--meeting the Black Knight, Mordred and Prester John. This was the Silver Surfer's final appearance with the team.



The Defenders is Marvel's famous non-team of superheroes who were first officially formed in 1971's Marvel Feature #1 before being awarded their own long running title that spanned the Bronze Age. The series has been periodically revived over the decades. The name "The Defenders" is now being used for the high profile Netflix series Marvel's The Defenders that teams the various MCU Netflix characters--Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.



This the Dane Whitman version of the Black Knight, the long time member of the Avengers first seen in Avengers #47 and #48 (1967). Mordred is the evil son of King Arthur Pendragon and was first seen in Black Knight #1 (1955). As mentioned on the page, Prester John was first and last seen in Fantastic Four #54 (1966).



Sal Buscema had a long career, starting out inking his brother John's pencils on the famous issue Silver Surfer #4. He soon graduated to penciling on Avengers, Captain America and The Defenders. By the 80s, Sal was the long-time regular artist on Incredible Hulk and Spectacular Spider-Man.



The page is signed in the middle right by artist Sal Buscema and popular writer Steve Englehart.