Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artwork: David Marquez, Justin Ponsor (colours) Release Date: 13th December 2017 Originally released as a fairly blatant cash-grab to tie into the Netflix series of the same name, Marvel’s Defenders series benefits from one key factor: Brian Michael Bendis.  It’s no secret that Bendis knows these characters inside-out, and he uses that familiarity to put together a fast-moving and action-packed story with plenty of twists and turns to help keep the pages turning. Without beating around the bush in terms of spoilers, the book features the return of the apparently-not-dead-after-all Diamondback, who immediately delivers an emphatic mission statement, striking at the Defenders in their personal lives and shooting Jessica Jones in the gut.  As you do. Within the course of just a few pages, Bendis establishes Diamondback as a legitimate threat, and the way he goes after our four heroes is reminiscent of the type of brutal efficiency we’d commonly associate with the Kingpin.  The rest of the volume sees Iron Fist, Daredevil, Luke and Jessica trying to rally and strike back against their new (old?) adversary, each time realising that Diamondback is playing chess while they’re playing checkers. Despite the high stakes, [...]