I speculate about The Last Defenders.

I was a fan of the the Defenders since back when I collected the book when I was a wee lad. So, I am excited about the new The Last Defenders series that is set to come out. However, the line up gave me pause. The new team consists of: Nighthawk, Colossus, She-Hulk and Blazing Skull. That line up is random. The gears in my mind started turning, trying to figure out how these diverse characters could come together as a team. Then I read an interview at Newsarama with series writer Joe Casey about the series, and one of Casey's answers about the title and the make up of the team struck me.

 "The title of the series is not a gimmick. Not in the slightest. It's essential to the story we're telling. And it's a much bigger concept than any marketing strategy or solicitation copy could convey..."

Then the thought popped into my head: They're Skrulls.

It was the whole "big concept" thing? And also this other quote from the interview:

"Blazing Skull is an inroad to the history of the Marvel U., going all the way back to WWII. Colossus has that X-connection, that access to the mutant side of things. She-Hulk represents the more chaotic, unpredictable side of the Marvel U. And Nighthawk is, as I said, acting as the glue to hold it all together."

That seems almost strategic wording, doesn't it? If you were going to have a "secret Invasion" of Earth, would you want subversives in ever area of superhumandom?

Then I got to thinking about the characters themselves:

• Nighthawk: Was dead but got better. But what if he didn't get better, but got replaced
• Colossus: Was dead but got better. But, again, what if he didn't get better, but got replaced.
• Blazing Skull: Has been around since WW II, supposedly immortal. But what if he isn't? What if he was replaced.
• She-Hulk: Has gone from savage to calm to savage to calm. Lost the ability to change back to Jennifer Walters then got it back then lost it and then got it back. What if these weren't her mind play tricks on her but rather the Skrull secret agent trying to get a handle on their "character"

Of course, this is just speculation. Who knows if I am even close to being right. I just wanted this out their in case I was so I could say "I told you so!"