As the Defenders regroup for a new mission, the long-absent hero Cloud is about to come back down to Earth for the first time in many years.
After the Defenders spent the last few years on the sidelines, Doctor Strange just reformed Marvel’s most offbeat superhero team. While Strange is joined on the team by fellow classic Defender Silver Surfer, the rest of the team includes some less famous Defenders like Cloud, a cosmic hero who stepped away from the limelight a kibg tune ago.
Introduced in 1983’s Defenders #123 by J.M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin, Cloud is one of the more unique characters in the Marvel Universe. Cloud’s life as a sentient cloud nebula hundreds of thousands of years away from becoming a star. As Cloud began to notice stars disappearing from the space, a newly emerged Cosmic Cube known as Kubik came to their aid. Hoping that the likes of the Avengers could help, Cloud made their way there only to cause a young couple to crash their car. When their attempt to help them went sideways, Cloud was left in the young Carol Faber’s form and with no memories of their former self. This made them the perfect target for the Secret Empire, a cult-like offshoot of Hydra taht weaponized Cloud to suit their own nefarious ends.
In Cloud’s first undertaking on behalf of the Secret Empire, they were sent to terrorize and capture the Vision at his and Scarlet Witch’s home. Things didn’t go as planned for the villains, and Cloud was taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody alongside their accomplices. though that bout of incarceration wouldn’t last long before the Secret Empire caught up with Cloud once again. Eventually, they were able to get away from the group, finding refuge with the Defenders as well as a romantic interest in Moondragon, a telepath who was manipulating the team. As Cloud grew closer to Moondragon, they began taking the form of Danny, and they also became close to Iceman.
By the time Defenders #130 by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck rolled around, Cloud had become a full-fledged member of the team. As a Defender, Cloud faced off against the Secret Empire as well as more traditional foes such as Walrus and the Dragon of the Moon, but their cosmic destiny eventually led Cloud away from the team. In 1984’s Defenders #149, Cloud regained their memories as well as something much closer to their true form before stealing away with their teammates into the stars to confront the Star-Thief, who had caused them so much concern in the first place. With the help of Kubik, the Defenders were able to set the cosmos right, and Cloud was able to move on as the star they were always destined to become. It’s certainly a strange end to that chapter of their story, but as their latest appearance indicates, it was never going to be the end.
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While Cloud has spent most of their time among the stars in recent decades, they did show up during Fear Itself: The Deep #4 by Cullen Bunn and Lee Garbett as part of Doctor Strange’s Secret Defenders, comprised of anyone who had ever been part of his team, even for just a single day. Apart from that temporary return, Cloud has been understandably absent from the spotlight.
Considering their cosmic role, Cloud might not be too happy to be dragged back to Earth to take part in the Sorcerer Supreme’s latest battle. Then again, Cloud has always been a more understanding figure than most of their former and upcoming teammates, and that heart could be a big part of what she brings to the latest incarnation of the team.
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