Protectors #1

Protectors #1 was published in 1992 by Malibu Comics as the flagship title of the publisher's Ultraverse line. This initiative was designed to compete with the mainstream dominance of Marvel and DC by creating a shared superhero universe from the ground up, emphasizing a gritty, modern sensibility that reflected the industry's shift toward more mature, complex character studies during the early 1990s.

The series was written by Gerard Jones and illustrated by Jeff Johnson, who aimed to craft a sprawling, high-stakes team dynamic that felt grounded in a realistic world. While the title enjoyed a significant launch bolstered by the marketing reach of the Ultraverse, critical reception was mixed, as readers debated whether the heavy ensemble approach and dense narrative threads successfully distinguished the team from established superhero archetypes of the era.