S.W.O.R.D.

Last updated
S.W.O.R.D.
The Peak (S.W.O.R.D. 1).jpg
The Peak, headquarters of S.W.O.R.D.
Art by Steven Sanders.
Group publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 (December 2004)
Created by Joss Whedon (writer)
John Cassaday (artist)
In-story information
Type of organizationIntelligence agency
Base(s)The Peak
Agent(s) Beast
Abigail Brand
Agent Deems
Henry Peter Gyrich
Lockheed
Spider-Woman
Sydren
S.W.O.R.D.
Series publication information
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateJanuary – May 2010
Number of issues5
Creative team
Writer(s) Kieron Gillen
Penciller(s) Steve Sanders
Inker(s) Craig Yeung
Letterer(s) Dave Lanphear
Colorist(s) Matt Wilson
Creator(s) Kieron Gillen
Steve Sanders
Editor(s) Daniel Ketchum
Nick Lowe
Joe Quesada
Collected editions
No Time to Breathe ISBN   0-7851-4076-X

S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) is a fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Its purpose is to deal with extraterrestrial threats to world security and is the space-based counterpart of S.H.I.E.L.D., which deals with local threats to the world.

Contents

The organization appears in several forms of media, such as The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) / Disney+ miniseries WandaVision .

Publication history

S.W.O.R.D. was first introduced in Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 and was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. [1]

Fictional organization biography

In the comics, S.W.O.R.D. was originally an offshoot of S.H.I.E.L.D., but relations between the two organizations have been strained since Nick Fury's departure as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. The head of S.W.O.R.D. is Special Agent Abigail Brand, and its primary command-and-control headquarters are aboard the orbital space station known as the Peak.

S.W.O.R.D. had an undercover operative in the X-Mansion. In Astonishing X-Men vol. 3, #17, the identity of this undercover operative was revealed to be Lockheed.

In "Unstoppable"

The Astonishing X-Men, as well as Hisako Ichiki, Ord of the Breakworld, and Danger, are taken to deep space by S.W.O.R.D. and Agent Abigail Brand. S.W.O.R.D. psychics fail to detect Cassandra Nova in Emma Frost's shattered psyche. Though emotionally wounded, Emma recovered fast enough to be present for the team's departure to the Breakworld, where they planned to disable a missile aimed at Earth. Before they reached Breakworld, they were attacked by enemy vessels. After creating a diversion, the X-Men and Agent Brand landed on the planet, where Agent Deems was being tortured in prison.

Brand, Cyclops, Emma Frost, and Beast landed together, while Wolverine, Hisako, Colossus, and Kitty Pryde landed elsewhere. Wolverine's spacecraft disintegrated in mid-air and they were forced to abandon ship. Kitty and Colossus phased through the pod to the planet's surface, where they landed unharmed. Hisako and Wolverine landed with the impact burning Wolverine's skin.

Another team composed of Lockheed, Sydren, and S.W.O.R.D. troops converged upon a place called "the Palace of the Corpse".

Near the end, Agent Brand informs Kitty that Lockheed is working for S.W.O.R.D. as their undercover agent.

In "Secret Invasion"

During the 2008 "Secret Invasion" storyline, the Peak is destroyed by a Skrull infiltrator posing as Dum Dum Dugan of S.H.I.E.L.D. Many S.W.O.R.D. agents die in the initial explosion, though others survive due to hostile-environment suits. Brand was encased in one of the suits and manages to make her way into one of the Skrull ships.[ volume & issue needed ]

In "Dark Reign"

During the 2008 - 2009 "Dark Reign" storyline, S.H.I.E.L.D. is reformed as H.A.M.M.E.R. under Norman Osborn, but S.W.O.R.D.'s position under H.A.M.M.E.R. has not yet been revealed. In the Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter mini-series, Beta Ray Bill visits Agent Brand aboard the rebuilt Peak in order to obtain information about Galactus's whereabouts.

S.W.O.R.D. volume 1

During the 2009 Chicago Comic Con, it was announced that Kieron Gillen will collaborate with Steven Sanders on a S.W.O.R.D. ongoing series that began in November 2009. [2] [3] The new series starts with Henry Peter Gyrich being assigned as S.W.O.R.D. co-commander alongside Abigail Brand.

In the first arc, Gyrich is able to persuade the heads of S.W.O.R.D. to pass legislation to have all aliens currently living on Earth deported from the planet while Brand was distracted with another mission. He manages to take several notable aliens into custody including Noh-Varr, Adam X, Beta Ray Bill, Jazinda, Karolina Dean, and Hepzibah. [4]

The series was cancelled with issue #5. The first issue started with estimated direct sales of 21,988, [5] but that had dropped to 15,113 by the second issue. [6]

The Peak is later evacuated after it is damaged by the Apocalypse Twins. [7] The debris from the station nearly destroys Rio de Janeiro, but is safely vaporized by Sunfire. [8]

The organization is shown as working smoothly and functioning when it sends a capture team to take custody of alien refugees and a paramedic assistance team to the Jean Grey School. Unfortunately, both teams are murdered by the same Brood-based threat. [9]

The rebuilt station is overtaken by alien symbiotes and Brood warriors. The station's personnel are taken for hosts. [10]

S.W.O.R.D. volume 2

S.W.O.R.D.
S.W.O.R.D. (vol 2) 1 cover.jpg
Cover to S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #1, by Valerio Schiti
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Main character(s)Abigail Brand
Cable
Frenzy
Fabian Cortez
Magneto
Manifold
Wiz Kid
Creative team
Written by Al Ewing
Artist(s)Valerio Schiti
Editor(s)Editor
Jordan D. White
Assistant Editor
Annalise Bissa
Head of X
Jonathan Hickman

S.W.O.R.D. was relaunched in December 2020 as part of "Reign of X". Written by Al Ewing and drawn by Valerio Schiti, the initial team consisted of Abigail Brand, Cable, Frenzy, Fabian Cortez, Magneto, Manifold and Wiz Kid. [11]

S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Directorate) was restored when Abigail Brand resigned from Alpha Flight after the Alliance-Cotati conflict feeling that the space program wasn't properly utilized and when the mutant nation repowered the abandoned Peak space station. In cooperation with the Quiet Council of Krakoa, it became the mutant nation's representative to the outer universe.

With Abigail Brand as the Station Commander, S.W.O.R.D functions with a six-tier organizational structure:

S.W.O.R.D. also formed The Six, a multiversal far-retrieval circuit, utilizing mutant technology. There are two stages require for a full retrieval:

  1. First Stage – Translocation: a circuit of five mid-to-long range teleporters which acts as the anchor for translocation. [Back-up: Nightcrawler and Magik]
  2. Second Stage – Retrieval: a circuit of six mutants with combining their protection and augmentation powers to reach different points in space.
    • The Control – Wiz Kid: unify the first stage circuit of teleporters and adjust the mutant circuits in operation. [Back-up: Forge]
    • The Power – Khora the Burning Heart; Fabian Cortez (formerly): provide the boost required for the circuit operation.
    • The Shield – Armor: generate a protective exoskeleton that extends to the entire circuit. [Back-up: Skids]
    • The Guide – Manifold: trans-locate the entirety of the second stage circuit while saving his energies for the retrieval.
    • The Eye – Peeper: spot specific particles of their target. [Back-up: Doc]
    • The Foundry – Risque: create a small field around their target condensing and containing it to help bring it back to Earth. [Back-up: Zorn]

Roster

Volume 1

Former members of S.W.O.R.D.
CharacterAliasJoined inNotes
Abigail Brand Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #10Leader
SydrenA Drenx who is skilled in hacking and working on alien technology.
Agent PaulletzNot knownAstonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #20
CeciliaS.W.O.R.D. #2
K'eel R'ktInfinity: Against the Tide: Infinite Comic #1A Skrull science officer that was rescued from the Builders by Silver Surfer.

Former Members:

Volume 2

IssuesCharacters
#1 - #10

Reception

Accolades

In other media

Television

Film

S.W.O.R.D. was originally intended to be mentioned in the MCU film Thor via a deleted post-credits scene wherein Erik Selvig tells Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis to "cross reference... with the S.W.O.R.D. database". Due to complications with 20th Century Fox, which owned the film rights to S.W.O.R.D. members Lockheed and Abigail Brand at the time however, the scene was cut. [17]

Video games

Collected editions

Volume 1

TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
X-Men: S.W.O.R.D. - No Time to BreatheS.W.O.R.D. (vol. 1) #1–5July 7, 2010 ISBN   0-7851-4076-X

Volume 2

TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
S.W.O.R.D. by Al Ewing Vol. 1S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #1–5September 7, 2021 ISBN   978-1302927516
X-Men: Hellfire GalaMarauders (vol. 1) #21, X-Men (vol. 5) #21, Planet-Size X-Men #1, S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #6 and material from Classic X-Men #7March 1, 2022 ISBN   978-1846533365
S.W.O.R.D. by Al Ewing Vol. 2S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #7–11, Cable Reloaded #1February 15, 2022 ISBN   978-1302931469

See also

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References

  1. ↑ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 366. ISBN   978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ↑ George, Richard; Schedeen, Jesse (August 10, 2009). "Taking Control of S.W.O.R.D." IGN . Retrieved August 16, 2009.
  3. ↑ Strom, Marc (August 10, 2009). "Chicago Con '09: S.W.O.R.D. Ongoing". Marvel.com. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
  4. ↑ S.W.O.R.D. #2 (February 2010)
  5. ↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual–November 2009". ICv2. December 7, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual–December 2009". ICv2. January 12, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  7. ↑ Uncanny Avengers #7
  8. ↑ Uncanny Avengers #8
  9. ↑ Wolverine and the X-Men #6 (April 2012)
  10. ↑ Spider-Man and the X-Men #5 (2015)
  11. ↑ "Al Ewing Takes Mutantkind Beyond the Stars in 'S.W.O.R.D.'". Marvel Comics. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  12. ↑ Avina, Anthony (2019-09-26). "10 Most Powerful Secret Organizations In Marvel Comics, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  13. ↑ Eckhardt, Peter (2022-09-15). "The Avengers' 10 Best Allies In Marvel Comics". CBR. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  14. ↑ Flynn, Caleigh (April 23, 2012). "'Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Welcome To The Kree Empire' – Recap". Science Fiction. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  15. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt Webb (August 12, 2020). "S.H.I.E.L.D. Series Finale Mystery: Is [Spoiler] Now an Agent of S.W.O.R.D.?". TV Line. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  16. ↑ Barnhardt, Adam (January 12, 2021). "WandaVision: SWORD Has New Name in the MCU". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  17. ↑ Bacon, Thomas (March 9, 2019). "Thor Almost Introduced S.W.O.R.D. To The MCU". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
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