S.H.I.E.L.D – The world’s most powerful clandestine organization is also one of the most powerful authorities that govern most of what goes on, on this planet. Shield is everywhere in the Marvel Universe. They are in your phones, in your laptops, in your roadside CCTV cameras and listening devices as well as the satellites that hover above you thousands of kilometers away in space. Just like its name, it is a watchful guardian that is tasked with protecting the world from threats so grave that it could potentially devastate the Earth. They might sound to be a benevolent entity (which they are, mostly) but sometimes their secretive nature of doing things turns out to be their own bane. They have been hiding so many secrets ever since their conception that it could blind you from their heroic activities and brand them as an evil organization hell-bent on covering its tracks. Presenting – 10 Incredibly Amazing facts about S.H.I.E.L.D even Diehard Marvel fans do not know!!!
10. Nick Fury – There are more than just one
In the original timeline, Nick Fury was a World War Two veteran who led the Howling Commandoes against the Nazi onslaught all over the world and helped foil Hitler’s plans of world domination. After returning from the war victorious, Nick Fury was now a retired War Colonel who started Shield to keep a watch over the world so that it does not repeat the same mistake again. But here’s the catch – the original Nick Fury, as opposed to the MCU version, was actually white. Not only that but there are even more Nick Furys in the rest of the Multi-Verse. There’s Nick Furry of Earth – 8311 who is an agent of S.H.E.E.P. There’s Nick Fury Junior, the son of Nick Fury hailing from another dimension and Nicole Fury of Earth – 81114, the female version of Nick Fury. The only thing common amongst them all is that they all are missing a left eye.
9. S.H.I.E.L.D’s full form has changed over the years
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the full form of S.H.I.E.L.D is Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. But that is just one of its many names. The MCU version is the latest iteration. Shield has had many full forms over the years and it makes sense that an organization of such a global caliber kept changing its names to signify its role in a changing world. Shield originally stood for Supreme Headquarters International Espionage-Law Enforcement Division. It then soon changed its name to Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage and Logistics Directorate in the 1990s. The short form has always been S.H.I.E.L.D but its meaning has not been the same over time.
8. It is not United States property
Considering the fact that most of the writers of Marvel Comics seem to think that America is the center of the world, it is easy to presume that Shield is just another organ of the USA to impose and protect its interest all over the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. Shield was created by Peggy Carter and Howard Stark as an instrument to fight Hydra, a globally connected terrorist organization. Because of the nature of its enemy, it was originally built to tackle, Shield is actually a global organization and does not answer to the United States. It actually comes under the jurisdiction of the World Security Council which consists of representatives from the most powerful nations of the planet. But overall, Shield is mostly independent and acts according to its own judgment.
7. Its Psychedelic History
Shield was once the pinnacle of Marvel Comics’ bestselling issues. But its sales began to decline as superheroes took the center stage and Shield was just a bunch of costumed spies. To counter the decreasing sales of Shield comic books, Jim Steranko decided to redraw Shield in his own image. The new comic book issues contained image panels that were nothing short of abstract pieces of art and looked like they came straight out of Andy Warhol’s mind. The new adventures of Shield took its agents to different dimensions and even fight Lovecraft inspired monsters.
6. It is not the only secret organization tasked with protecting the world
Shield is powerful and all-knowing. It has managed to keep Earth safe and away from harm. But it is not alone in this noble endeavor. There are several sister agencies of Shield that have been equally responsible for guarding the world. There are A.R.M.O.R and S.W.O.R.D. There are also several other agencies like W.A.N.D – the supernatural arm of Shield and S.T.R.I.K.E. Another organization worth mentioning is S.A.F.E. All these organizations work together to keep the world safe.
5. They have been infiltrated way too many times
We thought Shield was a guardian angel before Captain America: The Winter Soldier proved us all wrong. Hydra, the very thing Shield was brought into this world to fight against, had infiltrated it and managed to turn it into a Trojan horse from the inside out. But Hydra is not the only one that managed to get the better of Shield. In Secret Invasion, the Skrull forces used their shapeshifting abilities to replace several high ranking personnel in Shield, effectively turning Shield into their own weapon of war. For something that was supposed to be specializing in espionage and counter-intelligence, Shield does not do a very good job to cover all its corners.
4. Captain America has saved it from being destroyed
After the Winter Soldier, it was Captain America who ordered Nick Fury to disband Shield after they learned it was compromised from the very beginning. But in the comics, the case is very different. Captain America has actually saved Shield and its agents from harm’s way quite a number of times. After Secret Invasion came to pass, Norman Osborne used negative public sentiment against Shield to rename it into H.A.M.M.E.R, his personal espionage task force. Shield lost all credibility under Osborne’s leadership and was purposeless. After Captain America entered the scene, he retook Shield’s reins from Osborne. After realizing Hydra had infiltrated the organization, he remade Shield from scratch into something it was originally supposed to be and put Coulson and Quake in charge of the new Organization.
3. Hydra is not their sole opponent
While we know all about how evil and sinister Hydra is, it would be wrong to claim that they are the only threat to Shield. In the ensuing years ever since its conception, Shield has had the luxury of making so many enemies that we have already lost count. There is the Maggia, the biggest underworld crime syndicate on the Marvel Universe There is also A.IM – Advanced Idea Mechanics, a group of scientists’ hell-bent on conquering the world and the universe. Let us not forget Yellow Claw, the corporation and the Zodiac. Nick Fury’s own brother is part of Zodiac’s inner circle.
2. It might date back to the Renaissance period
It is common knowledge that Shield was founded after the Second World War took its toll on humanity, who realized that evil in all its forms must be stopped before it becomes a major threat to world peace. But there are certain instances in comic book history that hint that Shield may be an organization that was established long before World War Two, perhaps since the Renaissance period in Europe. And the story takes a really interesting turn in Jonathan Hickman’s run on Shield where he teases that Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci could be agents of Shield all along.
1. Batman is an Agent of Shield
This might be the most shocking revelation of all!!! Bruce Wayne was once an Agent of Shield and he undertook missions for the organization to save the world numerous times. In Amalgam Comics, the official Marvel-DC Crossover Universe where several DC and Marvel superheroes and tropes were combined to form a new world, the stories took a really whacky turn. Superheroes like Ghost Rider and the flash, Elektra and Catwoman, Spiderman and Super Boy were combined to form all new superheroes. Batman was merged with Nick Fury. His new origin story involved him becoming an Orphan after his parents, who were also Shield spies, were killed by Hydra. Bruce Wayne would later join Shield to exact revenge on the people who killed his parents.
