Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
This week Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver opened the gates on the secret history of Marvel's premiere espionage organization in S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, revealing that the peacekeeping group has origins dating way further back than the days following World War II and adding such luminaries as Galileo and Leonardo da Vinci to its possible ranks.
Before we go much further on this odyssey into the past, the Secret Cabal took some time to name its honorable roster of agents who have made the modern S.H.I.E.L.D. a renowned force.
For each character you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. BARBARA MORSE
First Appearance: ASTONISHING TALES #6 (1971)
Learn More About Her...here
Why She Makes the List: Following her adventures as a scientist encountering Ka-Zar and The Man-Thing, but prior to her costumed career as Hawkeye's paramour Mockingbird, Barbara "Bobbi" Morse served as Agent 19 of S.H.I.E.L.D., adding to her considerable skill set. Morse would depart S.H.I.E.L.D. due to suspicions about internal corruption within the group, but her contacts and acquired abilities have served her well many times since.
Spotlight Comic: WEST COAST AVENGERS #43-Mockingbird's former S.H.I.E.L.D. connections come back to haunt her!
9. DAISY JOHNSON
First Appearance: SECRET WAR #2 (2004)
Learn More About Her...here
Why She Makes the List: One of the youngest agents ever to serve S.H.I.E.L.D., earthquake-generating Daisy Johnson-illegitimate daughter of the villain Mister Hyde-was handpicked by Nick Fury to serve as his secret weapon in the campaign against Latverian monarch Lucia von Bardas that cost him his reputation. Daisy has remained loyal to Fury in the ever-shifting and tumultuous times since, leading his Secret Warriors towards a destiny even she doesn't now the full extent of.
Spotlight Comic: NEW AVENGERS #19-The Avengers call on Daisy Johnson as their wild card against Magneto and the Collective!
8. JIMMY WOO
First Appearance: YELLOW CLAW #1 (1956)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Few agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. can boast a more eclectic resume than Jimmy Woo, who went from an F.B.I. operative working against Chinese crime lord The Yellow Claw to leading a team that included a "human robot" and talking gorilla in its ranks. After coming into the S.H.I.E.L.D., fold, Jimmy served as one of Dum Dum Dugan's point men in trying to bring down the legendary monster Godzilla. As he advanced in years, however, the life of a desk jockey proved incompatible for Woo, who returned to the field and ended up regaining his lost youth and forgotten team in the process.
Spotlight Comic: AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 (2006)-The end of Jimmy Woo's career at S.H.I.E.L.D. opens the door for the return of the Agents of Atlas!
7. TONY STARK
First Appearance: TALES OF SUSPENSE #39 (1966)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: A long-time proponent and supporter of S.H.I.E.L.D. both financially and via his inventions, Tony Stark assumed a bold new role as Director of his former clients following his anointment as a public hero in the wake of Civil War. Though corporate maverick Stark never felt entirely comfortable behind a desk, jumping into battle as Iron Ma against his counsel's orders more than once, he certainly brought S.H.I.E.L.D. firmly into the 21st century and arguably could have evolved into a great leader had he not been abruptly deposed by Norman Osborn.
Spotlight Comic: IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #15-Following Civil War, Tony Stark assumes command of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
6. G.W. BRIDGE
First Appearance: X-FORCE #1 (1991)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: George Washington Bridge joined S.H.I.E.L.D. with a singular purpose: to hunt down the man he once called an ally in the mercenary Six Pack group, the mutant called Cable. It was this tunnel vision that ultimately held Bridge back-a brief stint as interim Director aside-and led to his dismissal years later. However, when S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to track down and bring in The Punisher, they turned to a spiritually-reborn Bridge, and he delivered, capturing Frank Castle, though he would later find kinship with the vigilante and end up losing his life fighting alongside him.
Spotlight Comic: PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #23-After finally bringing in The Punisher, G.W. Bridge finds himself allied with his quarry against Jigsaw and his allies!
5. MARIA HILL
First Appearance: NEW AVENGERS #4 (2005)
Learn More About Her...here
Why She Makes the List: Nobody liked Maria Hill when she assumed control of S.H.I.E.L.D. Hard-edged and arrogant, Hill rubbed the Avengers and allies the wrong way right off the bat after taking over from the much-beloved but recently-disgraced Nick Fury. Yet despite being in over her head and without many allies to count on, Hill persevered to rebuild the organization following Fury's fall from grace, both as Director and later Tony Stark's second-in-command. After the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria stuck by Iron Man's side and has proven a valuable-if not altogether congenial-ally to many of the heroes who once rolled their eyes at her during the events of Siege.
Spotlight Comic: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #11-While Iron Man goes up against War Machine, Maria Hill undertakes a deadly solo mission!
4. CONTESSA VALENTINA ALLEGRA DE FONTAINE
First Appearance: STRANGE TALES #159 (1967)
Why She Makes the List: A woman with more layers than names-and that's saying something-the Contessa has proven more than an equal for her on-again, off-again lover Nick Fury throughout their relationship, in terms of emotional complexity as well as physical prowess. In their very first meeting, Contessa deposited the Director on his backside courtesy of a judo throw following a chauvinistic remark, teaching him a lesson he'd not soon forget. Recently, another revelation about the mysterious Contessa has come to light in an apparent allegiance to the subversive Soviet group called Leviathan, but one never knows the truth when Val's the woman in question.
Spotlight Comic: UNION JACK #2 (2006)-Contessa attempts to assist Union Jack in saving England fro a terrorist threat!
3. SHARON CARTER
First Appearance: TALES OF SUSPENSE #75 (1966)
Learn More About Her...here
Why She Makes the List: Not one to be defined be the man in her life even if he is a Living Legend, Sharon Carter has always transcended any description as "just Captain America's girlfriend" by being one of the most dedicated and resourceful S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives of her day, serving under the code name Agent 13. Whether assisting her erstwhile love interest against threats like The Red Skull or filling in as the first known female Director during one of Nick Fury's earliest hiatuses, Ms. Carter has always been nothing if not impressive as she refuses to hide behind a red, white and bleu shield, preferring a life of action.
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #49 (2009)-A soul-searching Sharon Carter uncovers the truth behind the death of Captain America!
2. DUM DUM DUGAN
First Appearance: SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 (1963)
Why He Makes the List: Nick Fury's most trusted friend and confidante since their Howling Commandos days, Dum Dum Dugan has been a loyal and unrelenting force for freedom even when his buddy was otherwise indisposed. Joining the Commandos after a stint as a circus strongman, the gentleman born Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader Dugan prefers a rough and tumble life on the front lines, but has grumbled his way through paperwork and red tape during times when Fury was outlawed from S.H.I.E.L.D., thought dead or otherwise. Dugan has also proven a valuable resource to other Directors, such as Tony Stark, preserving the hard work he and his allies had struggled for. Even in the absence of S.H.I.E.L.D., Dum Dum still struggles against those who would harm the innocent as leader of the re-organizing Howlers.
Spotlight Comic: SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #12-Dum Dum Dugan battles alongside his fellow Howling Commandos during wartime!
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First Appearance: SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 (1963)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Inevitably, any discussion of S.H.I.E.L.D. ends up including a single name above all others: Nick Fury. Since assuming the duty of Director following his heroic tour of duty in World War II, the former Howling Commandos leader has been the face of the organization for good and ill through its best and worst of times. Few heroes in the Marvel Universe can say they haven't been aided at one time or another by Nick Fury and you won't find too many men villains would less like nipping at their heels. Fury has battled terrorism, political agendas and more than once corruption from within his own house in order to keep S.H.I.E.L.D. on the straight and narrow, looking out for the world at large. Though he's been ousted, hunted and written off, you can never count this old soldier out.
Spotlight Comic: STRANGE TALES #135-Nick Fur becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
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:ed61cea435="Jordie512"]I might of put Carol Danvers in there myself....[/quote:ed61cea435] I agree with you. Her tough as nails stance against the resistance along with Tony Stark should have landed her a spot in this poll.
I think everyone forgets that Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird was a Shield agent. To that end I might flip flop Jimmy Woo and Bobbi's ranking but any way you look at it they are there. Good list. Whatever happened to Clay Quartermain (I think I spelled his name right) and while I'm thinking about it what about Jessica Drew?[b:30fec02c88]Foster for Frost Giant and Van Dyne for Valkyrie in ...
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I think everyone forgets that Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird was a Shield agent. To that end I might flip flop Jimmy Woo and Bobbi's ranking but any way you look at it they are there. Good list. Whatever happened to Clay Quartermain (I think I spelled his name right) and while I'm thinking about it what about Jessica Drew?[b:30fec02c88]Foster for Frost Giant and Van Dyne for Valkyrie in 2010![/b:30fec02c88]
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I approve of this list! I agree with every choice.
[i:477278f471][b:477278f471]No Natasha Romanov or Steve Rogers???!!!!![/b:477278f471][/i:477278f471]
I might of put Carol Danvers in there myself....