The Super-Spies of the Marvel Universe

Not all heroes and villains operate out in the open. Some prefer the anonymity of the shadows. The Marvel Universe is in no shortage of super-spies, some working for good, others for evil, and some just for the highest bidder.

While many of Marvel’s greatest spies operate under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s banner, some figures serve more sinister organizations or simply prefer to work as free agents, pledging their allegiance to no country or cause. Some spies even sought redemption, aligning themselves with public teams such as the Avengers and using their clandestine skills in service of saving the world. But can a secret agent ever completely shake off their shadowy past?

Today, let’s declassify the greatest spies in the Marvel Universe, from agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to double crossers who keep everyone guessing their true loyalties–including themselves. 

MYSTIQUE

Without a shadow of a doubt, there is no better master of disguise in the Marvel Universe than Mystique. Throughout her history in the Marvel Universe, the infamous mutant utilized her shape-shifting powers as a villain, a hero, a thief, an assassin, and of course, as a master spy.

Under her usual alias Raven Darkhölme, Mystique attained a high-ranking position within D.A.R.P.A., granting her access to plenty of U.S. military intelligence and weapons. This led to a clash with Carol Danvers in MS. MARVEL (1977) #17.

After her confrontation with Carol Danvers, Mystique continued to use her powers to infiltrate the highest levels of the federal government, climbing so high she openly led the government-sponsored Freedom Force. While Mystique’s recurring accomplices include Sabretooth and the Brotherhood of Mutants, Raven prioritizes following her own agenda throughout her clandestine activities. 

NICK FURY SR.

The quintessential Marvel spy, Nick Fury Sr. led S.H.I.E.L.D. in its campaign to protect the world from threats that lurked in the shadows. Fury began working for the C.I.A. after World War II, with the Infinity Formula keeping him in his physical prime for decades.

He made his modern debut in FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #21 and joined S.H.I.E.L.D. in STRANGE TALES (1951) #135. Working as an intermediary between the United States and the United Nations, Fury and his S.H.I.E.L.D. associates stopped the schemes of sinister syndicates like Hydra and A.I.M.

After years of leading S.H.I.E.L.D. and coordinating its activities and operations with super hero groups like the Avengers, Fury uncovered that Hydra compromised the organization he dedicated his life to in NICK FURY VS S.H.I.E.L.D. (1988). He subsequently dismantled the intelligence agency and rebuilt it from the ground up.

Nick Fury Sr. fell from grace after overthrowing the Latverian government in an unsanctioned operation, forcing him to go on the run. In his exile, however, Fury unearthed a widespread Skrull infiltration of the world governments and super hero community in SECRET INVASION.

After tying up loose ends with Hydra and the powerful secret society Leviathan in SECRET WARRIORS, Fury stationed himself on the moon. Fury would eventually take on the role of the Unseen, using Uatu the Watcher’s powers to oversee the Marvel Universe after ORIGINAL SIN.

NICK FURY JR.

Espionage runs deep in the Fury family and Nick Fury Sr.’s son, Nick Fury Jr., followed in his father's clandestine footsteps to become an accomplished super-spy himself. Like his father before him, Fury enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought overseas alongside his best friend Phil Coulson. During this period, Fury learned the truth about his parentage while battling Taskmaster.

When rescuing his father from the clutches of the international terrorist syndicate Leviathan, Nick Fury Jr. lost his eye in BATTLE SCARS.

Joined by Coulson, Fury enlisted in S.H.I.E.L.D., where he received one of Steve Rogers’ old uniforms. He had big boots to fill as he made a name for himself and proved to be every inch his father’s son. The Secret Avengers found a reliable ally in Nick Fury under his tenure at S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury does not need an international intelligence agency to be a premiere super-spy. After the disbandment of S.H.I.E.L.D following Hydra's takeover of the U.S. government in SECRET EMPIRE, Fury worked as an independent operative. He embarked on his own solo adventures against Hydra in NICK FURY (2017) by James Robinson and ACO. 

MARIA HILL

An accomplished tactician, Maria Hill operates at the peak of human physical fitness. Her extensive training in a variety of both armed and hand-to-hand combat techniques and weapons makes her one of the most fearsome espionage figures in the Marvel Universe.

When Nick Fury Sr. was ousted from S.H.I.E.L.D. after an unsanctioned coup in Latveria during SECRET WAR (2004) by Brian Michael Bendis and Gabriele Dell'Otto, Maria Hill replaced him as the new Director. Initially, Hill maintained a more contentious relationship with the super hero community than her predecessor did, especially following the creation of the New Avengers.

Hill's tenure as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. saw her navigate an especially tumultuous time for the Marvel Universe. From pursuing unregistered heroes in CIVIL WAR to dealing with Skrull infiltrators in SECRET INVASION, S.H.I.E.L.D. took on a very prominent role during this period.

In the wake of this unrest, the government disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D. and installed H.A.M.M.E.R. in its place, with Norman Osborn at the helm. To prevent classified secrets from falling into Osborn’s hands, Hill goes on the run, collaborating with Iron Man and Black Widow as a fugitive. After the demise of Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R., Hill returned from exile to eventually lead the reinstated S.H.I.E.L.D. once more.

Black Widow

Often considered as one of the deadliest woman in the Marvel Universe, Black Widow rose through the ranks of the Soviet Union as their most effective spy before eventually finding redemption as a super hero and Avenger.

Introduced in TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #52, Black Widow first crossed paths with the larger Marvel Universe when she infiltrated Tony Stark's business to extract his tech secrets.

From an early age, Natasha Romanoff trained to become the ultimate spy in a classified Soviet program known as the Red Room. There, she met the Winter Soldier, who often served as one of her instructors. Natasha's time in the Red Room casts a long shadow over her, fueling her drive towards redemption.

The Black Widow overcame her mental programming in AVENGERS (1963) #30 and joined Earth's Mightiest Heroes, a first step on her journey of atonement. Despite operating in the public eye, Natasha Romanoff remains active in the intelligence community, either in service of S.H.I.E.L.D. or leading her own independent investigations.

Natasha's departure from the Red Room did not go unnoticed by the Soviet Union. Yelena Belova, the White Widow, trained hard to surpass the traitorous Black Widow before embarking on her own journey of redemption.

Phil Coulson

Every spy needs an associate they can trust. For Nick Fury Jr., Phil Coulson played that role for a very long time. Fighting together in the army brought Coulson and Fury closer together, with Coulson following his friend into the high-stakes world of S.H.I.E.L.D. after they both left the service.

Long before he pursued a career in espionage, Coulson possessed a near-encyclopedic knowledge of the Marvel Universe, keeping notecards on all of its heroes and villains. Coulson got to put his super hero knowledge to good use as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. He reported directly to Maria Hill after being named Supreme Commander of Special Operations of S.H.I.E.L.D. in S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014) #1 by Mark Waid and Carlos Pacheco.

When Hydra created an evil Captain America in SECRET EMPIRE, the imposter Steve Rogers ordered the assassination of Phil Coulson. Mephisto later manipulated the secret agent's resurrection, turning him against the heroes he once admired in AVENGERS (2018) #10. The Infinity Stones restored Coulson to his senses in THANOS ANNUAL (2024) #1.

AGENT 13

Sharon Carter grew up listening to stories about her Aunt Peggy fighting alongside Captain America in World War II, enamored by her wartime exploits. Inspired, Sharon followed in her aunt’s footsteps and joined S.H.I.E.L.D., quickly rising through the ranks as one of the organization’s top field agents in TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #75. For a while, Sharon worked directly under Nick Fury Sr.

The President promoted Sharon to a leadership position within S.H.I.E.L.D. in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #144. She spearheaded the Femme Force, training the next generation of women in the intelligence agency in their fight against Hydra.

In CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998), Sharon became the Executive Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and led the entire organization in the interim while Fury tended to other pressing matters that required his direct attention.

Since then, Sharon has become more active in the super hero community, either as one of the Secret Avengers or working with her own super hero team, the Daughters of Liberty, which she personally recruited in CAPTAIN AMERICA (2018) #7 by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Adam Kubert.

After being paired with Captain America, Sharon Carter formed an on-again, off-again romance with the World War II hero.

SPYMASTER

The many cloak-and-dagger super villains of the Marvel Universe lurk in the shadows, especially when it comes to the world of espionage and intrigue. Aptly named Spymaster, this notorious industrial spy steals trade secrets, sabotages classified projects, and even assassinates high-profile targets.

Spymaster often stands as a bitter adversary to Iron Man, selling his services to organizations like A.I.M. or wealthy individuals like Justin Hammer and Norman Osborn. On his most successful assignment to date, Spymaster stole designs of Tony Stark’s Iron Man armors and sold them to Hammer.

When Stark’s identity as Iron Man became public knowledge, the Mandarin hired Spymaster to assassinate him. Targeting Tony’s longtime friend and chauffeur as bait, Spymaster killed Happy Hogan in THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (2004) #13. This made Spymaster an even more personal enemy to Iron Man, one who continues to torment Stark and his business interests.

Pick up MYSTIQUE (2024) #1 by Declan Shalvey to catch up with the super-spies of the Marvel Universe, featuring Mystique, Nick Fury, and more!

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