SDCC 2014: Can S.H.I.E.L.D. Comic Be Marvel’s Next Big Thing?
By Nick Tylwalk
Millions of fans have been exposed to the men and women who have no super powers but still help keep the Marvel Cinematic Universe safe, and even though the movies and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. left Nick Fury’s baby in bad shape, Marvel is hoping the time is right for people to want a comic book series with Phil Coulson and company in action.
More from Conventions And Shows
- Dungeons & Dragons: What it is and what it isn’t?
- Marvel fans stunned by disappointing San Diego Comic-Con announcement
- X-Men: Hellfire Gala set to come to life at SDCC 2023
- Titans star Brenton Thwaites previews Dick’s new leadership approach: ‘Teamwork makes the dream work’
- Marvel D23 panel 2022 recap: Every Marvel D23 announcement
At the Next Big Thing panel on the final day of Comic-Con International 2014 (live blogged on Marvel.com), that new series was the biggest announcement. Simply titled S.H.I.E.L.D., the series will be written by Mark Waid with art by a variety of collaborators, including Carlos Pacheco, Alan Davis and Chris Sprouse. The cover to issue #1, shown here, is by Mike Deodato.
The panelists said S.H.I.E.L.D. is set in the 616 continuity — Marvel’s standard comic book universe — but will feature characters familiar to viewers of the TV show, most notably Coulson. However, the team will call in super heroes as needed on different missions, which is why the book was described as “the TV show with an unlimited budget.”
Another TV-related announcement during the panel was an original graphic novel based on the ABC series Revenge, written by Erica Schultz and serving as a prequel to the show. Marvel also has more work coming from George Romero as his Empire of the Dead hits Act Two in September, and fans were shown some work from the next stage of the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three.
Still, the S.H.I.E.L.D. ongoing stood out as the new project with the greatest chance of breakout success. The organization has taken center stage in comics before, usually fronted by Nick Fury, but that was in a time before Coulson. In a world with Phil, the agency he loves so much has never had as high a profile as it enjoys right now. Next big thing? It just might have a shot.