“Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD:” An Introduction To Life Model Decoys

Life model decoys have been in Marvel comics for decades, but haven’t had any screen time in the MCU–until now!

Life model decoys are a longstanding creation in the Marvel Comics and should be arriving very soon on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. There have been rumblings of them joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a while, all the way back to 2012.

It started with a smartass comment by Tony Stark in The Avengers. When Phil Coulson attempts to get a hold of him, Stark answers his phone with, “You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark, please leave a message.”

From there, Coulson found himself resurrected for the start of Agents of SHIELD after being stabbed through the heart with a Chitauri spear by Loki. Everyone seemed to think he was an LMD. What other explanation fit? Until, of course, Project TAHITI came to light with its mind erasing, Kree blood, and Inhumans. And still: are the Koenigs quadruplets? Clones? LMDs?

So it came as a pleasant surprise in the post-credits stinger that Dr. Radcliffe uncovered the technology for functioning life model decoys. this is a big advancement for the series–and an even bigger plot device.

But first! A brief history!

LMDs made their first appearance in the mid-1960s in Strange Tales #135 as Nick Fury to throw off a HYDRA attack. In fact, the most common LMD? Nick Fury.

What exactly constitutes a life model decoy? Aside from the standard superhuman strength, agility, speed, etc., it is an exact replica of its subject down to fingerprints. The original of it can control the LMD and see what it’s doing, too. It’s no surprise Nick Fury has the most LMDs, as he is precious cargo.

Dr. Radcliffe made his AI assistant AIDA into an LMD (or so that silhouette insinuated) in the finale. What else might be brought into the SHIELD fold? I have a few ideas.

Life Model Decoy Grant Ward

Not often do television shows kill off one of their original characters nowadays. I thought Grimm had done it with Juliette, but no dice. It wouldn’t shock me if one of Fitz’s first ideas for an LMD is their old pal Ward. Horrible oversight on Fitz’s part, as everyone on their team hates Ward.

But it’s a smooth and easy way to bring Brett Dalton back into the mix without completely botching Ward’s character for no reason. #NoWardRedemptionArc

Life Model Decoy Peggy Carter

Please oh please oh please–ahem. With the sad death of Marvel’s Agent Carter and the actual death of Agent Carter at age 91, we may never see Hayley Atwell grace our screens again.

What’s a better pick-me-up for a recently demoted Phil Coulson than an LMD of freaking Peggy Carter? Hell, Director Carter!

This possibility works only if the first attempt for an LMD is Peggy and it goes… not very well, leaving her just as a cameo and nothing more.

Life Model Decoy Thor

AKA Ragnarok from Civil War, who did not grace our screens in Captain America: Civil War. In the comics, Ragnarok was an LMD of Thor created by Tony Stark to make it look like Thor sided with him and the Superhero Registration Act.

This one feels like a reach, especially since no other Avenger has graced Agents of SHIELD yet. Chris Hemsworth probably won’t be around anytime soon.

When it comes to LMDs, possibilities abound. Agents of SHIELD better have some fun with it this season.