History of Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D.

[Will E Worm]

Although Marvel Comics didn’t start publishing until 1939, the Marvel Universe’s history with the superheroic and supernatural go back to the dawn of man.

After showing his mettle on titles such as Secret Warriors and Fantastic Four, writer Jonathan Hickman takes on the secret history of the Marvel Universe in the series S.H.I.E.L.D.. In this ongoing series, Hickman and artist Dustin Weaver are unraveling the origins of S.H.I.E.L.D. and find that it isn’t merely a modern spy organization but a group that traces its history back into the earliest days of humankind. The book will chart previously untold stories of classic historical figures such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Galileo and others as they work to keep humanity on track and repel threats from those around them and from the space above.

Although the series promises its fair share of time-spanning stories, the series is primarily set in the fertile ground of the 1950s as Nathaniel Richards and Howard Stark, fathers of modern-day heroes Reed Richards and Tony Stark, are that time’s key figures in the shadowy S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. Yes, Nick Fury is around – but this isn’t his battle to fight. Richards and Stark are carrying on the traditions from their classic counterparts against a conspiracy that spans time – all the while being kept under wraps from citizens of the Marvel U and readers like you and I – until now.

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Jonathan Hickman: The first issue is called “The Unholy Resurrection of Leonardo Da Vinci”; the second is “The Internal Combustion of the Eternal Dynamo”.

Hickman: Yes, I did. It’s intended to be a map of our solar system.

Nrama: Interesting – so we’re talking not just global implications, but extraterrestrial influence. And we see it in these first pages, with the Egyptians fighting the Brood, Japanese fighting a Celestial, and even Da Vinci going up against Galactus. What you’re getting at is Earth has been invaded, visited and come into contact with extraterrestrials far earlier than most people thought. What’s going on here?

Nrama: A really neat thing I saw in the preview was in the line-up of Egyptians squaring off against the Brood, a very young Apocalypse in their midst. Is that just a little easter egg, or will you be exploring that further?

Hickman: How can I best explain that?

When Dustin’s drawing a page, he puts three pages’ worth of work into every single page. You’d be surprised at what shows up in the background.

While some of the stuff may not be scripted, the cameo by Apocalypse and Moon Knight – did you catch that? – was asked for. You can also look at Da Vinci’s lab in the first issue – there’s all kinds of stuff that matters.