S.H.I.E.L.D. is a Marvel Comics fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency charged with investigating and neutralizing paranormal and superhuman threats for global security. It was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 (August 1965), and appeared throughout the publisher's entire comic book line. The agency and its traditional executive director, Nick Fury, have also starred in their own series and miniseries sporadically since that time, most notably during a late-1960s run by writer-artist Jim Steranko.
Contents
The agency's original acronym (Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-enforcement Division) was altered (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate). Three official continuity versions of S.H.I.E.L.D. are listed here: the traditional version in mainstream Marvel Universe continuity, followed by the alternate reality version published under the Ultimate Marvel imprint, as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe version (where it is known as Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division). Amalgam Comics, a joint venture between Marvel and DC Comics, have their own version of S.H.I.E.L.D. that combines characters from both publishers.
Notable Agents (Post-Civil War)
After the Civil War, all super-heroes that fought on the Pro-registration side of the conflict are now agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Pre-modern agents
As revealed in the 2010 series S.H.I.E.L.D.:
Marvel Cinematic Universe S.H.I.E.L.D.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded by Howard Stark and Strategic Scientific Reserve Agent Peggy Carter. However, as revealed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, S.H.I.E.L.D. was infiltrated by Hydra since its formation. When Hydra emerges in 2014, S.H.I.E.L.D. is labeled as a terrorist organization while most of its non-Hydra members leave S.H.I.E.L.D. to work the private sector or go off the grid. In the second season of the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., after Nick Fury charges him with rebuilding the organization, Phil Coulson manages to win back the American government's trust as S.H.I.E.L.D. now works behind the scenes.