S.H.I.E.L.D.

Team Name
Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate

Base of Operations
The Helicarrier; S.H.I.E.L.D. Central, New York

Current Members
Daisy Johnson (Quake, Director), Maria Hill (Deputy Director)

Former Members
Val Adair, Agent L, Agent M, Agent 9, Agent 60, Agent 74, John Allen, Paul Allen, Dexter Bancroft, Clint Bartn (Hawkeye), Blue Streak, Boothroyd, John Bronson, Laura Brown, Barth Bukowski, Stanley Carter (Sin-Eater), Jeff Cochren, Constrictor, Alec Dalton, Dean Haddad, Carl Delanden, Alex DePaul, Dimensional Man, Dragoom, Marvin Flumm (Mentallo), Nick Fury, John Garrett, Paul Garwood, Glob, Golem, Goom, Grogg, Groot, Jonathan Hart (Jack of Hearts), Joseph Hauser, Hellstorm, Jordan Holiday, James Howlett (Wolverine), Jerry Hunt, Roger Juniper, The Kid, Kraa, Lilith, Daughter Of Dracula, Living Mummy, M-80, Dr. Myron MacLain, Adam Manna, Manphibian, Rick Mason (the Agent), Chastity McBryde, Monster Ape, Danielle Moonstar, Barbara Morse-Barton (Mockingbird), Nails, Overrider, Arthur Perry, Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), David Purcell, Radek, Cliff Randall, Steve Rogers (Captain America), Jack Rollins, Chcuk Rose, Satana, Frank Schlicting (Constrictor), Silicon, Skul, Suicide Squadron, Texas Twister, Marvel Man, Rabble Rouser, Red, Scorpio, Kenjiro Tanaka, Kimberly Taylor, Nate Thurman, Jack Truman, Vamp (Animus/Vamp), Wendell Vaughn (Quasar), Vries, Kali, Kate Waynesboro, Warwolf, Wesley Williams, Sam Wilson (Falcon), Wolfen, Agent Castigan, Agent Goldman, Agent Kyle, Agent Kragg, Agent M, Agent Ratchvek, Agent Simon, Agent Taki, Anthony Stark (Iron Man, Director), George Washington Bridge, Sharon Carter, Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), Contessa Valentina Allegra di Fontaine, Thaddeus "Dum-Dum" Dugan, Kenneth Hale (Gorilla Man), Gabriel "Gabe" Jones, Ali Morales, Clay Quartermain, Natasha Romanova (Black Widow), Gail Runciter, Jasper Sitwell, the Suit, Alexei Vashin, Jimmy Woo, Howling Commandos

Other Members (Honorary, Reserve, etc.)
A.U.T.O.F.A.C., Android X-4, Chuck, Impact 739, Wild Bill

Other Info
Veteran spy and soldier Col. Nicholas Fury had created the blueprints for an idea some time after World War II to create an extra-government intelligence and security organization dedicated to protecting the nations and peoples of Earth from all threats, terrestrial or extraterrestrial. But, Fury decided not to act upon it, since he felt the U.S. government would deny such a request. However, a United Nations-based international group somehow obtained the plans, and presented them to the U.S. government as a viable countermeasure against the threat of HYDRA. Therefore, the U.S. government created S.H.I.E.L.D.--the Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-enforcement Division. (To learn about Nick Fury and/or HYDRA, click on the highlighted names above. Note: Beware of the low-cut outfit worn by one in the background of Nick Fury's bio page.)

The identities of the organization’s founders, the "Executive Board," have never been revealed. But, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s first known Executive Director was Rick Stoner. However, when he met his untimely end, the Executive Board chose Nick Fury as his replacement. Now realizing his plans had actually been used to create this division of government, Nick Fury accepted the position as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director. And as director, Colonel Fury took a very active role in S.H.I.E.L.D. operations, often going into the field himself on their most important missions.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. carry a variety of personal gear including: tear gas boutonnieres, explosive shirts, rear-view periscope hats, camera-phone watches, jetpacks, and other tools of the spy trade. One of the most distinctive inventions S.H.I.E.L.D. had was the Life-Model Decoy (LMD)--an extremely lifelike android designed to emulate the behavior of a specific individual, usually used to replace someone in danger of being killed. S.H.I.E.L.D. also has regional offices in all the major cities of the free world and several secret bases in Communist countries due to Cold War threats. Although most of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s operations are covert, the organization’s existence is known to general public. S.H.I.E.L.D. even maintains public offices in several cities. Now, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Supreme Headquarters is the huge mobile Helicarrier. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the LMD and/or Helicarrier.)

Overtime, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s main enemy, HYDRA, continued to resurface. Eventually, Nick Fury's old wartime foe, Baron von Strucker, had become the new Supreme Hydra, and with plans to menace the world with a deadly biological weapon. However, Fury took the fight to the enemy stronghold, Hydra Island, turning this weapon on its makers. However, another one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s greatest enemies was formed as a result of a lapse in security. The super villain Scorpio (actually Fury's brother Jake) stole the LMD technology to create the second team of villains called the Zodiac. (Click on the the names above to learn about the highlighted characters, place, and or team.)

The first dismantling of S.H.I.E.L.D. occurred later on in the wake of a wide-scale infiltration of the agency, again involving LMDs. However, in this case, a group of LMDs attained sentience, infiltrating both S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, replacing key members of both before being defeated by Fury and an impromptu force of allies.

Afterward, S.H.I.E.L.D. was reorganized and backed by the United Nations. This time the acronym now stood for "Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate." In addition, S.H.I.E.L.D. created the "Full Champion License" (a rarely-awarded accolade known to be held by Captain America (Steve Rogers), whereby the holder has authority to assemble any team he sees fit for any mission he sees fit.). (To learn about Captain America, just click on his name above.)

Later on, in the wake of Nick Fury's "Secret War" in Latveria, he was removed from S.H.I.E.L.D. directorship and forced into hiding. Fury's replacement was not one of his close associates in the high ranks, but a newcomer named Maria Hill. Her appointment by the U.S. president was meant to ensure that S.H.I.E.L.D. bias would be towards American interests and not to Nick Fury. Hill's lack of connection to the superhero community was meant to keep S.H.I.E.L.D. from aiding them. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about Latveria and/or Maria Hill. Also, the fifth picture posted is of Maria Hill as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director.)

When the Superhuman Registration Act was passed and the superhuman community was split (an event known as the Civil War), Maria Hill created a S.H.I.E.L.D. unit nicknamed "Cape-Killers." This unit was tasked with enforcing the Superhuman Registration Act and capture unregistered superheroes. (To learn out the Civil War, click on the highlighted name above.)

After the Civil War, Maria Hill decided to step down as director and proposed that Iron Man (Tony Stark) take the job, with her as deputy director--Stark accepted. As the new director, Iron Man undertook a series of initiatives, including the construction of a new gold-and-red Helicarrier in the motif of his Iron Man designs. While accused of treating S.H.I.E.L.D. as a Stark Industries subsidiary, he succeeded in streamlining the organization and raising morale. During this time, S.H.I.E.L.D. fought a wave of global superhuman terrorism; however, they were also manipulated into two international incidents that almost saw Tony Stark arrested, until it was revealed that the Mandarin was behind it all and stopped him from committing genocide with an Extremis pathogen. (Click on the names above to learn about the highlighted characters and/or virus.)

Later on, at the start of the Secret Invasion by the extraterrestrial shape-shifting Skrulls, the Helicarrier was disabled by a Skrull virus and was left floating and disabled in the Bermuda Triangle. The Skrulls, by this point, had already replaced a large number of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents (due to their shape-shifting powers), including the high-ranking Dum-Dum Dugan. After the invasion was repelled (thanks in part to Nick Fury and his "Secret Warriors"), the President of the United States decided to dissolve S.H.I.E.L.D.

More recently, Captain America decided to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D. Therefore, he order a new Helicarrier to be built and appointed Daisy Johnson as the new director with Maria Hill again as deputy director.

To learn more a tiny bit more about S.H.I.E.L.D., click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/SHIELD.

In the movie, Marvel's The Avengers, Marvel Entertainment kind of just merged S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers into one group. Because in the comics, S.H.I.E.L.D. has no connection to the Avengers team; however, the two teams have worked together many times. But, many members of the Avengers have been in (or led) S.H.I.E.L.D in the past.