S.W.O.R.D.

*S.W.O.R.D.*
S.W.O.R.D.
	Cover to S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #1, by Valerio Schiti
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Main character(s)	Abigail Brand; Cable; Frenzy; Fabian Cortez; Magneto; Manifold; Wiz Kid
Creative team
Written by	Al Ewing
Artist	Valerio Schiti
Editor(s)	Editor ; Jordan D. White ; Assistant Editor ; Annalise Bissa ; Head of X ; Jonathan Hickman

S.W.O.R.D.
S.W.O.R.D.
	The Peak, headquarters of S.W.O.R.D.; Art by Steven Sanders.
Group publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 (December 2004)
Created by	Joss Whedon (writer); John Cassaday (artist)
In-story information
Type of organization	Intelligence agency
Base(s)	The Peak
Agent(s)	Beast; Abigail Brand; Agent Deems; Henry Peter Gyrich; Lockheed; Spider-Woman; Sydren
S.W.O.R.D.
Series publication information
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Science fiction, superhero;
Publication date	January – May 2010
Number of issues	5
Creative team
Writer(s)	Kieron Gillen
Penciller(s)	Steve Sanders
Inker(s)	Craig Yeung
Letterer(s)	Dave Lanphear
Colorist(s)	Matt Wilson
Creator(s)	Kieron Gillen; Steve Sanders
Editor(s)	Daniel Ketchum; Nick Lowe; Joe Quesada
Collected editions
No Time to Breathe	ISBN 0-7851-4076-X

S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) is a fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Its purpose is to deal with extraterrestrial threats to world security and is the space-based counterpart of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The organization appears in several forms of media, such as The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries WandaVision.

Publication history

S.W.O.R.D. first appeared in Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 (December 2004), and was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday.^[1]

Fictional organization biography

S.W.O.R.D. was originally an offshoot of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, relations between the two organizations were strained since Nick Fury's departure as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. The head of S.W.O.R.D. is Special Agent Abigail Brand, and its primary command-and-control headquarters are aboard an orbital space station known as the Peak.

"Unstoppable"

The Astonishing X-Men, as well as Hisako Ichiki (Armor), Ord, and Danger, are taken to deep space by S.W.O.R.D. and Brand. S.W.O.R.D. psychics fail to detect Cassandra Nova in Emma Frost's shattered psyche. Though emotionally wounded, Frost recovers fast enough to be present for the team's departure to Breakworld, where they plan to disable a missile aimed at Earth. Before they reach Breakworld, the group is attacked by enemy vessels.

After creating a diversion, the X-Men and Brand land on Breakworld. Brand, Cyclops, Emma Frost, and Beast land together, while Wolverine, Armor, Colossus, and Kitty Pryde land elsewhere. Another team, consisting of Lockheed, Sydren, and S.W.O.R.D. troops, converge on the Palace of the Corpse.

"Secret Invasion"

During the 2008 "Secret Invasion" storyline, the Peak is destroyed by a Skrull infiltrator posing as Dum Dum Dugan. Many S.W.O.R.D. agents die in the initial explosion, though others survive due to hostile-environment suits. Brand is encased in one suit and manages to make her way into one of the Skrull ships.

"Dark Reign"

During the 2008 - 2009 "Dark Reign" storyline, S.H.I.E.L.D. is reformed as H.A.M.M.E.R. under Norman Osborn. In the Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter mini-series, Beta Ray Bill visits Brand aboard the rebuilt Peak to obtain information about Galactus's whereabouts.

S.W.O.R.D. volume 1

During the 2009 Chicago Comic Con, it was announced that Kieron Gillen would collaborate with Steven Sanders on a S.W.O.R.D. ongoing series that began in November 2009.^[2]^[3] The new series starts with Henry Peter Gyrich being assigned as S.W.O.R.D. co-commander alongside Abigail Brand. Gyrich persuades the heads of S.W.O.R.D. to have all aliens currently living on Earth deported from the planet while Brand is distracted with another mission.^[4]

The series was cancelled with issue #5. The first issue started with estimated direct sales of 21,988,^[5] which dropped to 15,113 by the second issue.^[6]

S.W.O.R.D. volume 2

S.W.O.R.D. was relaunched in December 2020 as part of "Reign of X". Written by Al Ewing and drawn by Valerio Schiti, the initial team consisted of Abigail Brand, Cable, Frenzy, Fabian Cortez, Magneto, Manifold and Wiz Kid.^[7]

S.W.O.R.D. is restored when Abigail Brand resigns from Alpha Flight, feeling that Alpha Flight's space program was not being properly utilized. In cooperation with the Quiet Council of Krakoa, S.W.O.R.D. becomes Krakoa's representative to the outer universe.

With Abigail Brand as the Station Commander, S.W.O.R.D. functions with a six-tier organizational structure:

Technology/Engineering
- Station Technologist – Wiz Kid (Takeshi Matsuya)
Logistics
- Quintician – Manifold (Eden Fesi)
- Teleport Team
  - Blink (Clarice Ferguson)
  - Lila Cheney
  - Gateway
  - Vanisher (Telford Porter)
  - Amelia Voght
Medical/Energy Resources
- Executive Producer – Khora of the Burning Heart; Fabian Cortez (formerly)
Diplomacy/Negotiation
- Amabassador Extraordinary – Frenzy (Joanna Cargill)
- Ambassador In Training – Armor (Hisako Ikichi)
- Galactic Ambassador – Paibok
Security
- Security Director – Cable (Nathan Summers)
- Security Team
  - Random (Marshall Stone III)
  - Risque (Gloria Muñoz)
  - Forearm (Michael McCain)
  - Slab (Christopher Anderson)
  - Ruckus (Clement Wilson)
  - Thumbelina (Kristina Anderson)
Observation/Analysis
- Psionic Analyst – Mentallo (Marvin Flumm)
- Analysis Team
  - Peepers (Peter Quinn)

S.W.O.R.D. also formed The Six, a multiversal far-retrieval circuit, utilizing mutant technology. There are two stages required for a full retrieval:

First Stage – Translocation: a circuit of five mid-to-long range teleporters which acts as the anchor for translocation. [Back-up: Nightcrawler and Magik]
Second Stage – Retrieval: a circuit of six mutants with combining their protection and augmentation powers to reach different points in space.
- The Control – Wiz Kid: unify the first stage circuit of teleporters and adjust the mutant circuits in operation. [Back-up: Forge]
- The Power – Khora of the Burning Heart; Fabian Cortez (formerly): provide the boost required for the circuit operation.
- The Shield – Armor: generate a protective exoskeleton that extends to the entire circuit. [Back-up: Skids]
- The Guide – Manifold: trans-locate the entirety of the second stage circuit while saving his energies for the retrieval.
- The Eye – Peepers: spot specific particles of their target. [Back-up: Doc]
- The Foundry – Risque: create a small field around their target condensing and containing it to help bring it back to Earth. [Back-up: Xorn]

Roster

Volume 1

Former members of S.W.O.R.D.
Character	Alias	Joined in	Notes
Abigail Brand		Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #10	Leader
Sydren		Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #10	A Drenx who is skilled in hacking and working on alien technology.
Agent Paulletz	Not known	Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #20
Cecilia		S.W.O.R.D. #2
K'eel R'kt		Infinity: Against the Tide: Infinite Comic #1	A Skrull science officer who was rescued from the Builders by Silver Surfer.

Former Members:

Agent Deems – An autistic S.W.O.R.D. agent.
Beast
Benjamin Deeds – A mutant with transmorphing abilities.
Death's Head
Henry Peter Gyrich
Lockheed
Manifold Tyger – A tiger-like technician who secretly worked for the Providian Order.
Mindee – An alias of Irma Cuckoo of the Stepford Cuckoos.
Reilly Marshall – An ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. and S.W.O.R.D. agent who currently works for the U.N. Security Council.
Spider-Woman

Volume 2

Issues	Characters
#1 - #10	Amelia Voght Armor Abigail Brand Blink Cable Doctor Doom Egg Elixir Emma Frost Forearm Frenzy Fabian Cortez Gateway Hope Summer Hulkling Jean Grey Khora of the Burning Heart Lila Cheney Magneto Manifold Mentallo Paibok Peepers Professor X Proteus Random Risque Storm Sunfire Tempus Vanisher Wiz-Kid

Reception

Accolades

In 2019, CBR.com ranked S.W.O.R.D. 3rd in their "10 Most Powerful Secret Organizations In Marvel Comics" list.^[8]
In 2022, CBR.com ranked S.W.O.R.D. 10th in their "The Avengers' 10 Best Allies In Marvel Comics" list.^[9]

In other media

Television

S.W.O.R.D. appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.^[10] This version initially operates out of the Damocles (Kang the Conqueror's captured spaceship) and subsequently at the Hydro-Base, with Carol Danvers and Abigail Brand as agents, Henry Peter Gyrich as a government liaison, and additional support from Sydren and Peter Corbeau.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

S.W.O.R.D. appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries WandaVision. This version of the organization's full name is the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division and was founded by Maria Rambeau.^[11] Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, S.W.O.R.D. recovers Vision's body and investigates Westview, New Jersey after Wanda Maximoff places it under a hex.

Video games

An alternate universe iteration of S.W.O.R.D. appears in Marvel Super Hero Squad. This version is an evil counterpart of S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.W.O.R.D. appears in Marvel Avengers Alliance Tactics.

Collected editions

Volume 1

Title	Material collected	Publication date	ISBN
X-Men: S.W.O.R.D. - No Time to Breathe	S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 1) #1–5	July 7, 2010	ISBN 0-7851-4076-X

Volume 2

Title	Material collected	Publication date	ISBN
S.W.O.R.D. by Al Ewing Vol. 1	S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #1–5	September 7, 2021	ISBN 978-1302927516
X-Men: Hellfire Gala	Marauders (vol. 1) #21, X-Men (vol. 5) #21, Planet-Size X-Men #1, S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #6 and material from Classic X-Men #7	March 1, 2022	ISBN 978-1846533365
S.W.O.R.D. by Al Ewing Vol. 2	S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #7–11, Cable Reloaded #1	February 15, 2022	ISBN 978-1302931469

References

↑ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 366. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
↑ George, Richard; Schedeen, Jesse (August 10, 2009). "Taking Control of S.W.O.R.D." IGN. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
↑ Strom, Marc (August 10, 2009). "Chicago Con '09: S.W.O.R.D. Ongoing". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
↑ S.W.O.R.D. #2 (February 2010)
↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual–November 2009". ICv2. December 7, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
↑ "Top 300 Comics Actual–December 2009". ICv2. January 12, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
↑ "Al Ewing Takes Mutantkind Beyond the Stars in 'S.W.O.R.D.'". Marvel Comics. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
↑ Avina, Anthony (September 26, 2019). "10 Most Powerful Secret Organizations In Marvel Comics, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
↑ Eckhardt, Peter (September 15, 2022). "The Avengers' 10 Best Allies In Marvel Comics". CBR. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
↑ Flynn, Caleigh (April 23, 2012). "'Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Welcome To The Kree Empire' – Recap". Science Fiction. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
↑ Barnhardt, Adam (January 12, 2021). "WandaVision: SWORD Has New Name in the MCU". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.

External links

S.W.O.R.D. at Marvel.com
S.W.O.R.D. on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki
S.W.O.R.D. at Comic Vine
S.W.O.R.D. at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
S.W.O.R.D. at Runaways.mergingminds

[1] DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 366. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.

[2] George, Richard; Schedeen, Jesse (August 10, 2009). "Taking Control of S.W.O.R.D." IGN. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009.

[3] Strom, Marc (August 10, 2009). "Chicago Con '09: S.W.O.R.D. Ongoing". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009.

[4] S.W.O.R.D. #2 (February 2010)

[5] "Top 300 Comics Actual–November 2009". ICv2. December 7, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2010.

[6] "Top 300 Comics Actual–December 2009". ICv2. January 12, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010.

[7] "Al Ewing Takes Mutantkind Beyond the Stars in 'S.W.O.R.D.'". Marvel Comics. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.

[8] Avina, Anthony (September 26, 2019). "10 Most Powerful Secret Organizations In Marvel Comics, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

[9] Eckhardt, Peter (September 15, 2022). "The Avengers' 10 Best Allies In Marvel Comics". CBR. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

[10] Flynn, Caleigh (April 23, 2012). "'Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Welcome To The Kree Empire' – Recap". Science Fiction. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019.

[S.W.O.R.D.-11] Barnhardt, Adam (January 12, 2021). "WandaVision: SWORD Has New Name in the MCU". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]