S.W.O.R.D. Discussion -- outside X-books?

[Iron Theurge]

Ok,

I want to present SPOILERS:

Abigail Brand is co-opted as command of S.W.O.R.D. (google it), by Marvel's resident non-super-powered G-Man henry Gyrich. he's her new co-com.

Interesting dynamic.

The rest of the issue revolves around Brand, Beast, Lockheed, and Sydren doing mildly heroic things. They saved Brand's (half) brother from a bounty hunter. They also started negotiations against a violent pirate alien culture. In addition, they have to deal with Death's head.

By the end, they (Brand and a verbose Lockheed) also discuss Kitty Pryde's fate within the Breakworld Bullet.

Overall a great issue. I added it to my pull list.

Outside of X-books discussion, I especially enjoy how they're bridging into cosmic Marvel.

[Comet Man]

Well I picked this up today and wasn't expecting much. I was expecting it to be just another X book disguised as cosmic.

I'm happy to say that I am wrong and I have just added another cosmic Marvel book to my monthly buys. It's definitely cosmic in nature, and it's just plain good. Just want to correct you and say that Brand's brother isn't saved yet. Beast, Brand, and Lockheed got on Death's Head's ship, but they hardly moved when DH himself had them cornered, and that's how that segment ended. Excellent cliffhanger. Also, I can't wait to see Gyrich try and repatriate all those aliens who I tried to identify. What's the deal with this Unit character too. I love the way he seem so nice, but you can tell he's evil.

I really liked this book and was pleasantly suprised.

[strathcona]

I really liked this book. I did discuss it over at the X-Forums (though I find posting there extremly annoying). Here's what I said:

I liked this issue. I thought it was fun and a good little intro to SWORD. The addition of Gyrich as a co-commander is a great idea. He's a great foil, love to see him still appearing somewhere. Loved the fact that it was the original Death's Head, since he is a time traveler and he can appear anywhen without any explanation about Death's Head II. Can't wait to see more of him. And I think Brand's brother will make a nice extra annoyance for her on the Peak. I hope he sticks around for a while.

My complaint would be about the art. I didn't like the Beast. And I found the perspective to be off on a lot of faces and some of the backgrounds. Besides that it was servicable, not great, but not horrible. I did find myself wondering if Sydren is the same race as the group he stayed behind to watch (I forget what they were called). And I had trouble recognizing most of the aliens that Gyrich was showing on the last page... Does anyone have a list?

Great to see that there is some follow up to Kitty's disappearance. She is my favourite X-Man and I was not happy to see her go out in such a lame way. I liked that idea shown that she is still alive inside the bullet, and I hope they are able to find her sometime soon. I have to agree with you about Lockheed feeling like the Lockheed of Excalibur... and that is a good thing. I loved the little guy in that book, and can't wait for his reunion with Kitty.

[Mundungus]

It was awesome.

The greatest aspect of it was when the book was announced I immediately thought it was going to be another action-heavy sci fi spectacle with melodrama and desperation.

This book had action. It had sci-fi. It had spectacle. Heck, it even had desperation.

But it was all intertwined with a genuine sense of humor that plays with the established character's wits and made it an overall FUN read. Even the back-up about Kitty. It was informative, even desperate, but still fun.

Marvel could have done another drama-heavy action thriller. Which still could have been great. But they're really taking a risk here and I'm glad.

KEEP PUTTING OUT THIS BOOK!

[steveg887]

Definitely a fun issue. Love Beast trying to placate Brand (and his goat look), Gyrich being a douche, and Death's Head being Death's Head.

Can't wait to see where the arc is going.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Cross posted from the X-Forum:

Just finished reading this issue.

And it was really bloody good.

I have to admit that Agent Brand was probably the one character I just had absolutely no interest in during Whedon's Astonishing run. She just never fitted for me. I couldn't get a handle on her at all.

But Kieron Gillen really HAS.

The expansion on the character in this issue alone makes her infinitely more interesting to read. Her family ties, the playing upon her not being entirely human, her multiple language speaking (Which has got to come in pretty handy out there). All makes me want to know more.

I love to see Lockheed back on an ongoing book, too. And it feels much more like the Lockheed of Excalibur, with an actual personality, rather than the dull little pet he usually gets used as on an X-Men book. Great to see his little tantrum in the B story.

I must admit the odd styling of Beast did somewhat throw me a little at first. But its growing on my quickly since I saw the preview. It certainly allows for a bit more expressiveness in that stupid cat face Morrison saddled him with (Mumble...) and the interaction between him and Abigail still remains a joy to read.

But the big pull for me, and a lot of other posters on the Marvel Universe forum, was the return of Death's Head! The robot bounty hunter with less morals than Xavier has hair.

That guy has only two rules: 1) Get Paid. 2) Do anything necessary to achieve rule one.

Seriously, he's a one robot chaos wave, with no stopping on the way. And it's been TOO damned long since we last saw him.

(I don't know whether Gillen will acknowledge it, but Beast has actually met a Death's Head before. However, not this one. He successor. DH2. He ran in to the X-Men back in the 90s, in his own series).

The new face plate takes a little getting used to but it is A Welcome Addition... YES?

Can somebody fill me in on Unit, though? I feel I aught to know this guy. Kinda creepy, and I assume he's locked up for a reason. New character or returning?

And any book with Gyrich in it gets the thumbs up from me. But his mass non-human extradition plan seems pretty worrying. Just think of the number of aliens, or part aliens, that would effect in the MU.

Two thumbs up. 5/5. More of this please. It's great to read a title which actually packs a lot of story in an issue for a change, without being too wordy. I've missed that in the X-Books over the last few years.

[stingerman]

I thought it was pretty good.

I have zip for knowledge in regards to the X-men stuff and I was happy to read you didn't have to be an X-fan to enjoy the story.

I feel this has a ton of potential in regards to the "getting rid of alien plot" and with bridging Marvel Cosmic and Marvel "earth."

I wasn't sold on Beast either, and felt it was the art to blame. I would rather have the bonus story artist on the book from the looks of it.

Also, Cassaday's cover didn't do Brand any justice either. Super Hero Squad, anyone? What was up with the completely different cover Beast and the Beast from inside?

I really do hope this succeeds, as I stated, it has great potential for some really good stories and interesting cast members.

Here's my full review: http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/reviews/sword1_review

[jackolover]

The reason I like this SWORD story is that I have never seen interplanetary politics before. The action is just good bonus. Bendis gave me a taste of Brand from a mini and the SI, where she tried to put together that a Skrull diplomat was making a coded message, and it was always obvious what he was telegraphing. But those references showed Aliens I had never seen before, and they were running around in earth orbit on the PATCH satellite. I became aware of the Transdimentional Organisation when Lyra arrived from the future, but this stuff is so divorced from GoG and Nova, because it's aliens trying to arrive on earth, and this is like the passport inspection booth. Out there, you can have the Nova Corp, because they interact with Aliens. But on SWORD, it's like the Aliens are interacting, by arriving on us.

I'd like to see the dyslexic guy,( from the SI), again, that always took everything so literally. I'd like to see his ability shine in a situation. The surprise Robot appearance is very interesting, and I do think he is new. He has this mysterious ability to read minds in an instant, and reminds me of Maximus from the Inhumans, because they always come to him for knowledge, even though he is dangerous.

Gyrich shouldn't have got this far. Brand should have shoved his criticism in his face, because Gyrich does more damage than he is worth in anything he does, so the hits Brand took from him were cheap and she should have put him in irons for the way he spoke to her. Then Brand trusts Gyrich to put her side to a meeting of planners, when Gyrich has blatently set up Brand to be absent, so he can deliberately sabotage the efforts she was making with Aliens, so Gyrich could turn it into an Alien hunt, and now Brand can't do a thing about it.

[KieronGillen]

I'd like to see the dyslexic guy,( from the SI), again, that always took everything so literally.

Alas, he's no longer with us. Most of the SI story was in the past and he died near the end of Astonishing.

Glad people are generally liking this. We have funs, etc.

KG

[mightyness]

I enjoyed this issue the writing was clever. The art ugh! Why does practically every alien have a goat face? Damn this guy needs to spend time practicing variations of different alien looks. I enjoyed the art in the back up story much more. Not sure if I will be getting the second issue I will flip through it and determine whether or not I want to continue giving this series a try. Loved seeing Death's Head though even if he looked a little odd.

[steveg887]

Originally Posted by mightyness

Loved seeing Death's Head though even if he looked a little odd.

Marvel really needs to release "Death's Head: Classic" --- and then have Simon Furman retcon his eventual death. Such a fun character.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Originally Posted by steveg887

Marvel really needs to release "Death's Head: Classic" --- and then have Simon Furman retcon his eventual death. Such a fun character.

I wouldn't want the death Retconned, at all. I'd want both Death's Heads working together. And maybe one of the lame Death's Head 3.0 units on a leash...

Panini collected all of Death's Head's original series, plus the graphic novel, guest spots in Fantastic Four and She-Hulk, and the What IF...? Death's Head 1 lived, in two volumes put out a couple of years ago. You can still find them online.

[steveg887]

Originally Posted by The Sword Is Drawn

I wouldn't want the death Retconned, at all. I'd want both Death's Heads working together.

Yeah, I guess as a time traveler, his death doesn't really need to be retconned at all as appearances can just be placed before that happens. But it's just bittersweet seeing him around knowing that he's doomed to die.

Panini collected all of Death's Head's original series, plus the graphic novel, guest spots in Fantastic Four and She-Hulk, and the What IF...? Death's Head 1 lived, in two volumes put out a couple of years ago. You can still find them online.

Nice, thanks. I'll check out the prices on Amazon.

[jlmoor]

Originally Posted by strathcona

I really liked this book. I did discuss it over at the X-Forums (though I find posting there extremly annoying). Here's what I said:

I was going to post on the X-boards but got scared. Praising anything seems to devolve pretty quickly. I'm glad you guys started this up over here. Overall I agree with everything that has been said. I'm not used to Brand seeming so strained and frazzeled, but we haven't really had a chance to get to know her outside of 'Beast's hard-ass girl friend.' At first the change put me off, but after thinking about it and reading other reactions I think it will really work. Gyrich's plan seems like the real issue here and I'm excited to see where that goes. I think it would be great if SWORD is the title that eventually handles the Kitty thing. I don't think I ever really connected how upset and guilty Lockheed must feel. I must say I enjoyed the attempt at negotiations with the race that wanted a % percentage of the human race and put it out there like they were discussion donuts. Also that Brand basically put them on hold.

[Umbra]

I thought it was a great issue. I love the cast. This is now a part of my pull list also.