7 Greatest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Whether you’re a knight fighting some sort of crazy dragon or a country up against a slew of terrorist and other worldly threats, nothing beats a shield.

Like the tool of battle derivative of its namesake, S.H.I.E.L.D. remains the all-powerful, all-knowing Big Brother-esque strike force keeping the lights on. It supports a laundry list of past and present members whose impact helped to craft the organization’s identity. To commemorate Marvel’s best and brightest super spies, here’s a brief rundown of some of the most influential agents, members, and splinter cells S.H.I.E.L.D. proudly produced.

Nick Fury

Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. go together like pirates and eye patches. A 33rd degree officer, multiple time director, and all around supreme being of espionage, Nick Fury will always be synonymous with S.H.I.E.L.D, regardless of his current status. His legacy also carries on via his son.

Agent 13

Sharon Carter’s history with S.H.I.E.L.D. stretches a long, turbulent road. A former director—albeit for a brief stint—Carter unfortunately carries the stigma of shooting Captain America whilst under hypnosis. At her best, though, nobody can touch Carter, hence when she draws the toughest assignments, like tracking down a rogue Winter Soldier.

Tony Stark

The Stark legacy itself can be easily merged with S.H.I.E.L.D. lore. From Howard Stark’s original dealings with the agency, to the more present day interactions with Tony, the Stark name corresponds—for better or worse—with S.H.I.E.L.D. Speaking of the younger member of the family, Iron Man happens to be a one-time director, sometime friend, and even the occasional adversary.

Steve Rogers

Presidential approved “top cop” and American patriot numero uno, Captain America has ties to S.H.I.E.L.D. that trace back decades. Steve Rogers’ importance to the organization encompasses far more than simply as a simple liaison between them and the Avengers, but that’s a pretty big responsibility in of itself.

Norman Osborn

It’s practically a form of blasphemy listing the man who destroyed, dismantled, and renamed the intelligence organization, but Osborn’s significance in S.H.I.E.L.D. history forever stands as a reminder of how bad things can get. Norm took over following the events of Secret Invasion and proceeded to besmirch the agency’s rep nearly beyond repair as H.A.M.M.E.R.

The Secret Avengers

S.H.I.E.L.D., like any good team, changed with the times. When the world started to go from bad to worse, they evolved their agenda and created the Secret Avengers. A black ops team geared for a world en route to hell, the group consisting of Hawkeye, Black Widow, Taskmaster, Mockingbird, and other became the proverbial sword to complement S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Maria Hill

A director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria Hill started out as a skeptical figure and thorn in the Avengers’ side following Nick Fury’s resignation, but the tough-as-nails and super resourceful former field agent has forged close connections with Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and more through helping save the world more than once.