The Right Three-Striper For The Right Job

The story of how Nick Fury became the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. reaches back all the way to 1965, but it remains a classic--how a salty, World War II hero is approached to head a spy agency tasked with stamping out the threat of the deadly worldwide organization known as Hydra. By the time he's piped aboard the SHIELD helicarrier, Fury has already seen first-hand the technology and resources of the agency in action--and so when Tony Stark makes his proposal, Fury's first instinct is to decline, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the level of sophistication he'd be walking into.

But the instincts of a roll-up-your-sleeves seasoned veteran make Fury uniquely qualified to lead the fight against Hydra, as he discovers himself when dealing with a hidden bomb--to say nothing of how he handles the situation afterward.

And the rest, of course, is history. BUT...

How did Fury's second day on the job go?

Naturally, it's indulging in a bit of poetic license by implying that Fury picked up his I.D. badge and went right to work in the field. We have to assume that there were a few days of orientation, and no doubt some time taken becoming familiar with SHIELD's agents, its bases, its current caseload, as well as studying up on Hydra intel. But in reading the follow-up issue of Strange Tales that finds Fury on the job, it's important to remember that it's not only Fury being auditioned here--it's also SHIELD itself that's being given a try-out, as well as Hydra.

Previously, we received a generous sampling of SHIELD technology in action, a few of which would become staples in future Agent Of SHIELD stories. The Life Model Decoy technology and the famous flying car, for instance:

But now we see more of SHIELD's operation, as Hydra agents conduct surveillance on Fury in order to discover the location of SHIELD headquarters. If Hydra is as good as they think they are, I would have assumed they'd already know about the helicarrier's existence--but then we wouldn't get to see Fury throw them a red herring and providing us with our first look at the "barber shop" which acts as a front for the entrance to one of SHIELD's New York facilities.

Hydra, as well, is given ample exposure as to its resources and technology, as well as its hierarchical structure. (The Supreme Hydra also appears to be a big fan of Spectre and its leader's attachment to a pet.)

Thanks to Fury's observations on the street, his staff at the shop are well prepared to handle the men who believe that they're the ones who are springing a surprise attack. And from the looks of things, it seems that Fury has fully embraced SHIELD's use of technology. (Though as its director, he'd be derelict not to.)

As for Hydra, throughout their mission they act as they always have--as if their victory were a foregone conclusion, and that their sheer numbers and aggressive use of technology gave them an overwhelming advantage against any enemy. Yet as a group, they often lead with their chin--in this case, they're completely clueless that they've been set up, and move to attack a location that's been specially prepared to capture them. What they need is a Nick Fury of their own, who's trained to spot duplicity and clues that slip by the casual observer.

As you might expect, things don't look too good right now for the unfortunate agent who headed up the Hydra task force charged with attacking SHIELD H.Q. Though despite their defeat, Hydra almost always trots out their trademark oath (which no doubt took some rehearsal to get all of those arms in sync).

While over at SHIELD, Fury calls it a day, though with just enough trepidation to make sure he sells the next issue. It's reasonably clear that the new position suits him well, and very clear that his agents know who calls the shots.

Right now it's apparent that Fury needs a close-knit staff to bounce his impressions and tactics off of, as well as to avoid the impression that he's a lone wolf in this post and a solitary figure. Nick Fury is the kind of presence that should be seen at SHIELD, giving the impression that he's keeping tabs on operations and is a hands-on director in shepherding the agency in an active role in law enforcement. The senior staff that he later assembles help to facilitate that impression, as well as make SHIELD for readers more that just an organization full of nondescript agents snapping to at Fury's orders.

And speaking of interchangeable agents--how likely is it that Hydra's new Section Leader B is still punching his time card?