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.

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.
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. 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:

1. First Stage – Translocation: a circuit of five mid-to-long range teleporters which acts as the anchor for translocation. [Back-up: Nightcrawler and Magik]
2. 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

Reception

In other media

Collected editions

References

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