Book Review: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Jim Steranko

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This volume collects Jim Steranko's runs on Nick Fury's Strange Tale's stories. The book begins with Strange Tales #150 and #151 Steranko began to transition into becoming the series artist and eventually writer through Issue #168

The book focuses on two seperate baddies. The first half focuses on Fury's battle with the Supreme Hydra. And then it's on to battling the Yellow Claw, a character introduced in the mid-1950s when Marvel was known as Atlas. (Though this occurs with a twist.) Then we wrap up with an issue that foreshadows the Scorpio line that would feature in four of the five first issues of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own comic book.

What you get in these 19 Nick Fury stories are standard action spy adventure stuff from the 1960s with nearly every issue ending with Fury in a deathtrap or facing some weird strangeness. At this point, the only difference between Fury and the superheroes of the Avengers is that Fury had government sanction, and no superhero costume. In fact, one of the book's guest stars is Captain America and Fury fights him to a standstill in an exhibition.

There are also guest appearance by Mr. Fantastic, the Thing, and Dr. Doom.

I will admit that some of the hype around the book set me up for a bit of a disappointment. Despite all the talk about Steranko's art, throughout most of the book, it wasn't all that exciting, until the last three issues which also included an eye-popping four page pullout.

Overall, some good stories for fans of Nick Fury who remain true to the the motto, "Don't yield, back S.H.I.E.L.D."





View all my reviews