Have you recovered from the deaths and teasers in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. finale?
What direction will Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. take in Season Four?
After a season that turned Grant Ward into Hive, revealed the oldest secrets of Hydra’s origin and introduced the Secret Warriors – what happens next?
And how will Season Four follow in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War?
Could producers take inspiration from comics and a Dark Reign will begin?
Before we continue here’s a SPOILER ALERT!
If you have not seen the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. finale or Captain America: Civil War stop reading now.
Seriously.
OK.
Here it comes.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world governments passed the Sokovia Accords. No vigilantes allowed. All costumed heroes are required to register and work directly for the government. A guilt-ridden Tony Stark complied with the Accords. Steve Rogers was against registration. A war of heroes erupted. Captain America, Black Widow, Winter Soldier, Falcon, Ant-Man, Scarlet Witch are now fugitives given refuge by Black Panther.
Coulson refused to comply and force his Secret Warriors to register. In the final battle to stop Hive from unleashing a global Terrigenesis, Lincoln and Grant Ward (already dead but possessed by the monstrous Inhuman) died.
In a six months later time jump, Coulson is no longer S.H.I.E.L.D. director, Daisy is called a criminal/terrorist and dubbed Quake by the media. Fitz and Radcliffe (Hive’s scientist) are working together after Radcliffe a LMD (Life Model Decoy) with merged with an A.I.
Marvel movies and shows don’t exactly follow comics cannon but could we look to the comic book aftermath of Civil War for what could happen next season?
After Civil War in the comics, Iron Man became director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Avengers leader and the Fifty State Initiative – a registered team of heroes in every American state. Norman Osborn (the “reformed” Spider-Man villain known as Green Goblin) became a government operative running the Thunderbolts. This team of registered villains turned government agents actually were tasked with bringing in unregistered heroes. During Tony Stark’s watch, Skrulls (shapeshifting aliens) mounted a Secret Invasion. Daisy and the Secret Warriors made their comic book debut during this event. When Nick Fury wasn’t sure who he could trust he created his own rookie team. Osborn took the victory shot at the alien invader leader on global media coverage and became a hero. Tony was blamed for the invasion. Osborn took control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. S.H.I.E.L.D. became HAMMER. Villains were recruited to impersonate the Avengers. Osborn even created a super suit and identity for himself: the Iron Patriot. The era was called Dark Reign – a hard time to be a hero.
We may see Dark Reign influences in upcoming movies like Spider-Man: Homecoming but we could immediately see this twisted new era on Agents of SHIELD. Now that Marvel and and Sony are working together on sharing Spider-Man, could this mean Marvel may use Osborn in his role as HAMMER director and slam it on Team Coulson, his Secret Warriors and the Inhumans?
With Coulson out of a job and Daisy branded a villain, could this be because of their refusal to follow the Sokovia Accords and outlaws of a government ruled by a Dark Reign?
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns this fall Tuesdays at 10 on ABC.
By Editor