Is the original Nick Fury about to retire…permanently?
The ageless superspy may be a dead man before Original Sin is over.
With the cinematic Nick Fury (aka the son who looks like Samuel L. Jackson) now firmly established in the Marvel Comics universe (you can see him currently in Secret Avengers with Agent Phil Coulson) and a huge revelation about the first Fury (see spoiler down below) could the World War II hero finally go to the great debriefing in the great beyond?
In the aftermath of Original Sin #5 aka The Secret History of Nick Fury and as we head into July 4th weekend I’m inspired to share my Fury Four – 4 essential stories featuring the ultimate spymaster.
The hunt for The Watcher’s killer in Jason Aaron’s summer epic has led to shock and awe. The ancient alien saw and recorded everything in the Marvel Universe. With his death and explosion of his eye (which acted as a recorder/vault) long kept secrets have been exposed with memories instantly downloaded into the brains of hero’s like Captain America (who learned of Dr. Strange’s treachery) Thor (who learned he has a sister!) and Bruce Banner (who learns Tony Stark’s connection to the birth of the Hulk!)
But just when you think Nick Fury is the most secretive man in the Marvel Universe, we learn an entire secret history that could make him the prime suspect in the murder of The Watcher and an untold number of crimes.
Fury may commit unheroic, unethical and maybe criminal acts to protect Earth at any cost. He’s the guy we need in the shadow world.
Nick Fury was created by the legendary team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Fury and his Howling Commandos took the fight to Hitler and Hydra. In the final days of the war, an injured Fury became the test subject for the Infinity Formula giving him extended life and soon with his trademark eye patch, he rose in the ranks of the CIA and eventually S.H.I.E.L.D.
1. S.H.I.E.L.D. by Jim Steranko captures the collection that broke boundaries and catapulted Fury into the superspy icon we know him as today. Steranko’s mind-tripping graphics, pop style mixed with the swinging 1960’s spy vibe is one of the most essential pairing of creator and character.
Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. When the world’s top cop organization is rotten to the core you blow it up. SHIELD and Hydra were infiltrated – Fury became the world’s most wanted. Betrayed by the LMD’s (Life Model Decoys) gone rogue, Nick was on the run by his closest allies and imposters. In the classic limited series by Bob Harras, Fury broke up S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep it from being subverted again.
Secret War by Brian Michael Bendis is Fury at his down low best. Fury recruits Captain America, Wolverine, Black Widow, Luke Cage, Spider-Man and Daredevil for a covert mission into Latveria! If that’s not bold enough Fury mindwipes the heroes but it all comes back to haunt them the hard way. A Jason Bourne style epic of counter-terrorism and revenge with Fury as his cool, badass best.
Secret Invasion by Bendis. Fury’s actions in Secret War lead to his downfall and disappearance but its all part of the plan. Fury sees the carefully plotted invasion of the Skrulls and builds his own contingency plans. As the shapeshifting aliens infiltrate every superhero team and government agency, no one knows who to trust. Fury recruits his own new team of Secret Warriors and takes the fight to the invaders and a new evil organization that even threatens Hydra. From a shadow war in the highest level of government to battles with alien warlords in the streets – Fury and his youth brigade fought for liberty in a time when you couldn’t tell hero from Skrull.
Those are just four starring Fury as we celebrate Marvel’s ultimate spymaster who may be on his final covert mission!
(Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t read Original #4, 5 stop reading now but if you really want to know….
The Winter Soldier killed Nick Fury but it was a famous Life Model Decoy leading the heroes to a secret base where the real Nick Fury is a feeble old man with the Infinity Formula sucked out of his body. Fury revealed he’s working as an assassin against potential alien invaders all these years. Only The Watcher see Fury’s actions…and now The Watcher is dead? Is Nick the killer? If Fury’s enemies don’t kill him will he finally die of old age?)
By Editor