Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Writer: Jim Steranko
Penciler: Jim Steranko
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Fury survives two assassination attempts by Scorpio who wields the Zodiac Key. Scorpio takes over a Nevada test base and its up to Fury to rescue Val and Dum Dum.

• Continuity Notes
• First appearance of Scorpio
• Appearances by Dum Dum and Val
• The S.H.I.E.L.D. base that appears in the opening is later seen to house the Scorpio Key in the 1998 Iron Fist miniseries
• The Marvel Legends Nick Fury action figure came packaged with a special reprint of this issue, but it sported the cover to S.H.I.E.L.D. (1) #4 and a final tag line that read 'Continued in Nick Fury: Who Is Scorpio Trade Paperback'!
• A framed copy of the cover of this issue is seen hanging in the apartment of the "Defenders" in The Ultimates 2 #6.
• Reprinted in: 
  • Marvel Comics Grandsons of Origin,
  • Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Reprint Edition) #1,
  • Captain Britain (1) #28-32
  • Nick Fury: Who Is Scorpio (TPB)
  • S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Complete Collection Omnibus
  • Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Volume 2.
  • S.H.I.E.L.D. by Jim Steranko: The Complete Collection

Review
Fantastic start for the series with a multi-track story which finally all weaves into one, with quite an explosive finale. The art by Steranko is superb with his exciting use of angles and a cinematic panel layout. The psychedelic art associated with Scorpio is one of the highlights of the comics, as is the brief racing sequence.

Rating: