Nick Fury, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. #7-10 (The Chaos Serpent)

Writer: D.G. Chichester
Penciler: Kieth Pollard
Inker Kim DeMulder
Colorist: Steve Buccellato
Letterer: Richard Starkings 

International terrorist and cult leader, Leviathan attempts a theft of the B-2 Bomber which is easily thwarted by Fury and his team. The botched job was in fact an attempt to gleam information from the CIA who interviewed him while in The Vault. After learning what secrets he needs, Leviathan engineers an escape as a guardsman. Fury and team but heads with Pincer and the agency and take responsibility for bringing Leviathan in. Meanwhile Leviathan is blackmailing and recruiting various high ranking officials into his cult for their technological secrets.

Fury asks Gabe Jones to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to train new recruits and fill the void left by the death of Dum Dum and the friction with the Contessa. Also SHIELD is relocated to the Grand Canyon where the new helicarrier is being built. Things get personal when Leviathan learns of Lump in one of the files he'd taken and kidnaps the creature in order to pass him off as a demon to scare his converts. Fury recruits old friend Captain America to counteract the brainwashing of the officers converted to Leviathan's cause; giving them a personification of their loyalty to duty and honor in order to break the conditioning. Meanwhile Fury stops Leviathan who tries to escape via submarine.

• Continuity Notes
• Appearance by Captain America
• First appearance of the villain Leviathan
• The United Nations charters a new S.H.I.E.L.D, now standing for Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistic Directorate
• Nick Fury is its first director, answering only to the UN Security Council
• Reprinted in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Classic V.1
• For more, check out our interview with Kim DeMulder

Review
D.G. Chichester begins his run with a great story featuring one of the best villains in a long while to join Fury's rogue gallery; Leviathan. Much of the story focuses on the character's unique psychology and his strategies which is fascinating material. Leviathan also does not disappoint with his action scenes showcasing a bloody ruthlessness. The story accomplishes a substantial amount aside from the main plot in only four issues, with only the second issue displaying some seeming filler material (the attempted airplane hijacking which feature among its lows a dated Roseanne Barr joke). The reunion of S.H.I.E.L.D. continues with Fury recruiting Jones, a new helicarrier undergoing construction, and an opening set in the United Nations.

More kernels of reality are slipped in with butting of heads between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the CIA. One conflict which doesn't ring right is the increasingly bitchiness between Val and Kate which border on Degrassi Junior High and is the only bit of character development which the story could do without. The last act cameo by Captain America is by far one of the most inventive uses of the character beyond his title. As becoming of the mature storyline and emphasis on realism, Captain America is used more as a metaphor rather then a sock-em, bop-em superhero. The artwork is excellent, especially noteworthy a full page panel of Fury wearing a Buck Rogers-like jet pack (which Fury points out as well).

Rating

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