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S.H.I.E.L.D. by Hickman & Weaver #1
S.H.I.E.L.D.: Architects of Forever
Leonardo Da Vinci was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. So was Issac Newton. So were Imhotep and Zhang Heng and Galileo and many other geniuses throughout time. They were the first heroes to defeat Galactus and the Brood and turn Celestials back. They saved the world long before Captain America or Iron Man were ever born, but what does this mean to our heroes of today? What does this mean to Nick Fury?
Collecting: S.H.I.E.L.D. 1-6
Collecting: S.H.I.E.L.D. 1-6
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
26 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Hickman
1,221 books2,033 followersJonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 11, 2025
Jonathan Hickman gave Marvel a gift with his S.H.I.E.L.D. miniseries. This could have been an independent comic book wholly owned by Hickman, given that the main characters are historical figures and public domain.
Hickman folded his idea for a secret society of historical figures as the ancient backstory for Marvel's super-spy agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. There were barely Marvel characters present, and mostly on the superficial side. But because of the presence of Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards, they became the connective tissue to the greater Marvel Universe.
This gave the S.H.I.E.L.D. backstory that was epic in scope, turning these historical figures into superheroes of their era. This graphic novel collected six issues, but it felt that there was more of the story than these collected 192 pages.
Dustin Weaver abetted Hickman's story with the best work of his career. The cinematic scope of his layouts and the intricate details on the machinery was what this story needed, and Weaver was up to the task. This was an amazing visual experience.
Hickman folded his idea for a secret society of historical figures as the ancient backstory for Marvel's super-spy agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. There were barely Marvel characters present, and mostly on the superficial side. But because of the presence of Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards, they became the connective tissue to the greater Marvel Universe.
This gave the S.H.I.E.L.D. backstory that was epic in scope, turning these historical figures into superheroes of their era. This graphic novel collected six issues, but it felt that there was more of the story than these collected 192 pages.
Dustin Weaver abetted Hickman's story with the best work of his career. The cinematic scope of his layouts and the intricate details on the machinery was what this story needed, and Weaver was up to the task. This was an amazing visual experience.
September 8, 2017
2.5 stars
I'm sorry, but this just didn't do it for me.
The artwork was stunning, though! Beautiful!
Really, I would have read it just to look at the lovely pages.
But as far as the actual story goes?
Nah. It wasn't something that interested me. The idea was really cool, but the execution was slow, confusing, and ultimately boring.
And considering this was a slim volume with such nice artwork, I'm sort of surprised.
The concept is this:
The greatest minds have always been in the background of our world, protecting us from the unseen threats of the universe.
Da Vinci, Galileo, Newton, Tesla, Michelangelo, etc...
The story contains images of the past, present, and future showing the reader how everything has unfolded over the ages, through the eyes of...Starboy?
He's made up of (what looks like) stars, and his origin is still not totally understood, even to himself.
Much of the story was simply too trippy for me, I'm afraid. I liked Starboy (or whatever his name was), but the rest of the cast of characters was too silly for me to take seriously.
And they weren't meant to be silly.
There were supposed to be all impressive and amazing.
For whatever reason, I found myself rolling my eyes at the idea of these dudes having all of this knowledge, and making all of these grand gestures.
However, most of my friends loved this.
So.
I'm thinking it's a case of It's not you, it's me, and not that this book just flat-out sucks.
I'm sorry, but this just didn't do it for me.
The artwork was stunning, though! Beautiful!
Really, I would have read it just to look at the lovely pages.
But as far as the actual story goes?
Nah. It wasn't something that interested me. The idea was really cool, but the execution was slow, confusing, and ultimately boring.
And considering this was a slim volume with such nice artwork, I'm sort of surprised.
The concept is this:
The greatest minds have always been in the background of our world, protecting us from the unseen threats of the universe.
Da Vinci, Galileo, Newton, Tesla, Michelangelo, etc...
The story contains images of the past, present, and future showing the reader how everything has unfolded over the ages, through the eyes of...Starboy?
He's made up of (what looks like) stars, and his origin is still not totally understood, even to himself.
Much of the story was simply too trippy for me, I'm afraid. I liked Starboy (or whatever his name was), but the rest of the cast of characters was too silly for me to take seriously.
And they weren't meant to be silly.
There were supposed to be all impressive and amazing.
For whatever reason, I found myself rolling my eyes at the idea of these dudes having all of this knowledge, and making all of these grand gestures.
However, most of my friends loved this.
So.
I'm thinking it's a case of It's not you, it's me, and not that this book just flat-out sucks.
February 27, 2015
I feel like this must be one of those love-it-or-hate-it books, because frankly, I kind of hated it. I really wanted to like this book. It's got vast ideas spanning centuries, revealing that the Marvel spy network SHIELD is actually an ancient organization run by such minds as Leonardo Da Vinci and Isaac Newton. It plays with a lot of big philosophies and doomsday speak and fate and science and all things I normally love. But, I really don't think this book is saying anything. I think this is all pseudo philosophy wrapped up in big words that don't really mean anything, complete with characters that are very eloquent when saying nothing at all.
I mean, no one in this book ever goes "Hold up. Explain yourself." Shit is just CRAZY. The character we are meant to relate to is never developed. We only know he is some sort of everyman who has some sort of power and was brought into the fold for some sort of reason that no one ever explains. And despite the fact that all of this crazy SHIELD stuff is just as new and crazy to him as it is to us, he never goes "HEY WHAT NOW?!" He just sits there content with answers like "All will be known in time" or "The crow knows best which flock it belongs to" or "Gather ye your sticks and measures for the time is nigh upon us for worldmaking." These are all things I made up that could easily fit within the nonsense this book spews out constantly. It's just empty dumb bullshit and I started to despise it.
Now, the art is incredible, and the book was a breeze to read. There are some cool crossovers with the Marvel universe in here, and the stuff that is actually developed and understandable is pretty out there and cool. But, for the most part, this book is nothing. It is nothing wrapped up in a very pretty package. Oh, and it doesn't even end. There was another series after this that I guess wrapped it up, but it was never collected for some reason. So, not only is this bad, it's not even all of it. So, just avoid this. It sucks.
I mean, no one in this book ever goes "Hold up. Explain yourself." Shit is just CRAZY. The character we are meant to relate to is never developed. We only know he is some sort of everyman who has some sort of power and was brought into the fold for some sort of reason that no one ever explains. And despite the fact that all of this crazy SHIELD stuff is just as new and crazy to him as it is to us, he never goes "HEY WHAT NOW?!" He just sits there content with answers like "All will be known in time" or "The crow knows best which flock it belongs to" or "Gather ye your sticks and measures for the time is nigh upon us for worldmaking." These are all things I made up that could easily fit within the nonsense this book spews out constantly. It's just empty dumb bullshit and I started to despise it.
Now, the art is incredible, and the book was a breeze to read. There are some cool crossovers with the Marvel universe in here, and the stuff that is actually developed and understandable is pretty out there and cool. But, for the most part, this book is nothing. It is nothing wrapped up in a very pretty package. Oh, and it doesn't even end. There was another series after this that I guess wrapped it up, but it was never collected for some reason. So, not only is this bad, it's not even all of it. So, just avoid this. It sucks.
April 1, 2019
The Marvel Universe is populated by truly exceptional characters. From the Avengers to the X-Men, from the Fantastic Four to Daredevil and Spider-Man, the stories set in that shared universe have captured the imagination of readers everywhere. But what if there was more to the Marvel Universe? Something we could not even imagine?
When this book was first released, Jonathan Hickman (The Nightly News, Pax Romana) was one of the newest voices in comics and he clearly had some brilliant ideas he wanted to share with us: Take the idea of a hidden history (like The Planetary Omnibus) and the idea of a group made up of famous historical figures (like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1, but actual people instead of fictional characters of literary works), toss in Marvel Universe tropes like Galactus the Devourer of Worlds, Celestials, S.H.I.E.L.D., Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards, and what you get are the ingredients for one of the most inspired stories to have come along in a while.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.: Architects of Forever" chronicles the beginnings of the world-spanning agency charged with the protection of our planet. Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, (the list goes on)... they're all here. That this book is so full of new ideas and concepts is in itself a great thing. This book was to be only the first volume of a multi-volume saga. Too bad there never was a volume 2, I would've liked to know where this was headed.
When this book was first released, Jonathan Hickman (The Nightly News, Pax Romana) was one of the newest voices in comics and he clearly had some brilliant ideas he wanted to share with us: Take the idea of a hidden history (like The Planetary Omnibus) and the idea of a group made up of famous historical figures (like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1, but actual people instead of fictional characters of literary works), toss in Marvel Universe tropes like Galactus the Devourer of Worlds, Celestials, S.H.I.E.L.D., Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards, and what you get are the ingredients for one of the most inspired stories to have come along in a while.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.: Architects of Forever" chronicles the beginnings of the world-spanning agency charged with the protection of our planet. Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, (the list goes on)... they're all here. That this book is so full of new ideas and concepts is in itself a great thing. This book was to be only the first volume of a multi-volume saga. Too bad there never was a volume 2, I would've liked to know where this was headed.
August 10, 2016
I read these issues back when they came out and they are absolutely one of the craziest retcon stories that I have read! Did you know that both reed Richards and tony stark's dads were SHIELD agents? Did you know Leonardo DaVinci was Shield agent too? No? Read this. You will see seeds of future Hickman stories like infinity and New Avengers runs presented here. Absolutely gorgeous artwork too
June 9, 2021
Call it ambitious. Call it his magnum Opus.
This book hits all the right chords and is just epic in scope. We pick with a man named Leonid who comes to the Immortal City in the Brotherhood of Shield and there he learns of his fate and discovers Issac newton whose leading it and from there we learn of this shield and how its been around longer than we believed like quelling Galactus, Brood and Celestials way before and then in present two factions led by Newton and Da Vinci and they going to war and how he factors into it and along the wat he meets two important figures: Forever man and the Astrologer. Meanwhile The Night machine his father vs Richards and Stark.
This volume changes the history of Marvel universe and the charts and all just show how long SHIELD has been around for and its good to see plus the way the art is just gives you a sense of gratitude to read this and some panels and the writings are like Poneglyphs. Just wow and Hickman connecting it all in the Marvel universe going as far back as birth of celestials to end of time with Kang. This volume is certainly a must read to see expansive and epic storytelling.
This book hits all the right chords and is just epic in scope. We pick with a man named Leonid who comes to the Immortal City in the Brotherhood of Shield and there he learns of his fate and discovers Issac newton whose leading it and from there we learn of this shield and how its been around longer than we believed like quelling Galactus, Brood and Celestials way before and then in present two factions led by Newton and Da Vinci and they going to war and how he factors into it and along the wat he meets two important figures: Forever man and the Astrologer. Meanwhile The Night machine his father vs Richards and Stark.
This volume changes the history of Marvel universe and the charts and all just show how long SHIELD has been around for and its good to see plus the way the art is just gives you a sense of gratitude to read this and some panels and the writings are like Poneglyphs. Just wow and Hickman connecting it all in the Marvel universe going as far back as birth of celestials to end of time with Kang. This volume is certainly a must read to see expansive and epic storytelling.
February 15, 2013
Jonathan Hickman takes SHIELD down the “Da Vinci Code” route where we discover SHIELD has been a millenia-old organisation tasked with protecting the world from cosmic danger. The members include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Nostradamus, Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, Zhang Heng, and bringing in the Marvel element, Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards (fathers of Tony Stark/Iron Man and Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic).
The story is about a split within SHIELD with Leonardo da Vinci leading one side and Isaac Newton on the other (you’ll just have to accept that these dudes don’t die or age despite the story taking place in the 1950s). Da Vinci believes that humans have no limits, that no possibility is beyond their reach and that they are masters of their own destiny; Newton believes men are exactly who we are meant to be, that we should accept our fate, and find enlightenment in embracing it. Leonid is a young man who seems to be a central element in this battle and could be the one to unite them and show them a third way.
One thing I’ve learned having read a number of Hickman’s books is that he doesn’t do small storylines. “Architects of Forever” is massive in scope and it’s quite common for the story to leap forward in time 600,000 years, then back to ancient times, to the early modern period, and then to the 1950s. The problem with the story jumping around all the time is that the book can seem untethered and the story is quite difficult to follow.
Which leads to the problem of Marvel comics where all storylines are expected to lead to a big fight at the end. In a book containing some of the most extraordinary minds that ever lived, isn’t it a bit contrived that the first book would conclude in a mundane fight sequence? If these people are so enlightened, wouldn’t they see the futility of violence and bypass it altogether? But of course this is a Marvel comic so it’s expected.
Hickman’s biggest weakness as a writer is creating real characters. All of the characters in the book are basically ciphers. He doesn’t spend time building them up he just throws them into the mix and moves on. Consequently it’s hard to empathise with anyone and care about any of the characters and their personal quests.
Like all Hickman books, the high concepts in “Architects of Forever” take precedence over things like character and plot, but it doesn’t make this a boring read. The re-imagining of these characters is incredible and I thought it was a great idea to take these great thinkers who have attained god-like status in our culture and make them appear like gods with a dash of superhero thrown in.
There are some excellent set pieces held together with some amazing art from Dustin Weaver. Da Vinci flying into space and Nostradamus looking into the future are all beautifully drawn, as are all of the characters and backgrounds, particularly the Immortal City. And there is a lot of action going on with Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards chasing Nikola Tesla through time and Leonid discovering SHIELD’s past with the help of da Vinci and Newton.
I enjoyed reading whatever was going on in the page right then despite not really understanding the conflict at the heart of the book or what it was really about. It’s fun and highly stylish, action-packed, and contains superb art throughout. My advice in reading this would be to let it wash over you and you’ll get more from the book rather than looking at the detail. In fact, that would be my advice in reading anything by Jonathan Hickman. “Architects of Forever” is bold storytelling on an enormous canvas and we definitely need writers like Hickman to set out storylines like this for a new generation of Marvel readers and show them the wonder and legacy of the cosmic days of Marvel that Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko once created - can’t wait for Volume 2!
The story is about a split within SHIELD with Leonardo da Vinci leading one side and Isaac Newton on the other (you’ll just have to accept that these dudes don’t die or age despite the story taking place in the 1950s). Da Vinci believes that humans have no limits, that no possibility is beyond their reach and that they are masters of their own destiny; Newton believes men are exactly who we are meant to be, that we should accept our fate, and find enlightenment in embracing it. Leonid is a young man who seems to be a central element in this battle and could be the one to unite them and show them a third way.
One thing I’ve learned having read a number of Hickman’s books is that he doesn’t do small storylines. “Architects of Forever” is massive in scope and it’s quite common for the story to leap forward in time 600,000 years, then back to ancient times, to the early modern period, and then to the 1950s. The problem with the story jumping around all the time is that the book can seem untethered and the story is quite difficult to follow.
Which leads to the problem of Marvel comics where all storylines are expected to lead to a big fight at the end. In a book containing some of the most extraordinary minds that ever lived, isn’t it a bit contrived that the first book would conclude in a mundane fight sequence? If these people are so enlightened, wouldn’t they see the futility of violence and bypass it altogether? But of course this is a Marvel comic so it’s expected.
Hickman’s biggest weakness as a writer is creating real characters. All of the characters in the book are basically ciphers. He doesn’t spend time building them up he just throws them into the mix and moves on. Consequently it’s hard to empathise with anyone and care about any of the characters and their personal quests.
Like all Hickman books, the high concepts in “Architects of Forever” take precedence over things like character and plot, but it doesn’t make this a boring read. The re-imagining of these characters is incredible and I thought it was a great idea to take these great thinkers who have attained god-like status in our culture and make them appear like gods with a dash of superhero thrown in.
There are some excellent set pieces held together with some amazing art from Dustin Weaver. Da Vinci flying into space and Nostradamus looking into the future are all beautifully drawn, as are all of the characters and backgrounds, particularly the Immortal City. And there is a lot of action going on with Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards chasing Nikola Tesla through time and Leonid discovering SHIELD’s past with the help of da Vinci and Newton.
I enjoyed reading whatever was going on in the page right then despite not really understanding the conflict at the heart of the book or what it was really about. It’s fun and highly stylish, action-packed, and contains superb art throughout. My advice in reading this would be to let it wash over you and you’ll get more from the book rather than looking at the detail. In fact, that would be my advice in reading anything by Jonathan Hickman. “Architects of Forever” is bold storytelling on an enormous canvas and we definitely need writers like Hickman to set out storylines like this for a new generation of Marvel readers and show them the wonder and legacy of the cosmic days of Marvel that Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko once created - can’t wait for Volume 2!
June 28, 2018
I have a lot of love for this book because it's what lead me to discovering Jonathan Hickman. And who doesn't want a book about Da Vinci, Newton, Tesla, michelangelo, Nathanial Richards and Howard Stark and the a renaissance Marvel period?
September 9, 2011
Fantastic ideas incorporated into this series. No one is investing more into re-imagining the Marvel Universe's already well-established history, and boy is Hickman pouring real effort into this and the Secret Warriors. What with all the multiple-titles-per-month writing going on in Marvel these days, it's a rare treat to get someone who sits down and thinks up more than appears on the page.
Weaver's gorgeous artwork lavishly renders each panel, and he does some Big Scenery well.
This book for me demanded a careful read and a number of flips back and forth to make sense of all the details. Some may say this isn't a good story or that they didn't like it; for me this is exactly the kind of work I've been looking for, and I enjoyed the challenge, the surprises and the sheer force of imagination that this book brought to me. I borrowed this book from the library but I'm going out to buy it now, and I'll put the next book on my wish list too. This deserves a place of honor among my most prized graphic novels, and I'll happily re-read it just for the "better than petty men" inspiration.
Weaver's gorgeous artwork lavishly renders each panel, and he does some Big Scenery well.
This book for me demanded a careful read and a number of flips back and forth to make sense of all the details. Some may say this isn't a good story or that they didn't like it; for me this is exactly the kind of work I've been looking for, and I enjoyed the challenge, the surprises and the sheer force of imagination that this book brought to me. I borrowed this book from the library but I'm going out to buy it now, and I'll put the next book on my wish list too. This deserves a place of honor among my most prized graphic novels, and I'll happily re-read it just for the "better than petty men" inspiration.
January 29, 2021
En los últimos días he terminado de leer la etapa de Jonathan Hickman al frente de Los Cuatro Fantásticos, ya he ido subiendo las reseñas, pero la Primera Familia no fue la primera colección de Marvel en la que el guionista participó, ni la primera en la que empezó su larga historia río que iría atravesando todas y cada una de las colecciones en las que fue participando hasta desembocar en ese mar arrasador que fue Secret War, para bien o para mal, que todo depende. Hickman entró en Marvel acompañando a Brian Michael Bendis para hacerse cargo de Guerreros Secretos, una colección surgida a raíz de Secret Invasion, en la que Nick Furia reunía a un equipo de nuevos héroes que tenían que hacer frente a un mundo dominado por Norman Osborn y cuyas tramas se hundían en el espionaje, las agencias secretas, etc. Y su trabajo en Guerreros Secretos hizo que algunos mandamases se fijaran en él, lo que le permitió desarrollar el proyecto del que hoy vamos a hablar: SHIELD. Y al más puro estilo de los relanzamientos que habían tenido lugar en DC con la línea Vértigo en la que se retomaron antiguos conceptos y se renovaron por completo (como Sandman, por ejemplo), Hickman toma el nombre de SHIELD pero no se queda con la agencia que estamos acostumbrados a ver en el Universo Marvel, si no que da un paso más, deja a un lado a Furia y a los habituales secundarios que le orbitan en el mundo SHIELD y crea toda una nueva mitología alrededor del concepto del Escudo, y lo hace planteando una historia alternativa del Universo Marvel que desafía la cronología habitual (en la que todo lo extraño que llega a la Tierra lo hace después de la aparición de los Cuatro Fantásticos), y hace un ejercicio de retrocontinuidad que nos presente a los egipcios luchando contra el Nido o a Galactus apareciendo en la Roma renacentista. Personajes del calibre de Imhotep, Galileo, Tesla o Nostradamus se van a mezclar en esta historia que nos va a hablar del origen del conflicto entre las dos ramas de esta nueva visión del Escudo, una dirigida por Leonardo DaVinci y una más oscura liderada por el traicionero Isaac Newton. Con dos clásicos del Universo Marvel como Howard Stark y Nathaniel Richards convertidos en los Starsky y Hutch de la trama, vamos a acompañar al joven Leonyd, objeto de la disputa de Newton y DaVinci.
Probablemente la historia sea mejorable, quizá este primer arco es poco más que un planteamiento, lo dicho antes, un ejercicio de retrocontinuidad venido a más y muy bien llevado, pero la verdad es que el concepto que ha trabajado Hickman me encanta, y además, los lápices de Dustin Weaver y lo que este señor hace con la luz, son tan espectaculares... que se merece el cinco.
Probablemente la historia sea mejorable, quizá este primer arco es poco más que un planteamiento, lo dicho antes, un ejercicio de retrocontinuidad venido a más y muy bien llevado, pero la verdad es que el concepto que ha trabajado Hickman me encanta, y además, los lápices de Dustin Weaver y lo que este señor hace con la luz, son tan espectaculares... que se merece el cinco.
October 4, 2018
Love the concept, a sort of League of Extraordinary Gentleman but with historic men of science. I felt the "origin of SHIELD" is a bit loose, and doesn't really tie into the Marvel Universe but in only a couple small ways. There's a lot thrown at the reader in this volume, some of which won't really make sense even after reading the second part.
Weaver's art is fantastic with intricate, and imaginative designs. Love how Tesla looks and will pay good money for a statue of him.
Weaver's art is fantastic with intricate, and imaginative designs. Love how Tesla looks and will pay good money for a statue of him.
June 12, 2021
High concepts, low understandability. Seems like early Hickman hadn’t mastered making his big ideas comprehensible. In recent Hickman books I’ve had no problem following along with his stories. Here? Not the case. A bunch of people from the past, Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Nostradamus etc all play a part in some big thing that I don’t know what it was. 🤷🏾♂️ We will see if it all comes together in the next volume but I doubt it.
June 27, 2018
Collects S.H.I.E.L.D. issues #1-6
I originally read this volume on May 18th, 2011 (when I was still in the early stages of my adult comic reading). Having just read it again, with a much greater knowledge of Marvel's distant (and modern) history, I appreciated it even more. In fact, my original rating, was only a 4-star rating, but today it was definitely a 5-star read. I'll start by posting my original review, and then follow that up with some current thoughts.
Here is my original review from 2011:
The introduction of Marvel versions of real-life historical characters was entertaining, with some of the character choices even being surprising. While I enjoyed the way in which the story was told across several timelines, the plot became slightly confusing at times in regards to what exactly was happening. The artwork was fantastic, and overall, I would say this is a fun, interesting read.
Here is my review from 2016:
I still agree that the artwork was really great, but I disagree with "Past Me" in that the story was confusing. I was able to follow everything very easily this time around. Knowing things about characters like Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards definitely helped me in understanding some plot points. Also, the first time I read this, I didn't know what a Celestial was in the Marvel Universe, so that knowledge gave certain scenes more significance. Lastly, reading Hickman's complete "Fantastic Four" run gave me an understanding and appreciate for his epic story-telling. There are a ton of interesting plot ideas and new twists on characters in these pages. Since this series was cancelled years ago, I imagine some of the ideas that Hickman had for it were eventually used in his creator-owned books like "Manhattan Projects" and "East of West." I hate that this series was cancelled so soon. I know that there are some additional issues released, but it wasn't enough for Marvel to put together into a collection (probably because the story wasn't completed). I have read online that Hickman and Marvel still plan to bring a finish to the storyline, but I don't know when that will actually happen.
My favorite comic book series is "Morning Glories" by Image Comics. Even though the stories for it and Hickman's "S.H.I.E.L.D." are completely different, this book had some strong "Morning Glories" vibes to it.
NEW REVIEW - JUNE 24TH, 2018:
This is a confusing, yet rewarding read. Kind of like watching "Twin Peaks." I like this book, and would definitely put the series in my Top 10 Favorites of All-Time. After years of waiting for the final two issues to be released, I now own them, so I wanted to re-read this before experiencing the end of the story.
I originally read this volume on May 18th, 2011 (when I was still in the early stages of my adult comic reading). Having just read it again, with a much greater knowledge of Marvel's distant (and modern) history, I appreciated it even more. In fact, my original rating, was only a 4-star rating, but today it was definitely a 5-star read. I'll start by posting my original review, and then follow that up with some current thoughts.
Here is my original review from 2011:
The introduction of Marvel versions of real-life historical characters was entertaining, with some of the character choices even being surprising. While I enjoyed the way in which the story was told across several timelines, the plot became slightly confusing at times in regards to what exactly was happening. The artwork was fantastic, and overall, I would say this is a fun, interesting read.
Here is my review from 2016:
I still agree that the artwork was really great, but I disagree with "Past Me" in that the story was confusing. I was able to follow everything very easily this time around. Knowing things about characters like Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards definitely helped me in understanding some plot points. Also, the first time I read this, I didn't know what a Celestial was in the Marvel Universe, so that knowledge gave certain scenes more significance. Lastly, reading Hickman's complete "Fantastic Four" run gave me an understanding and appreciate for his epic story-telling. There are a ton of interesting plot ideas and new twists on characters in these pages. Since this series was cancelled years ago, I imagine some of the ideas that Hickman had for it were eventually used in his creator-owned books like "Manhattan Projects" and "East of West." I hate that this series was cancelled so soon. I know that there are some additional issues released, but it wasn't enough for Marvel to put together into a collection (probably because the story wasn't completed). I have read online that Hickman and Marvel still plan to bring a finish to the storyline, but I don't know when that will actually happen.
My favorite comic book series is "Morning Glories" by Image Comics. Even though the stories for it and Hickman's "S.H.I.E.L.D." are completely different, this book had some strong "Morning Glories" vibes to it.
NEW REVIEW - JUNE 24TH, 2018:
This is a confusing, yet rewarding read. Kind of like watching "Twin Peaks." I like this book, and would definitely put the series in my Top 10 Favorites of All-Time. After years of waiting for the final two issues to be released, I now own them, so I wanted to re-read this before experiencing the end of the story.
April 16, 2012
Interesting, but it really is all sizzle and no steak.
Lots of big, clever ideas and no payoff or any real foundation or hook character to keep me interested.
The 'hero' ( or character I think Hickman is setting up to be the hero) has no personality and does nothing.
THe idea of a conspiracy stretching through history to protect the world from all the crazy, dangerous stuff in the marvel universe and that it's membership included guys like De Vinci is cool, but it contradicts actual marvel history just enough to distract me with the thought that this is an alternate earth.
If it is, we are never told and if it isn't then Hickman didn't do as much research as he should. Either way, it's an annoying distraction.
The art is very nice, but in the end, it feels like a bright shiny object they use to distract you from the lack of story.
SHame, as SHIELD contains all kind of secret history and funky steampunk technology that I like, but for all it's interesting ideas, the thing reads like a big prologue. You keep reading with the idea that any minute now something will happen and almost a dozen issues in, nothing really does. It all feels like it's setting up something big that you just get kind of tired of waiting for.
Good idea, weak execution.
Lots of big, clever ideas and no payoff or any real foundation or hook character to keep me interested.
The 'hero' ( or character I think Hickman is setting up to be the hero) has no personality and does nothing.
THe idea of a conspiracy stretching through history to protect the world from all the crazy, dangerous stuff in the marvel universe and that it's membership included guys like De Vinci is cool, but it contradicts actual marvel history just enough to distract me with the thought that this is an alternate earth.
If it is, we are never told and if it isn't then Hickman didn't do as much research as he should. Either way, it's an annoying distraction.
The art is very nice, but in the end, it feels like a bright shiny object they use to distract you from the lack of story.
SHame, as SHIELD contains all kind of secret history and funky steampunk technology that I like, but for all it's interesting ideas, the thing reads like a big prologue. You keep reading with the idea that any minute now something will happen and almost a dozen issues in, nothing really does. It all feels like it's setting up something big that you just get kind of tired of waiting for.
Good idea, weak execution.
May 3, 2013
This is perhaps the most high concept comic book I've read, and that can make it discouraging to read. But this is a truly interesting story that delves right to the heart of the Marvel Universe and the way we think about concepts in general.
I won't pretend that I understood everything that happened here - I'm certainly not clever enough to do so without help. But what I did get was a brilliantly thought out beginning to an adventure that will no doubt prove to be something truly special, especially when depicted with Dustin Weaver's sweeping visuals - provided Hickman ever finishes it.
I won't pretend that I understood everything that happened here - I'm certainly not clever enough to do so without help. But what I did get was a brilliantly thought out beginning to an adventure that will no doubt prove to be something truly special, especially when depicted with Dustin Weaver's sweeping visuals - provided Hickman ever finishes it.
January 8, 2020
I may just be too stupid for this.
Seriously... what the fuck is going on? I finished this and still couldn’t describe the actual narrative, except in very vague terms.
The art is cool, and there are some pretty cool little tidbits (Imhotep battling Brood alongside Moon Knight and Apocalypse, Galileo defending Rome from Galactus, celestial baby, etc... but I still don’t really get what the story here is.
Lots of time jumps. Lot’s of incomplete moments.
Maybe the next volume will make more sense?
Seriously... what the fuck is going on? I finished this and still couldn’t describe the actual narrative, except in very vague terms.
The art is cool, and there are some pretty cool little tidbits (Imhotep battling Brood alongside Moon Knight and Apocalypse, Galileo defending Rome from Galactus, celestial baby, etc... but I still don’t really get what the story here is.
Lots of time jumps. Lot’s of incomplete moments.
Maybe the next volume will make more sense?
May 1, 2019
3.5* the Artwork was amazing. Loved that aspect. The story was a very Hickman like. At times not sure what was going on. Otherwise there times where not much was going on. Still had this weird intriguing appeal.
February 19, 2024
Hickman and Weaver's SHIELD is one of those comics that either makes you feel much smarter for reading it or much dumber for not understanding what you've read! Having read a fair bit of Hickman at this point, I knew what I was risking and I loved every page of it. The story is mind effy in a different way than your Morrison-style, although I know the bald one is a big influence on Hickman. The art and graphic design is fun and esoteric, but never gets to the point where you're not sure what you're reading or looking at. I really enjoy the merger of historical figures with Marvel patriarchs. I look forward to reading the next trade and I'm curious how this ties into the SHIELD of the silver-age and beyond, if at all.
Read via Marvel Unlimited.
Read via Marvel Unlimited.
October 28, 2019
Stunning artwork by Weaver, but Hickman is in full self-indulgence mode here. It’s like reading the epilogue to a decades-long epic without having read the epic itself. Or even worse, it’s like a story told in footnotes—like an illustrated and incomprehensibly condensed version of Tolkien’s Silmarillion without the Lord of the Rings to put it into context.
Nothing and no one in the book is very developed because Hickman insists on having far too many parallel plot threads and timelines going at once. Yes, there is a “story” here if you’re willing to work for it, but the pay-off isn’t great enough to justify the mental energy.
Nothing and no one in the book is very developed because Hickman insists on having far too many parallel plot threads and timelines going at once. Yes, there is a “story” here if you’re willing to work for it, but the pay-off isn’t great enough to justify the mental energy.
October 15, 2019
The secret history of the Marvel Universe. This is an amazing book for how it effortlessly melds together traditional Marvel concepts with a story of the secret, Masonic lives of Earth's greatest artists and scientists. It circles around itself, revealing mysteries and continuing to revamp the foundations of a world we thought we knew.
It's biggest problem at the time was that it was eternally unfinished ... but the second volume is finally out, so onward!
It's biggest problem at the time was that it was eternally unfinished ... but the second volume is finally out, so onward!
January 27, 2025
Issues #1-6
rules actually! goofy, strange, cerebral, and very hickman in a way i am just head over heels for. not a very traditional work but a pretty good one if you ask me. that said it is not for everyone. a lot of folks will not take to this will but i dig it whatever go hickman
rules actually! goofy, strange, cerebral, and very hickman in a way i am just head over heels for. not a very traditional work but a pretty good one if you ask me. that said it is not for everyone. a lot of folks will not take to this will but i dig it whatever go hickman
April 10, 2018
This book shows why Jonathan Hickman is one of my favorite writers. He's not afraid to take a known concept in the Marvel Universe (SHIELD) and inject an ambitious backstory into the organization that goes back centuries. Heck, almost to the dawn of man. Hickman lets loose in Fantastic Four, but this is nothing compared to what's introduced in SHIELD: a baby Celestial, fake versions of Earth to fool Galactus, a time travelling Leo Da Vinci... and a lot more I won't spoil here. The concept works though because it's not a huge leap to see genius minds like Newton or Da Vinci as Reed Richards avant la lettre. You have to go along with the craziness Hickman throws at you, even though it's likely you won't (and can't) understand everything. It is a gift to see Hickman's unbridled imagination and Dustin Weaver's terrific art. With every page I was reminded how great comics can be if the writing and art are a perfect fit.
The only downside is that Hickman went a little too wild and introduces concepts and plots that are nowhere near to being finished. The final issue ends on a cruel cliffhanger as well... which once again leaves you with more questions. The battle between future Da Vinci and Newton - yes, it's this kind of book - also isn't resolved.
I hope more becomes clear in the second volume, which was incomplete but we're getting the final issues later this year. That's great because it would be a shame to never see this series finished.
The only downside is that Hickman went a little too wild and introduces concepts and plots that are nowhere near to being finished. The final issue ends on a cruel cliffhanger as well... which once again leaves you with more questions. The battle between future Da Vinci and Newton - yes, it's this kind of book - also isn't resolved.
I hope more becomes clear in the second volume, which was incomplete but we're getting the final issues later this year. That's great because it would be a shame to never see this series finished.
October 24, 2018
Second physical book from Jonathan Hickman (writer) that I bought. Still, this tale does not push the happy button for me. I like the art though. I can see the brilliant idea of making the S.H.I.E.L.D. larger than life itself by building its mythos way before Jesus Christ. But I cannot see the realism here; maybe, because I am used to seeing large secret organization with more bad zeitgeist than good. And the concept of using real world geniuses throughout history depending earth from other-worldly threats while humanity continues to punish itself with wars generation after generation. Lame. I hope this saga of the SHIELD organization can be changed by future revision if that is even possible. This is only the first book of the Jonathan Hickman idea to expand the SHIELD mythos; I have seen here at goodreads that it was continued or concluded to a second book. I will definitely think twice if I will buy the second book even if it is on sale or discount. I gave this first volume a one star rating because for me it has nice art but lame story and definitely not a SHIELD canon.
July 25, 2014
Every time I read a book by Jonathan Hickman my brain hurts. I turn the last page, close the book, and try to figure out what I just read.
That being said, this is just a fascinating concept. Combines steampunk, history, and superheroes. I didn't fully understand half of Hickman's concepts, like the Human Machine and the Five-Fold Understanding, but they felt big and weighty and made me feel like this was a book to reread and think about and try to understand better.
I really wish volume 2 had been completed so I could immediately jump into that. Hickman always lays out these long term plots, and I'm sure part of the reason I'm struggling to understand is because there are answers to come in later volumes. Rumors on the Internet indicate that he's working on the next issue right now, although I worry about whether it will be published after such a long gap. I hope it does, because I will be very interested to read more.
That being said, this is just a fascinating concept. Combines steampunk, history, and superheroes. I didn't fully understand half of Hickman's concepts, like the Human Machine and the Five-Fold Understanding, but they felt big and weighty and made me feel like this was a book to reread and think about and try to understand better.
I really wish volume 2 had been completed so I could immediately jump into that. Hickman always lays out these long term plots, and I'm sure part of the reason I'm struggling to understand is because there are answers to come in later volumes. Rumors on the Internet indicate that he's working on the next issue right now, although I worry about whether it will be published after such a long gap. I hope it does, because I will be very interested to read more.
September 21, 2013
This was a whole lot better than trying to read the individual issues as they came out on their uncertain schedule. Now, since things are properly sequenced, the story makes a lot more sense. And it's a lot more interesting, too. Almost seems like a dry run for Hickman's work on The Manhattan Projects--the same mad scientists, historical figures, etc. This S.H.I.E.L.D. is a far cry from the one headed by Nick Fury--it's more of an Illuminati sort of group, who wield superscience and even what seems like magic, in defense of our world. Fury's story was always more about espionage and spies, etc. Truly great artwork throughout by Dustin Weaver.
May 15, 2014
A fun story that expands upon the origins of SHIELD in the Marvel Universe, taking it all the way back into ancient Egyptian times. It feels very similar to the Assassins/Templars stuff in the Assassin's Creed games, but in a good way. A warning though: this volume ends on a HUGE cliffhanger and the rest of the series has yet to be released in any format.
July 28, 2011
S.h.i.e.l.d.'s secret esoteric pre-history, brilliantly dreamed up by Hickman and lavishly rendered by the no less brilliant artist Dustin Weaver. Had kind of a hint of a weird "Da Vinci Code" vibe to it, but was much fun none the less. More wondrous than thrilling, this is a fairly original read.
August 7, 2015
This was pretty silly, but then I don't usually read superhero stuff. So I guess it was fun enough to be okay.
It cracks me up that Isaac Newton is always a bad guy. Grrr, jerkface Isaac Newton!!
(Also, needs more Leibniz. How come HE wasn't Newton's adversary? Too obvious?)
It cracks me up that Isaac Newton is always a bad guy. Grrr, jerkface Isaac Newton!!
(Also, needs more Leibniz. How come HE wasn't Newton's adversary? Too obvious?)
April 28, 2020
Fascinating revamp/retcon of Marvel Universal history with a serious retooling on the hows and whys of Renaissance artistic and scientific figures.
July 5, 2013
What an entirely puzzling book. I think I liked it, but it'll take another read to really say.
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