This was a random quarter been pickup. S.W.O.R.D. #4 is part of the short series that chronicles of Abigail Brand and S.W.O.R.D., a branch of S.H.I.E.L.D. that deals with extra-terrestrial affairs kinda of like Men In Black.
This issue is a little complex for someone jumping into it cold like I did, but you can get the general storyline. S.W.O.R.D. has come under the control of Henry Gyrich and Norman Osborn during the “Dark Reign” era and is about to trigger some sort of cataclysmic alien invasion. It’s up to Abigail, her boyfriend the Beast (there must be something about a blue hairy lion/monkey/man who the ladies love), Lockheed and the little used Marvel UK character Death’s head to stop them. I’m still a little shocked that Death’s Head appears in this story, but I bet that has to do a little something with British writer Kieron Gillen being involved.
So for reading a single issue in the middle of the storyline, S.W.O.R.D. looks like it has some potential. Abigail is an interesting character, and I like the randomness of the rest of the cast. They had Lockheed in it! I think I’ll have to see if I can track down the rest of this.
Ridiculously Awesome 