Despite the fact that its core cast primarily consisted of original characters, the first season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. featured a number of classic Marvel heroes and villains (and some of the deeper cut variety) in supporting and guest roles. Characters that first appeared in the comic books that later ended up on television last season included S.H.I.EL.D. agents Jasper Sitwell, John Garrett, Eric Koenig and Victoria Hand, along with such super powered characters as Deathlok, Lorelei, Franklin Hart (who later becomes Gravitron) and Donnie Gill (who later becomes Blizzard).
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Now, with the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. kicking off on Tuesday and the MCU growing in size and scope every day, it begs the question as to who else from the comics might find their way onto the small screen. Bobbi Morse, aka, Mockingbird, former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and ex-wife of the Avenger Hawkeye, and Crusher Creel, better known as the supervillain Absorbing Man, have both been confirmed for season two. But there are a number of reasons to expect even more cameos and guest appearances than just Mockingbird and Absorbing Man. With S.H.I.E.L.D. currently in tatters, perhaps the show will mine the comics for some more classic agents to support Agent Phil Coulson and his ragtag team (or undermine them as Hydra double agents). And with major mysteries surrounding the origins of Agent Skye and the S.H.I.E.L.D. turncoat Grant Ward, there’s opportunity for a few more characters from the comics to be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic/Television Universe.
Here’s a list of 10 characters (five heroes/agents and five villains) we think would fit in quite nicely in the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
5 Heroes
5. Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine
Her name might be a mouthful, but Valentina, better known as the Contessa, has been a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. lore since 1967 when she was introduced as an agent and an instant love interest for Nick Fury during Jim Steranko’s run on Strange Tales. Despite her tenure and her prominent place in Marvel Comics history, the Contessa has shockingly not found her way in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though she was a part of the 1998 made-for-TV movie, Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The character is generally revered for how she famously introduced herself to Fury and readers by administering a judo throw to Nick and tossing him head over heels (in more ways than one). She also became a key figure in comic book history when a two page spread in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 had to be redrawn by Steranko for fear that the scene was too titillating for the Comic Code Authority. In more recent history, the Countess turned to the dark side when she was revealed as the new Madme Hydra during the Secret Warriors series. However, Fury still harbors feelings for her as Secret Warriors comes to an end.
The Contessa is probably only good for a quick cameo or Easter egg, but fans of the original S.H.I.E.L.D. comics would probably be ecstatic for this long-named bombshell to make an appearance on the small screen.
4. Jimmy Woo
While Jimmy was first integrated into the S.H.I.E.L.D. universe in the late 1960s, the character has actually been a part of Marvel history since the 1950s as the hero of the espionage series Yellow Claw, which was published by Marvel predecessor Atlas Comics. Like the Contessa, Woo has shockingly not been a part of either Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or any of the Marvel Studios movies despite his longevity as a character. Considering we’ve seen other mid-level agents from the comics such as Jasper Sitwell, Eric Koenig and Victoria Hand, maybe it’s time to include Woo, who is one of Marvel’s first Asian-American heroes.
With the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization currently in shambles thanks to Hydra’s infiltration, Woo could very easily play a role as a Nick Fury loyalist who supports Agent Coulson’s team a la what Koenig’s character (played by Patton Oswalt) provided towards the end of season one.
3. Alexander Aaron
Marvel didn’t shy away from mining the cast Asgard for some of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s higher profile guest appearances last season (Lorelei and Lady Sif both appeared in the “Yes Men” episode). So why not use some characters from Marvel’s other source of mythological deities, Olympus?
Alexander Aaron is the son of Ares, and was a key member of Nick Fury’s Secret Warriors team in the late 2000s. While he’s just a young boy, Alexander has the ability to instill fear in his opposition (though some characters, like Fury, are immune to Aaron’s powers since they don’t possess fear in the first place). Given the character’s origins, roping him into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is an easy way for Marvel to incorporate other Olympus characters – all of which are a part of Avengers lore – like Ares, Hercules and Zeus.
2. Daisy Johnson
Daisy Johnson might be the most important S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to be introduced by Marvel over the past decade. Also known as Quake, the character first appeared in 2004’s Secret War series and has quickly ascended the ranks in terms of her role within the Marvel Universe. She was one of the main characters in the Secret Warriors series, acting as the leader of the Caterpillar team. She is later named director of S.H.I.E.L.D. when Nick Fury retires. Daisy is also one of only three characters in the Marvel U to possess the vaunted “Level 10” security clearance within S.H.I.E.L.D.
In addition to her lofty S.H.I.E.L.D. status, Johnson possess some incredible powers, including the ability to generate vibrations that mimic that of an earthquake. She’s also an excellent marksman and fighter. Given how critical the character has been to a number of Marvel events in recent years, it’s a bit surprising she hasn’t factored into its cinematic or television universe somehow. Perhaps if Cobie Smulders is unavailable to play Maria Hill in a given episode, Johnson’s character can be introduced as a high-ranking authority figure that will keep Coulson and his crew in line.
1. Wendell Vaughn
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans have speculated that Wendell Vaughn, better known by his superhero alias Quasar, might already be a part of Marvel’s television universe. In multiple episodes from last season, characters refer to a “Professor Vaughn.” Another popular rumor that has gained some momentum over the past few months is that Vaughn could somehow be connected to the mystery surrounding the identity of Agent Skye’s parents. Is it possible that Kyle MacLachlan, who has been confirmed as playing “Skye’s father” in season two, is a former member of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s superhuman Super-Agents squad and the owner of the cosmic-powered Quantum Bands?
In addition to Quasar’s S.H.I.E.L.D. connection, the character is also a critical player in Marvel’s Cosmic-verse, which just recently gained enormous exposure and popularity as part of this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy film. With Marvel continually preaching that “everything is connected,” incorporating a cosmic character in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. could be one way for the show to link to Guardians or any other future Marvel Cosmic properties in the works.
5 Villains
5. Crossfire
A CIA agent gone rogue, William Cross, better known as Crossfire, is an expert marksman and spy who has often been depicted as a rival to Hawkeye and Clint Barton’s comic book ex-wife Bobbi Morse (aka, Mockingbird). With Morse already being confirmed for season two of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Crossfire would be an excellent choice to play the villain du jour during Mockingbird’s episode/arc. Additionally, Crossfire has been an antagonist of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., both during the Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. series from the early-1990s and as part of the 2004 Secret War miniseries by Brian Michael Bendis and Gabriele Dell’Otto.
If the show wants to take Crossfire in a totally different direction, he could potentially work as Project Centipede’s answer to the defection of Deathlok at the end of the first season. Like Mike Peterson, Cross was badly injured in an explosion and was rebuilt with cybernetic implants. In the comics, Cross uses his physical upgrades to become a master of ultrasonic waves and brainwash his opponents, making him an even deadlier asset to Hydra than Deathlok.
4. Titania
First introduced in Marvel’s Secret Wars miniseries in the mid-1980s, Mary McPherran, aka, Titania, is the wife of Crusher Creel, who has already been confirmed to appear in season two. So why not pair these two lovebirds of destruction off for this episode and double the pleasure (and pain) for Coulson and his crew?
Even if you ignore her relationship status with the Absorbing Man, Titania can be viewed as a viable threat as one of the Marvel Universe’s strongest female characters. After having her cells augmented via radiation, she gained superhuman strength that makes her an equal to such powerhouses as the Thing and She-Hulk. She’s played a key role in a number of memorable stories, including her stint as a member of the Masters of Evil team that attempted to kill Hercules during the iconic Avengers “Under Siege” arc, and also as part of the Frightful Four alongside Wizard, Klaw and Hydro-Man during the late-1980s.
3. Scorpio
Fans of the original Jim Steranko scripted/illustrated Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably welcome the presence of Scorpio to their television sets. A super spy, terrorist and criminal, Scorpio first appears in what many consider to be the greatest Nick Fury story ever (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1). While the character’s identity is initially a mystery, he is later revealed to be Jake Fury, Nick’s brother.
Granted, this character would have probably worked better in the show’s first season when Nick wasn’t allegedly dead. Then again, Marvel has proven that a lot can change in its cinematic/television universe over the course of a season (who could have reasonably predicted how Captain America: The Winter Soldier was going to impact Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?). If Fury were to reappear publicly and if Samuel L. Jackson was willing and able, a S.H.I.E.L.D. vs. Scorpio episode/arc would likely boost ratings if promoted in advance of its airdate and would also satisfy that segment of the viewership that wants the show to mine more content from the comics.
2. Taskmaster
Based on the character’s comic book biography and skillset, Taskmaster is a character that has been linked to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for quite some time. Some fans of the show have even speculated that the character could be connected to last season’s hero-turned-villain, Agent Ward.
Taskmaster, or Tony Masters, was first introduced into the Marvel Universe by David Michelinie and George Perez in 1980 and over the years has evolved from a supervillain into a “tweener” anti-hero. In the Taskmaster 2010 miniseries by Fred Van Lente, with art by Jefte Palo, it is revealed that Masters was formerly a sleeper agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. planted by Nick Fury to gather information about a corrupt variation of the super soldier serum that was being developed by a Nazi scientist. While battling an adversary, Masters loses his memories of his S.H.I.E.L.D. service and his mission.
In terms of powers, Masters took a serum that allows him to utilize his muscle memory to absorb knowledge instantaneously. As a result, he’s skilled in various forms of combat and is an expert swordsman and marksman (a skillset that sounds very familiar to Agent Ward’s, for what it’s worth).
1. The Fixer
Paul Norbert Ebersol, the second person who has taken on the identity as “The Fixer” in the Marvel Universe, is a scientist and genius-level inventor of weapons and other technology who has been a thorn in the side of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with a number of other characters associated with the show, for years.
In his first big appearance in the comic book world, Ebersol, alongside his partner Mentallo, breaks out of prison and is hired by Hydra in its bid to take over the New York headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., even capturing Nick Fury in the process. Ebersol would eventually be revealed as the chief of Hydra’s Science Division, though he would later go on to work for a number of different criminal organizations and cartels, including the Masters of Evil (which later becomes the first iteration of the Thunderbolts).
Additionally, in one Marvel Two-in-One storyline, Ebersol is responsible for transporting the cyborg Deathlok from an alternative future, brainwashing him and setting him out to assassinate the President of the United States before he is stopped by the Fantastic Four and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Season two of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. could very easily introduce Ebersol as a behind-the-curtain force of evil providing weaponry and other technology to lower level villains, that Coulson and the team need to address. If Ebersol could somehow get his hands on Deathlok as he does in the comics, that could cause an even bigger headache for the heroes this season.
