Marvel: 10 Crazy Rules S.H.I.E.L.D Agents Follow
Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division or more widely known as the S. H. I. E. L. D. comprises of the Marvel Universe’s most elite group of trained agents.
It was first introduced in the comic book with the Strange Tales feature “Nick Fury, Agent of S. H. I.E. L. D.”
It was more focused and largely inspired by the 1960s soy- fiction series called The Man from U.N.C.L.E, which was a catchy acronym for the world-wide law enforcement organization which originally stood for the Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division before later becoming the “Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate.” The name we know it by today originated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Of course over the years there have been various people who have lead the agency and that includes from a seriously miscast David Hasselhoff version of Nick Fury to the revived Phil Coulson with his cybernetically improved prosthetic hand.
With every new executive director or a top assassin or superhuman agent, it made look like S.H.I.E.L.D. has changed but the basic rules that govern always have remained the same.
And the main object of them is about saving the world and it always remain as the most urgent part of the agency; however there are some guidelines that must be obeyed by all agents.
Here are some crazy S.H.I.E.L.D rules that Agents have to follow.
1. All Agents Have To Obey The Director
The director is the head of the S.H.I.E.L.D. and it’s the executive director’s responsibilities to carry out the orders of the World Security Council and pass down the assignments to qualified operatives.
In the MCU, Nick Fury started his tenure and began a long reign of secrecy within the organization.
And since his reign, others have continued protecting the agency’s projects from the public and including Phil Coulson who took over post Fury’s exist.
2. Working With Superhuman Teams To Stop Global Threats
The Avengers of the MCU have always remained relatively distant from the S.H.I.E.L.D. unless they were called upon and other heroes have been more responsive particularly Captain America who was seen many times working alongside Black Window as well as other S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives.
It has already been established that Nick Fury has had a working relationship with Captain Marvel and we have already seen him working along side Spider – Man as well in the Spider – Man: Far from Home.
3. All Agents Must Operate Within Their Clearance Level
Every agent has to operate by the help of a strategically created numerical system so that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s various departments ensures that only authorized workers have access to certain classified information.
Clearance cards are given to every worker of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Apart from this, there are 3 levels of clearance in place as well as three additional levels of clearance classified as Alpha, Omega, and Tango, agents with the highest levels of power are often given the most information regarding secret projects across the organization’s various facilities.
When Phil Coulson took over, he enacted a new clearance system dubbed the “ Spectrum of Security”, which uses colors instead of numbers which is a way of assuring that no person feels they are lesser than their co-workers.
4. Operating Under The Orders Of The World Security Council
The mysterious World Security Council is an elite international organization operating above S.H.I.E.L.D.’s executive director.
It is made of the most influential figures whose identity is only known to the authorized agents and they regularly convene with the directors to speak on urgent matters over the conference calls.
However in MCU, Council became involved much more after Nick Fury’s operations following S.H.I.E.L.D.’s acquisition of the Tesseract, recommending that the agency immediately commence procedures to develop Tesseract-powered weaponry.
5. Be Alert Of Any Possible Intervention From Hydra
Hydra is a group which has sworn to a legacy of evil and debuted in 1965 and spread its influence over the world just like the multi – headed serpent.
It’s main aim is to control the world and rip off its freedom.
It’s nefarious world domination tactics began under the control of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker.
Hydra is also technologically advanced as S.H.I.E.L.D and as a result they have infiltrated the government agency and there are many members who are working as double agents.
Thus S.H.I.E.L.D agents have to remain on alert all the times.
6. As Little As Possible Property Damage
After a major catastrophic event takes place, it is of course not S.H.I.E.L.D’s job to clear it up. However it is a common courtesy to prevent as many messes as possible.
S.H.I.E.L.D did take up repairing the damages previously but it’s often the duty of Damage Control a Joint Venture between Tony Stark and the federal government to handle these matters.
7. Superhuman Agents Will Be The Back- Up
S.H.I.E.L.D’s covert tactics for taking down enemies are usually sufficient until the treat is extremely serious.
Over the decades of long history, the secret agency has joined hands with some of the Marvel Universe’s prominent superheroes to join the cause.
The seismic-powered Daisy Johnson, a.k.a. Quake, is perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most overpowered recurring superhuman in the MCU, thanks to her ability to manipulate vibrations capable of destroying planets.
8. Use Of Lethal Force Only If Necessary
S.H.I.E.L.D has a history of detaining enemies and mostly relocating them to a solitary confinement in a remote and unspecified location for further evaluation.
However these counters can be dangerous. The trained combatants are given weapons which are capable of incapacitating the enemy and in some situations call for some extreme measures in order to ensure public safety in case enemy can’t be apprehended.
This rule may seem like a no- brainer for many reasons but it’s never in the best interest of the organization to have a threatening reputation. Hence Lethal force can’t be allowed unless necessary.
9. Make Sure To Establish and Protect Facilities for Secret Projects.
In The Avengers, Loki infiltrated a top secret S.H.I.E.L.D. facility in the Mojave Desert. Entering through a wormhole caused by the Tesseract, he was able to retrieve the Infinity Stone, using his scepter to disrupt one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most highly guarded research programs.
Later project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., the operation approved by S.H.I.E.L.D. to research the Tesseract, is one of many projects which have appeared in the MCU.
10. Always Have A Plan B
In an agency as heavily guarded as S.H.I.E.L.D, distrust is built into the organization especially where there are double agents.
And moreover, plans can always go awry and as a result, it is in the best interest of everyone to have a plan B before jumping into any mission with guns and weapons.
Even under the leadership of Nick Fury in the MCU, the Avengers Initiative began as an umbrella project to prevent global catastrophe. It was enacted as a “code red” scenario incase the world needed it, it’s since prevented the world from ending on at least two occasions, but as Fury hints at in Avengers: Infinity War, he had a back-up plan even for the Avengers, that is also including very famous Captain Marvel for the help after Thanos finger-snapped half the universe to oblivion.
