Beauty & the Beasts.

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Steven Sanders & Craig Yeung and Jamie McKelvie & Matt Wilson

My first thought concerning the launch of Marvel’s new on-going S.W.O.R.D. series: “It’s about time.”

It’s been over a year and a half since the end of Joss Whedon & John Cassaday’s epic run on Astonishing X-Men that introduced the Sentient World Observation and Response Department and it’s mysterious leader, Abigail Brand. But it’s here now, and it’s an interesting beginning.

For the uninitiated, think of S.W.O.R.D. as a version of S.H.I.E.L.D. that’s concerned with safe-guarding Earth against extra-terrestrial affairs. It was previously run solo by Agent Brand, but after the Skrull invasion Norman Osborn has appointed Marvel’s preeminent government asshole, Henry Peter Gyrich, as co-commander. From the beginning, he and Brand display a classic hate/hate relationship. The other newest member of the organization is Dr. Henry McCoy, the X-Men’s ever-busy Beast. (And currently Brand’s boyfriend.) Astonishing readers will also recognize two other agents - the psychic alien Sydren and Kitty Pryde’s pet dragon Lockheed. The latter’s been in bad shape dealing with Kitty’s disappearance, chugging bottles of whisky like it’s going out of season. There’s also a vaguely menacing robotish dude in a Hannibal Lecter cell that Brand goes to for information. No clue about what his deal is yet, but I’ve go a feeling he’s gonna be important. So, while Brand & Beast are off dealing with her alien half-brother and the bounty hunter on his tail (and major props to Gillen using the long dormant Death’s Head), Gyrich meets with his superiors to propose his plan of rounding up and deporting all the aliens on Earth.

Gillen’s script is quite good, especially the interplay between Brand & Hank and Brand’s snide comments toward Gyrich. The art by Sanders & Yeung is a good good fit, even though Sanders’ rendition of Beast takes some getting used to. (And I’ve never been a big fan of cat-Beast anyway.) This issue also features a back-up pencilled by Gillen’s Phonogram collaborator Jamie McKelvie that involves Brand showing a disgruntled Lockheed all the measures S.W.O.R.D. has taken to rescue Kitty. It’s good, even though it bumps the price up to $3.99, although future issues will drop down to the regular cost of $2.99.

I’m going to stick with the book for the foreseeable future, as I really enjoyed the first issue and the whole concept. S.W.O.R.D. #1 rates 4 out of 5 blueberry muffins.