Complete History of Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D.! | Krakin’ Krakoa #113

Marvel’s SWORD, the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, is the intelligence equivalent of SHIELD, dealing with the extraterrestrial threats of the Marvel Cosmic scene. Whereas SHIELD has been with the Marvel Universe since the Jack and Stan Silver Age, SWORD debuted in 2004’s Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. Since that time, SWORD, and most specifically the unit’s delightfully no-nonsense commander, Abigail Brand, have been an integrated, yet sporadic part of the Marvel Universe fabric, although most commonly tied to the pages of X-Men.

Today I’ll answer:
+ What’s the history of SWORD and what are the essential reads?
+ What is SWORD’s connection to mutants and the X-Men?
+ What should we expect from Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti’s SWORD?
+ Theories and predictions for what’s to come in X-Men!

Spoilers for discussed comics may follow!

For Krakin' Krakoa X of Swords Playlist:

For the full Dawn of X reading order:

For the full X-Men comics reading order:

For all Comic Book Herald X-Men videos:

Please like & subscribe Comic Book Herald to get all the new video guides, and help the channel reach more comic book fans!

You can subscribe to the Best Comics Ever podcast here:

Find more from Comic Book Herald at:

Video music by:

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

About Comic Book Herald:
My name's Dave, and Comic Book Herald is a labor of love designed to help new, lapsed, and curious comic book readers explore and enjoy the wonderful world of comics. I've been developing reading orders, chronology guides, and detailed comics recommendations since late 2011. Comics can be confusing and intimidating; I try to help.

[dantecrottogini]

I'm glad Abigail is getting a push, she always seemed pretty cool to me

[luis_zuniga]

5:39 yes! We need that Gillen and McKelvie *Mr. Sinister* series.

[bae_ofpigz]

Hickman is so good at taking bloated overblown rosters and continuity and saying, nonono that’s what will make it great. Jus like he did w FF and Avengers.

[maryse]

How about a confrontation between Sword and Orchis? That'd be so cool!

[larryjr]

Yes! More Frenzy! As the muscle of the team, she better have some good showings!

[bakublade]

I just hope we get some shades of Ultimates from this series.

[Kiteshade]

I predict SWORD to be a kinda multi-fold plan/slash operation. On one hand it plays into Abigail’s desire to have a more tight knit and cohesive defense apparatus against extraterrestrial/cosmic threats. This time formed from members of her own kind/more like minded individuals as opposed to the avengers. On the other it’s could be 1st in a long line of preemptive measures against the space borne threats that the X-men (or at least Moira) know they’ll be facing.

[SAi]

That SWORD team line up is a bit odd but I thought the same of X-Factor and Hellions which have both been good thus far. Plus Al Ewing will make this great!

[johnnyhuego]

I love it when we get sword and gotg in the cosmic scene together. I forget what series it is they connected but it was newer

[austinmj]

I really wish Marvel gave The Ultimates another run with the same writer. But if the first half of Dawn of X into X of Swords is mystic and fantasy then the 2nd half is Cosmic and technological

[BanksyMane]

Lol, this is the 2nd vid where you called the Vescora, the "Vespora".
Just thought I'd let you know :) Great vid!

[jordanl-ru]

Would love to see Gillen write a mutant series in the Dawn of X. His Uncanny run is highly, highly underrated.

[donaldsherrod]

Hey Dave if you do another Missing Mutants video could you include the whereabouts of the missing Upstarts? Siena Blaze in particular seemed to be the next mutant to make the Omega Level cut. And would Krakoa and Leech make that same list? Sometimes I hear that title used often, but if the shoe fits..
Thanks man

[mangamegs]

I'm hoping dark beast is masquerading as my beast again.

[phillipschmidt]

S.W.O.R.D was first introduced in Alan Davis's Excalibur. Alistair's sister worked for them.

[supadee]

Yes wiz kid. Was my fav since Inferno so underated

[CinemaniacComicsCorner]

There have been a couple attempts to create a “shadow phoenix” or a counterpart to Phoenix Force by Claremont after his return to UXM and some other writers on Gambit solo book. And there was also a “Goblin Force” as a Phoenix counterpart in an alternate reality. I’ve always thought it’s a cool concept but no one has ever really been able to make it work completely.

[blacklite]

I’m excited to see Fabian Cortez, I hate him for sure but it will be cool to see everyone expect him to betray them and see how they will fake out that expectation and ultimately pay it off

[ishryal]

The Phoenix force has had a couple of 'shadows' - Bete Noir and First Fallen come to mind. Probably needs a comic arc to clear up some of these old plot lines...

[bradonbriffa]

I hope S.W.O.R.D and King in Black tie ins, at least moves us forward in the story of Hickmans X-Men, cause we're all going nuts. Makes me wonder what the original plan for X of Swords was before covid extension. Also makes me wonder is each main team title going to get its own crossover event. Like XoS is excaliburs and the Marauders get into a massive trade battle with Verndi and Wakanda leading to massive nauticle battles that would be so cool. Anyway I'm sure Ol' Al and Mr Cates will deliver I honestly prefer them to Hickman.