Commentary On The Agents Of Shield Episode 'Repairs' and The Dark Side Of The Marvel Movie Universe In Your Old School Super Hero Campaigna

After three weeks ago Asgardian fest the 'Well' we're now blasted into the dark side of the Marvel movie universe with last week's episode 'Repairs'. There is a definite vibe of 'Anti mutant' style hysteria with a rogue telekinetic if that's what she was in last week's episode? The various alien invasions have probably played merry havoc with the world and Shield for that matter.
 This is certainly not our world nor was it ever. There are cosmic events here in this Earth's history and they keep leaking their consequences down through the ages.

We know that five to ten thousand years ago, a war happened  on Earth and that the Asgardians were involved. The Dark Elves intrusion onto the Marvel movie universe was a direct result of this and the reappearance of Thor here. It also shows that the alien nature of these beings isn't always a good thing to us mere mortals. 'Repairs' got into the darker side of the movie Marvel universe. The idea of transformation as the gate way to death and not as simply the gate way to great power. 

There are aspects here of the darkness that seems to be a part of the undercurrent of the Marvel movie universe.
Rewatch 'Repairs' here and see what I mean.
Right over HERE

I think that we're seeing a bit of a dark under current  or could one say almost fascist sort of leans of Shield and its operatives? Or perhaps there are other organizations working behind the scenes and in the ranks that have very different agendas. I think that the movie going public are being set up for something. That something is Captain America Winter Soldier. 

There is probably a ton of Dark Elves artifacts lying around that Shield isn't going to get around to cleaning up. An organization like Damage Control is doing the rebuild but who takes care of the clean up of alien artifacts? Could there be another shadow organization that we've not seen handling this sort of thing or it is possible that a high level out side government contractor goes in?
   I saw Iron Man III over the Thanks Giving holiday and while I did like aspects of it. I've always been a fan of the Mandarin( you know one of those villains you love to hate) and the movie simply pissed me off. As a friend said, "I appreciate the movie for its Agents of Shield connections but otherwise. UMMM no to some of the other stuff portrayed."
      One aspect of the movie that sort of rings true is even if the hero wrecks AIM and its projects. Someone someplace is going to pickup the pieces and start right back up on the materials and its super soldier applications or if they where smart the organization would have used the cell structure and simply relocated and moved on. I think that there are a number of such organizations operating all over the world and that AIM, Hydra, and various other incarnations are going strong at this moment in the Marvel universe. Yet we've seen none of them in the Agents of Shield show. But we did get a look into some of how they operate in another Marvel movie property. I'm speaking of the new Wolverine movie. 

So whose behind the various powerhouses of the Marvel movie universe? I think that there are a number of so called 'super villains' that simply set up organizations,  advance capital, and see that the fruits of their labor are released onto the world as the chaos ensues. Remember in the Marvel 616 comic book official incarnation there have always been super villains working together. The problem with any of this stuff is the time scale. Some folks don't grow old and die, others seem to be immortal, others are gods, etc. Death is never permanent in the Marvel universe and never has been. Could it be that the lines of reality only apply to lesser beings. That there is a giant chess game going on that only a madman can see? Are the chess pieces put into play by the so called Illuminati of the movie Marvel universe?
Using The Marvel  Illuminati In Your Old School Super Hero Campaigns

According To Wiki : 

The Illuminati are a group of comic book superheroes who joined forces and secretly work behind the scenes in Marvel Comics' main shared universe.

They each represent a certain something that is very special to the Marvel Universe:

• Namor is a ruler of the oceans and represents the antihero mindset.
• Tony Stark represents the Avenger type of hero, one who understands and appreciates that a hero can work with the government, rather than outside of it. He also represents the common man, as he possesses no natural superhuman abilities.
• Reed Richards represents the science-based part of the superhero community.
• Black Bolt represents the Inhumans, who are an important part of Marvel history and play an important part in events that have not yet come to pass. He also represents a ruler/king archetype, one that has also been filled by Namor.
• Doctor Stephen Strange speaks for the mystical/non-scientific side of the Marvel universe.
• Professor Charles Xavier is there on behalf of the mutant community.
  They all bring with them a unique viewpoint and perspective that isn’t shared by the others.
   I think that behind the scenes these folks have been manipulating the entire battle field to their advantage for centuries.
  You can get more right over HERE
  As for gaming materials you've already got them if you've got the Marvel Super Heroes game or simply go HERE 
  I've been watching the Black List from NBC starring James Spader and over the course of the Thanks Giving Holiday certain facts dawn on me. 

• The super spy game is still on going and Wall Street has been added to the mix. 
• The days of the Super Spies are still on going but we need to understand that these folks are now free lance operatives. 
• The gadgets and characters are not so much the focus as the storyline as well as surroundings are. 
• The Black List is Marvel Super Heroes grown up.
   This isn't the first time that the lines between super agents and balls to the walls action have been around. Believe it or not I've run a very successful Marvel Supers game using a very different director Nick Fury then the one we've seen back in the 90's. 
  
  
  
  You see Charlton Heston  in " True Lies " was my go to Nick Fury back in 1994 when the emergence of the Super Humans began when Marvel did one of their famous reboots. 

Omega Sector has been a division of Shield since '95 in my Marvel Super Heroes games and handles many of the so called "Omega Level Threats."

You can find out more about Omega Sector right over HERE

 Repairs basically showed the blow back logic of the various invasions and snfus of the recent events of Thor Black World and The Avengers movies. Yet the loss of life and resulting weirdness are only now beginning to manifest (I hope). 

Reconciling Agents Of Shield and Thor Dark World For Your Old School Super Hero Campaigns Part II

Tonight's Agent's of Shield episode 'The Well' stood on its own but its roots ran very deep indeed all the way back to the first Thor movie.
There were some scenes in tonight's episode that tied into the film Thor The Dark World but instead reached into several areas of the the first Thor movie.

The Well on its own ties into itself and the greater Marvel Movie universe. This wasn't so much an episode about Thor Dark World as it was an episode about the Asgardians and their interaction with the Movie universe. 

The Well doesn't play shadow games instead it digs deep into the Marvel Asgardian Mythology and it does it with one of my all time favorite character actors. 

 Deep in the Norwegian woods, a pair of bitter protesters find a silver staff buried in a tree. Etched with Asgardian runes, this alien artifact gives the hikers super strength and legendary "berserk" levels of rage. The end result is an angry 'Heavy Metal The movie' style army rampaging through the streets of Oslo. I'd like to know who or what gave them the knowledge of the whereabouts of this staff. I have my suspicions. 

Coulson and crew visit Professor Randolph (the great Peter MacNicol), an expert in Asgardian mythology. He claims that the fragment found in the woods may be a piece of the power source of legendary Asgardian Warriors, the Berzerkers.
The implication here is that for some reason the Asgardians not only visited Earth long ago maybe 2,000 to 5,000 but there was a huge conflict on Earth. 
After this conflict was over many of the weapons, artifacts, and technology might have stayed behind. The reappearance of the Asgardians might have awakened not only these items but some other things that might have been left behind. 
The gaming possibilities of this episode are far and wide reaching. We've got alien gods walking among mortals, technology of god like proportions, and a metric ton of gaming tie ins here.
The implications here for doing a Marvel Super Hero game are pretty staggering.
The fact that there was a more mysterious past tied to some ancient war and Earth might have been more then a mere battle ground but ground zero in the Marvel universe has epic and legendary adventure tie ins. Could this be the first hints of a possible Celestial like race or entities that have providence in the Marvel Movie universe. We've seen Thanos. So who is too say. 

The staff it turns out isn't some artifact ala The Dungeon Master's Guide first edition or anything but a rank and file tech item belonging to the Asgardians. 

Warning if your looking for the Norse Mythology here. Forget it. You'd be better digging through Deities and Demigods from first edition AD&D. 

If your looking for Marvel Asgardian action and how it can tie into a weird 'real' world like setting this might be it. The Marvel Super Heroes game had a wide reaching tie in with this sort of thing. 

The Well so far is one of my favorite episodes. If all of the future episodes kept this sort of pace, energy, and attitude. Well they might have a chance to keep folks watching.
 Many of the plot holes in this episode could be exploited by a DM looking to create his own source of mercenaries, covert Asgardian operatives, possible clean up crew for the Dark Elves, and much, much, more.
The ideas laid out here include what possible other artifacts have been left behind, what the hell were the Asgardians fighting 2,000 to 5,000 years ago, are there more artifacts waiting to be discovered(could there be a globe trotting Indianna Jones style modern adventure campaign in the wings), what or who was supplying the Occupy Style villains (rubes) of tonight's adventure and are there more cells waiting out in the Marvel movie universe?
The only bit I didn't like was the quick throwing away picking on the misguided pagan villains. Its a minor point for another blog post. But its an interesting one and I didn't feel that it actually fit the episode at all but that's just me. 

Using some of the Elements of the Well 
In Your Marvel Super Heroes Game or 
Old School Supers game

 

The implications of the Asgardian and Earth realms connection in tonight's episode show just how strongly they're connected. In the Marvel Super Heroes game they're even stronger. Thunder Over Jotunheim from the basic game throws the PC's deep into the Marvel Asgardian universe and allows the PC's to deal with some of the minor 'big bads' of the Marvel Asgardian universe.
 Available right over
HERE

For many of the deep connections between the Avengers and The Asgardians, "Avengers Coast To Coast' is your go to book with a metric ton of history, stats, and interactions making stuff like tonight's Agents of Shield episode much more accessible.
Available right Over
HERE
Many of the possible implications in tonight's episode bring to mind the ME series. Starting with "Cosmos Cubed". This is where the rubber hits the pavement. This series of modules hits on the cosmic powers of the Marvel universe.
According to Wiki: Some of the universe's most powerful super heroes have been selected and assembled by the WATCHER. He sends them on a mission to a faraway planet, where they discover a secret that threatens the very universe! Cosmos Cubed is the first of a three-part series of modules that pit your favorite super heroes against the greatest forces in the universe! ~ Two booklets (32 pages and 16 pages) and a fold-out map.Get It Right
HERE
Use this one sparingly and while I have run this series of modules with other super hero games. Tonight's episode also brings to mind the trope of Ancient Aliens as gods.
The ideas of Clark's law are in spades here. There could well be many more applications.
Tonight's episode neatly side stepped the whole worshiping the gods bit and simply cast the Asgardians as aliens with very advanced technology. 

Reconciling Agents Of Shield and Thor Dark World For Your Old School Super Hero Campaigns Part I

Thor Dark World is a fantastic film and has made a startling impact at the box office as well as changing the Movie Marvel universe perhaps forever. We got another weird alien invasion this time from the Dark Elves of Marvel Movie legend and this week on Agents of Shield we're going to see some of the blow back or perhaps fall out from the movie.
The upcoming episode 'The Well' is supposed to link both the show and the movie. 

I believe from the trailer that each and every time another invasion of the 'Earth Realm' happens it seems to activate some of the ancient relics that the Asgardians left behind as 'Ancient Aliens'.
The Agents of Shield are going to have a hell of a time dealing with some of this weird technology of the Asgardians. Shield doesn't seem to have any way of keeping these invaders at bay and where the hell is Doctor Strange when you need him? Or for that matter Mister Fantastic? Nevermind.
Using this analogy and the amount of Dark Elves that invaded Earth shouldn't there also be a metric ton of ancient Elven items activating as well? 

Could this staff actually be the tip of the ice berg? Could there be some Dark Elven terrorists or operators left behind on the Marvel Earth?  Could this be an opportunity for a group of Super Heroes, Agents, or Mercenaries to go into action in the aftermath of Thor Dark World?
 The fact is that the Dark Elves in Marvel Comics have always gotten a bit of the short shaft but that shouldn't stop a DM from using them or the Asgardians. Let's face facts here not every single Asgardian is going to be Thor in point of fact there have been a number of lesser heroes who have appeared in the comics. Given Clark's rule is in full effect here DM's should refer back to the Marvel Comics when creating characters for this sort of campaign.
When making the Dark Elves always think magic as technology. 

Given the alien vs comic mythology analogy once again there has got to be a huge impact upon the Marvel Earth now. Technology upgrades, religious shake ups, museum break ins and exhibitions. In other words a metric ton of opportunities for a DM to exploit to get a Marvels Super Hero or any old school supers campaign off the ground. 

Given the fact that gateways between Earth and The Nine Worlds are now so supposedly thin the opportunities for Asgardian origins for your supers might be a quick trip away into the Marvel universe or at least your version of it. 

Using The Asgardians and The Nine Worlds In Your
Old School Campaign 

The Marvel Movie Nine Worlds isn't a safe or nice place and everything in that universe seems to begin and somehow end with Asgard. From Captain America to the creation of the Hulk there's an Asgard connection in there some where.
Marvel Super Heroes has a complete section generating stats out and using the comics style characters for Marvel Super Heroes. That's available right over HERE

Review and Commentary - The Agents Of Shield Episode - The Hub For Your Old School Super Heroes Campaign

Tonight's Agents of Shield Episode was action packed and edgy that gave us further character development with the various team members. It was action packed as it gets for a Disney/Marvel eight O'clock show. But while its enjoyable its damn slow.
The Hub was Skye questioning and Agents Simmons and Ward while Agent Coulson started looking into his ressurection for the three thousandth time.
Seriously its time to start doing a few reveals and starting giving less then stellar vague hints.
We were in one of the central command and control centers for Shield this week. Did the audience get anything remotely like real secrets? Nope we got more vague secrets, smoke and mirrors as well as a bunch of Disney eight o'clock violence and some gun play. 

Seriously this episode could have been real nail biting CSI inside level espionage wide board violence as it happens on the ground stuff. Naw, that's not going to  happen. Why? Because the kiddies are watching and real world violence as well as problems wrapped up with the aftermath of Thor Dark World stuff is too complex for today's kids.
Coming up next the Goldbergs.
We the audience are treated to some supposed hints, vague tie ins with the Movie Marvel Universe. When in the heck are we going to get them. Last week's F.Z.Z.T.  was about as close as we've gotten.
Even other entertainment bloggers are asking when?
Right over
HERE

Agent May is another mystery wrapped up in an enigma without a kick ass agent vibe going on but isn't time to reveal her clearance, background, and really show case just how bad ass she really is. Seriously she's had like what a total of thirty minutes of air time and tonight we get her doing Tai Chi exercises in a leotard while counseling Coulson. Seriously, could we let the asset off the chain and let her kick some ass or do something besides looking interesting with a level eight clearance.

Tonight's episode might as well be called 'Guys In Suits With Clearance'. If I were back from the dead and I was Coulson I'd be asking my superiors for real God damn answers.
Seriously Shield is right at the moment my least favorite super spy organization. Thrush and Khaos from Get Smart at least have medical and dental plans even if you were a disposable asset.
A super star team spy team that investigates X files style crap should be getting answers and damn it the audience deserves better.  

Tonight we had Coulson's opposite number who is another vague boss type within the TV Shield hierarchy. There was this whole 'Trust In The System' creeptastic vibe going throughout the entire episode like it was a Verizon corporate cheering meet. Tonight's episode felt like a Dilbert Cartoon. Christ, help me if this is what passes for comic book stuff these days.
The interior Shield's the Hub could have been any megacorporate headquarters. This is an organization which supposedly deploys multiple Hele-carriers. I've said it before and I'll say it again Disney, writers, etc. you've got thousands of characters, millions of issues, and Thor The Dark World is the number one movie in the country please get your act together. 



Using The Hub For Your Old School Super Hero Campaign


If I were playing in this series as a Marvel Super Heroes or any super hero game I would be having 'The Talk' with the DM. The what the hell are you doing talk.
Basically at this point if I was a DM I'd take my party of PC's and go rogue from Shield. Seriously any super spy organization that treats its agents this badly is not one I want to work for.
Fact is that any super spy campaign could be branched off from this series and literally have very little to do with it.

The real Shield runs throughout the entire Marvel Super Heroes game starting with the basic set and working all the way through the cosmic stuff. Setting a game in the 80's might also work. The violence, mayhem, Cold War motifs, and Ronny Ray Gun style might work better then the current Agents Of Shield.
 Here's an idea, take a classic 80's television show and add in the Marvel Super Heroes game. Wham instant campaign. The A Team as a team of mutants who escape into the Los Angles underground.

Another idea might be campaign where PC's are second stringer supers hired to deal with some of the left over problems from the Avengers and possibly Shield itself.
 One of my all time favorite adventures for this was Cat's Paw By Jeff Grubb. Yes its a basic module but its got enough to really allow players to sink into the deep end of the pond with Dept. H style stuff. It can be modified to be played with the Advanced game with a bit of work on the DM's part.
But its got everything to get a game into high 80's gear.

Get It right
HERE
 If your going to run it in the Advanced Marvel Super Heroes game your going to need
this.

 


Get it right
HERE

If the television Agents of Shield and the organization depicted in Captain America The Winter Soldier were a 'real' organizations and I had super powers. I'd be with the mutants and super villains because Shield is  like something out of White Wolf's Aberrant and Trinity. That game had a huge war between the supers and just such organizations.
"To Build A Better World Sometimes Means Tearing The Old One Down"
Robert Redford's character in Captain America The Winter Soldier Trailer 

Shield in tonight's episode "Hub" treated its agents like disposable assets and so it leaves me wondering if Shield is an organization that should be saved. 
 Right now Agents of Shield is an excuse to get together with friends, have pizza, and knock around the Marvel universe. I'm still waiting on this one. 

Agents Of Shield, Level Eight, And The Retro Agents of Shield Campaign For Your Old School Super Heroes Campaign

 

Its eleven o'clock on a Monday evening and I've been doing a bit of contemplation about Agents of Shield again.
The 'Hub' is coming up tomorrow night. 

Will the agents Wards and Fritz make it out alive and will we finally see a real villain organization or *gasp* a super villain.
Last week we had a great tie in with the first Avengers movie and now we get more background on the agents in upcoming episodes.
So we get to see Agent May's background on a future night's show Repairs.
 Here's the official synopsis for the upcoming  episode from ABC 

A MYSTERIOUS FORCE HAUNTS THE TEAM, ON ABC’S “MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.”

“Repairs” – Coulson and his team are haunted by a mysterious force that threatens to destroy them all, and only a secret from May’s past can save them, on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 (8:00-9:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons.

Guest starring are Robert Baker as Tobias, Laura Seay as Hannah, Christopher Gehrman as Taylor and. Josh Clark as Roger.

”Repairs” was written by Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon and directed by Billy Gierhart.

Right now "Thor The Dark World" is the number one movie in the entire country and this show is starting to get better. Last week's episode was pretty good and solid but I'm really starting to have some doubts about the direct that the show is taking.
 This is the damn Marvel universe and you've got thousands of characters to pull from people! Over close to forty years of history not to mention the Nick Fury Agent of Shield comic book and the Ultimates universe, along with the movie Marvel universe.
 So please wow me, I'm kinda waiting over here folks.

 The Retro Agents of Shield Campaign Idea 
The campaign I eluded to in the blog article's title is a retro Agents of Shield action packed retro sixties super spy game. The origins of which can be found on Agent Phil Coulson's collection of 'antiques' from Shield on his desk. Something of a homage to the origins of the show when in actuality they could point toward a very cool campaign. 

The pearl handled 60's needle gun owned by the original Streanko Nick Fury himself. 
Also featured in the Weapons Locker from The Marvel Super Heroes rpg game.

 The PC's are Shield Agents dealing week after week with another mutant, super villain, alien menace, post war Nazi hold over, and god knows what.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the 'Man From Uncle borrowed heavily from the super spy culture of the 60's. 

The swinging 60's could provide the PC's with more then enough to handle from the host of Marvel villains copied from the comics.
Hell in the original show we got copies of the Mole man, King Pin, and more. Imagine the PC's facing down the psychotic Weapon X himself 'The Wolverine'. 

Suddenly , the PC's being issued The Man From Uncle Specials doesn't seem so far fetched. And what about all that clean up after the supers fight the various villains? Shield was handling that way,way, before any of the other organizations.
And what about the work of Dr. Quest? Hmm, yeah there always was an element of the Marvelous about their adventures. 

 Imagine the party having to deal with Hydra, A.I.M. and Dr.Zin himself along with his spider bots or saving the Quest family from some jam or other.  Let's not mention some of the issues that the Fantastic Four brings to the table along with Stark, Thor, and the rest of the merry Marvel gang from the 60's. For real 60's and 90's paranoia add in Control to the mix!
Control comes from the Marvel mini series from 1998 call Conspiracy. Basically Control are the guys behind the who creation of the Marvel 616's super heroes and vile villains.  In the movie universe they'd be the gentlemen around Stark senior back in the 60's maintaining the handle of super soldiers program, the militarization of the mutants, and the various alien encounters over the years.
Here's where the gap between Captain America missing heroic and something else is needed. . What's needed are your characters. There is so much history that can be utilized to create a history that blends into the background of your own Marvel universe.
 Level Eight begins with the years of the early 60's and ends towards the early 80's when things in the movie Marvel universe begin to slow down. This is a campaign world of high adventure and dark forbidden happenings  foreshadowing things to come.
The 60's are really where I think that a Super Agent's campaign shines.
The stakes are higher, the Cold War is on, and there's glory to be hand against the various baddies. 

Reconciling Agents of Shield and Life Model Decoys For Your Old School Super Hero Campaign

Here's where  things might possibly get interesting in Marvel Agents of Shield And some of the alien technology that has become like the IPhone in The Marvel Universe. 

So tonight's episode of Agents of Shield F.Z.Z.T.s  has the agents in the deadly cross hairs of some sort of telekinetic menace and one of the team gets caught in the crossfire. 

Tonight we get a little deeper look into Agent Coulson who might be an LMD 

What I'm about to say may shock you. 

Life Model Decoys are alien android  technology and they've been around for a very, very, long time and are deeply connected with some of the funkier edges of the Marvel universe.
According to Wiki:

LMDs first appeared in Strange Tales #135 (August 1965), in which the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. created LMDs of agent Nick Fury to use as decoys for an attack by HYDRA.

 

Basically The LMD has some very interesting abilities: 

A Life Model Decoy (or LMD for short) is a S.H.I.E.L.D.-designed robot that takes the form of a living person thus making a recreation of that person. The owner can see through, speak through, and control everything the Life Model Decoy does. Nick Fury's Life Model Decoys are probably the most common in the Marvel Universe.

It is designed to function as an exact body double for VIPs. Their design is such that they mimic the subject's outer appearance (i.e.,fingerprints, hair, all details of the skin), speech patterns, scent, iris and retina patterns, body language, thought patterns (to fool telepaths), and any other biological indicators. Aside from any invasive procedure or strong EMP, they are indistinguishable from the original.

They can be created with super human abilities as well: 

As an android, a Life-Model Decoy possesses all of the various superhuman attributes:

• Superhuman Strength - As an android, a Life Model Decoy is super-strong and possesses strength beyond the human limit.

• Superhuman Speed - As an android, a Life-Model Decoy can run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical limits of the finest human athlete.

• Superhuman Durability - As an android, a Life-Model Decoy's construction makes him very durable.

• Superhuman Stamina - As an android, a Life-Model Decoy can exert itself well beyond the human limit.

• Superhuman Agility - As an android, a Life-Model Decoy's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.

• Quick Repair - The nanites in his body give a Life-Model Decoy a form of self-repair similar to a Healing Factor.
   
  The Zodiac Key To LMDs 
  
  
  
  Everything begins with Jake Fury. Who might you ask is Jake Fury?
  Here's the wiki short version
  
  Jacob "Jake" Fury, the brother of Nick Fury, was born in New York City. As a young man, he came to resent his brother Nick.^[1] As the original Scorpio, he operated as a spy, terrorist, and criminal. Using his secret identity as Scorpio, he first battled Nick Fury at a Las Vegas S.H.I.E.L.D. base.^[2] He again battled his brother in Manhattan, then disguised himself as Nick Fury to infiltrate the New York SHIELD base, although his real identity was then discovered by his brother.^[3] Nick Fury later went undercover as Scorpio, and took his brother's place in the Zodiac, who battled the Avengers.^[4]Disguised as Jacque LaPoint, he played a minor role in the Zodiac's attempt to kill all Manhattan residents born under the sign of Gemini (save for Zodiac's Gemini).^[5] He attempted to kidnap Kyle Richmond, and battled the Defenders.^[6] Scorpio constructed a set of android Zodiac members to serve him, in his base at Belleville, New Jersey. However, his plan was thwarted by the Defenders, and he committed suicide through self-inflicted gunshot wound in despair.^[7]
  In the final arc of the Secret Warriors series, it was revealed that Jake's death and much of his villainy was all part of a long-game plan of Nick Fury's. In 1961, Jake Fury was duplicated by ancient technology (which would later be developed and modernized as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s LMD program); the evil Jake would go on to be the agent known as Scorpio. The real Jake, however, was in deep cover within HYDRA, co-opting the identity of the high-ranking agent known as Kraken and infiltrating the highest rungs of the organization and helping his brother bring about its destruction.^{[
   A really good break down of Jake Fury can be found right over
  HERE}
  
  

Everything really gets weird with the appearance of the Zodiac criminal cartel appeared  in 1970. They were criminals whose appearance tied in deeply with Scorpio and the Zodiac Key an object  of extremely alien origin and cosmic significance. The original human zodiac were replaced by alien modified LMDs in 1977. 

 The key was able to rejuvenate Jake Fury's body many times until it finally created an LMD android body for him. The key is powered by the forces of both Law and Chaos. The artifact is tied to the Inbetweener entity and many of the LMD's created by the thing were imprisoned at the 1970's and 80's version of Project Pegasus. 

You can find a boat load of information about the key right over HERE 

The Key was originally created by the alien 'Brotherhood of the Ankh' who were far more dangerous then their appearance might suggest HERE
 I have also seen some suggestions that the key might also have ties with Mister Zodiac HERE
 In 1977 the Defenders broke into the 'Theater of Genetics' a facility for the creation of LMD's of the  original Zodiac Cartel. The plan was foiled and Shield went over the remains of the facility.
More details on the Theater right over HERE
 The product of that facility are right
HERE

What the hell does this have to do with Coulson? Well we know that the Marvel movies love to borrow and give little nods to various bits of the comic universe. We've seen the appearance of  the 'Eye Of Amagetto', the Cosmic Cube, and various other bits of Marvel artifacts reconned into Asgardian treasures and whatnot.

 So whose to say that there isn't a Zodiac Key that Odin's been keeping in the old vault and its made its way to Earth and creating LMD's?
Details about some of the contents of  Odin's treasure room
HERE
 There were a ton of LMD's of Nick Fury(old) running around the Marvel 616 universe. Could Mr.eyepatch himself be an LMD? Stark or some other Avenger after all might be an LMD after all  the Theater of Genetics is a magical place.
 All of this information is available for download in the Gamers Handbooks of the Marvel Universe
Right over
HERE

Reconciling Agents Of Shield And The Fantastic Four Legacy For Your Old School Super Hero Campaigns

When floating bodies turn up, Coulson and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D must hunt down an elusive killer. No one is safe--not even the team.

Will this episode be more mirrors and shadows with no hint of a cape or super villain? Well this be something brand new in wake of Thor Dark World because new developments are going to be taking place in the wake of the movie. 

Well its official that Agents of Shield will follow in the foot steps of Thor Dark World and word from my friends and family who have seen the movie are that its awesome and epic in scope.
'More fun then the first Thor.
We're going to possibly be seeing a hell of a lot of alien/Dark Elven technology left on Earth in the wake of Thor The Dark World. More Asgardian technology as well. This does not bode well for the movie Marvel universe. 
Like it or not this technology could cripple or propel Earth's tech axiom up a few notches. Well the Marvel movie Earth that is. 

You see with the return of the Asgardians to Earth and the whole Captain America WWII attention that the Red Skull focused on Earth. The Earth of the Marvel movies along with Agents of Shield got really complicated really fast.  

You know who really be handy to handle some of this alien technology and whose got a really friendly face as the first family of super heroes for the public?
A family run corporation that has seen more alien invasions, Latvian megalomaniacs, and matters of cosmic importance? The Starks perhaps or maybe the Banners? Nope not them either.
Back in 2005 they made their appearance upon the world stage of one of the Marvel Movie universes. Then disappeared. The Fantastic Four has been there and done that more then the Avengers with whom they have had a more then checkered history with going all the way back to the 1960's. 

Yet while everyone has been focused on the X men Days of Future Past news and the Captain America Winter Soldier news. This little piece of old news turned up in one of my Marvel related searches. According to wiki: 

"In August 2009, Fox announced plans to reboot the Fantastic Four franchise, with Michael Green and Jeremy Slater writing, Seth Grahame-Smith polished the film's script and Akiva Goldsman and Matthew Vaughn producing.^[27] Since the release of 2012'sChronicle, Josh Trank was linked to the reboot and in mid July 2012, he was officially announced to be director.^[28] The film is currently under scripting and filming should start mid September 2013.^[29][30] The film will be independent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.^[31][32][33] The Fantastic Four reboot will be released on March 6, 2015.^[34]" 

This is the important part of the statement,"The film will be independent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe."So basically the team whose comic books have sold 150 million comics will not be part of the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe.'
I don't want to sound like the giant comic book nerd that I'm but it sounds lame.   

The Fantastic Four Legacy and your old School Super Hero Campaigns 

The Fantastic Four are like royalty of the Marvel Universe. Seriously they were a game changer and started a trend that hasn't stopped. The not so perfect comic book super hero family. 

Here's a very short overview according to Wiki : 

The four individuals traditionally associated with the Fantastic Four, who gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space, are: Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), a scientific genius and the leader of the group, who can stretch his body into incredible lengths and shapes; the Invisible Woman(Susan "Sue" Storm), who eventually married Reed, who can render herself invisible and later project powerful force fields; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Sue's younger brother, who can generate flames, surround himself with them and fly; and the monstrous Thing (Ben Grimm), their grumpy but benevolent friend, a former college football star and Reed's college roommate as well as a good pilot, who possesses superhuman strength and endurance due to the nature of his stone-like flesh.

Ever since their original 1961 introduction, the Fantastic Four have been portrayed as a somewhat dysfunctional, yet loving, family.

Things weren't always harmonious between the FF and the Avengers.
The epic battles between the Hulk and the Thing were the stuff of legend. 

Then there was of course the Thing and Thor battles were were epic and incredibly cool. 


The FF always put a human face upon the whole of the Marvel universe. In many different games I've run the Fantastic Four were part of the cultural and historical landscape. They really were mortals who dealt with cosmic threats and survived to tell the tale. As always the FF were New York based and allowed a DM when the original Marvels Super Heroes game to connect the city and New England right into the comic book landscape.
The FF has iconic appeal allowing a DM to instantly pull from the roaster of foes for any group. 

Reed Richards connections with Stark and Shield just can't be ignored going all the way back to the 60's. Couple this with the outings with Thor, Hawkeye, and more. Well you get the idea.

Did I happen to mention the locations, the foes, the peoples like the Inhumans, the Baxter building.
 Don't get me started on the Black Panther and of course Galactus. 



How about this for a premise for a game of MSH? The PC's are agents handling the loose ends of the Avengers or the Fantastic Four. Everyday they have to pick up the loose ends of the various FF story lines Hell you could set in the 1960's and add a Man of From Uncle element.
For this style of game I highly recommend (again)  from the basic set New York, New York and Concrete Jungle  along with Gates of What If which if used right will allow you to create and alternative Earth to operate on with impunity.
All available right
HERE
 The book with all of the FF secrets is of course the Fantastic Four Compendium. Out of date yes but with oh so much retro flavor. 



Available right over
HERE

The modules which really star the FF are the So called Negative Zone trilogy.
We really see the Negative Zone in a heavy hitter kinda light with the intro of this one.
According to Rpg net :
" Part One of the "Negative Zone Trilogy." 

A powerful cosmic device has been seen on Earth and the players must investigate. 

Warlord of Baluur contains a 32-page adventure book which details the player characters, the non-player characters, and the story itself. You should also have a cover that features various maps designed to help play run smoothly.

 We get into the deep end of stuff with the technology from the Negative Zone really tapping the PC's heads and some really nasty NPC's. Again according to Drivethru: 

The Cosmic Control Rod Trilogy continues as the FANTASTIC FOUR ventures into the Negative Zone to face off against ANNIHILUS, the Rod's creator. Agents of SHIELD are lost in the anti-matter universe of the Negative Zone, and it's up to you heroes to save them. Once inside the Zone, you must face the wrathful return of the evil artificial intelligence QUASIMODO. The final conflict on Annihilus' planet shows that, even weakened, the despotic Spore of Arthros and Terror of the Negative Zone is still one of the most dangerous and powerful villains ever seen. The adventure contains a surprise ally who makes even ANNIHILUS quake as he approaches. 

This module contains... 

• New technology from the Negative Zone and equipment for the FANTASTIC FOUR including the powerful Astral Command Staff! 
• A surprise "voluminous" guest star! 
• The return of two of Marvel's greatest villains in one adventure! 
• The chance for you to be the first on your block to save the Earth from total destruction!

The final part brings the action home to the PC's in this one. 

Part three of the "Negative Zone Trilogy." 

The players confront the true force behind the events detailed in the two previous adventures. 

Stygian Knight contains a 32-page adventure book which details the player characters, the non-player characters, and the story itself. You should also have a cover which features various maps designed to help play run smoothly.

Running these the DM might have to bring on some of the bigger Super Agents of Shield. The Blue Diamond, Orignial Human Torch, perhaps the Vision prewhite out, or even just use the FF.
All of them are available for free download right over
HERE
I've run these over and over again. My best advice is to always run this batch before running something like the Comsos Cube adventures where the truly cosmic seems to happen. I'm a bit disappointed that the FF movie won't have an impact upon the Movie Marvel universe but that doesn't mean that it can't on your own Marvel Supers game!