The Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistic Division, or S.H.I.E.L.D, is best known for being the premiere security and espionage agency in the Marvel Universe. They often work alongside heroes like the Avengers to keep the world safe and protected from all sorts of threats. However, the origins of SHIELD go back further than some might realize, as revealed in 2010's S.H.I.E.L.D miniseries. Before they were an acronym and giant modern day organization, they were a brotherhood, stretching back to the first days of early civilization.
While the current Agents of SHIELD television series has been traveling to the past and looking at key moments in the history of the MCU's SHIELD, they haven't gone as far back as this miniseries from writer Jonathan Hickman with artwork by Dustin Weaver. S.H.I.E.L.D begins in 1953, where a young man name Leonid with untold powers is brought to the Immortal City underneath Rome by agents Nathanial Richards and Howard Stark, the respective future fathers of Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man. There, he is brought before the High Council of the Shield lead by Isacc Newton, where he learns of the brotherhood's history in the first issue.
in 2620 B.C, the dawn of civilization was underway in Ancient Egypt. During an invasion of the alien race known as the Brood, Imhotep, the high priest of Ra, rallied Egypt's armies alongside Apocalypse, the first mutant as well as the first Moon Knight, champion of the god Khonsu. Under his leadership, they were able to ward off the alien invaders, and the Brotherhood of the Shield was born. Over the years, more bright minds and influential men joined its ranks, responsible for holding back the forces that would seek to end the world.
For example, in 114 A.D, Zhang Heng, the Chinese polymathic scientist, managed to trick and negotiate a Celestial into not using the Earth to give birth (which would destroy it), and to use the Sun instead. In 1503, Leonardo Da Vinci is revealed to also be an agent of the Shield, building many machines to help protect the world, including a flying suit. Even Galileo did his part in 1582, building a machine to repel the first visit of Galactus, the World Devourer himself. All of these men worked tirelessly in their efforts, yet they knew that they would succeed, seemingly knowing that each event was not how the world would end. The High Council reveals to Leonid that they apparently know the "Final Fate of Man" and wish for Leonid to join their ranks.
The idea that SHIELD began as a secret order to protect the world in its earliest days is pretty cool, bringing to mind the overarching story from the Assassin's Creed video game franchise, which carries a similar concept: all throughout history, there's always been a secret brotherhood protecting the world from threats. This looks to be true as well for the Marvel Universe, creating really interesting levels of depth and intrigue into its past and history, specifically for S.H.I.E.L.D.