Warning! Spoilers for The Marvels #8 ahead!
Melinda May, the stoic super-agent from the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show proved that she is just as awesome in the comics when she saved a group of Avengers from the clutches of the evil Lady Lotus. While many fans may be disappointed that the character’s televised adventures have ended, Agent May is still appearing in the comics. Although she may not be the main character in any series right now, she still plays a pivotal role in The Marvels, a series written by Kurt Busiek with art by Yildiray Cinar.
Melinda May is a character who was created for the television show Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Portrayed masterfully by Ming-Na Wen, she was Agent Phil Coulson’s right hand, highly capable and equal to any challenge that came her way. Agent May quickly became a fan favorite character on the show and was eventually introduced into the main Marvel Universe in the series S.H.I.E.L.D. by Mark Waid and Carlos Pacheco. While she has no superpowers, she is an expert fighter and marksman, proficient in many different martial arts and weapons. She is even capable enough in the field to rescue the Avengers when they were in trouble.
In The Marvels #8, Agent May shows off her skills by saving a group of captured superheroes, including the Avengers Captain America and Iron Man. As part of a mission to stop the supervillain Lady Lotus from sealing off the nation of Siancong under a giant dome, the enigmatic characters Threadneedle and Ace assemble a motley assortment of heroes and villains that they predict will be best for the job. They determine that a group made up of heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, the Human Torch, and the original Vision—along with less heroic characters like Black Cat and the nephew of the Tinkerer—have the best chance of putting an end to Lady Lotus’s schemes. While the team puts up a valiant effort, their lack of experience fighting together proves to be their downfall and they are defeated handily by Lotus’s forces. However, Agent May is able to come to the rescue and help the heroes escape their confines after they are captured, despite not being a part of Threadneedle’s original predictions.
Her method of breaking them free shows her ingenuity and adaptability in the field, perfectly illustrating why she was nicknamed "The Cavalry" in the television show. When Lady Lotus creates the dome around Siancong, Melinda May is already in the country on other business. But when Lady Lotus enacts her plan, May immediately shifts gears to find out what is happening and put a stop to it. She recruits the supervillain Powderkeg using the threat of jail time to keep him in line. Using his abilities, Agent May is able to break in to where the heroes are being held and free them.
May’s appearance in The Marvels is hopefully an indication that she will play a more integral role in Marvel Comics going forward. After all, while she hasn’t appeared that often yet in the series so far, there are still many mysteries surrounding her character including who May is working for. While Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans are well aware of what she is capable of, Agent Melinda May has certainly proven she is worthy of a larger spotlight already by rescuing some of the Avengers from the clutches of Lady Lotus.