Kieron Gillen’s Workblog » S.W.O.R.D. Announced

I was going to have the title as Kieron Gillen: W.R.I.T.E.R. of S.W.O.R.D. but the periods are going to be killing me anyway. Especially when I have to start doing Steve Sanders: A.R.T.I.S.T. of S.W.O.R.D. and Nick Lowe: E.D.I.T.O.R. of S.W.O.R.D. and Tea: B.E.V.E.R.A.G.E. of the W.R.I.T.E.R. of S.W.O.R.D. So I’m not.

(Fraction’s advice on periods in scripts was to DO IT EACH TIME BY HAND AND FEEL MANLY. I’ve decided to claim I’m doing it manfully, but secretly use search and replace “SWORD” for “S.W.O.R.D.” But don’t tell anyone. Seeekrit.)

The news broke at Wizard World Chicago that myself and old comrade in arms Steve Sanders would be doing a comic of the ongoing variety for the Marvel Comics Publishing Company. It’s my first ongoing comic I’ve done for them. In fact, it’s the first ongoing comic I’ve done full stop.

What’s S.W.O.R.D.?

It was created by Joss Whedon during his run on Astonishing X-Men (with John Cassady, who’s doing our covers). It’s basically Earth’s interplanetary defence agency, headed by the bad-tempered green-haired Agent Abigail Brand. The co-lead is the the hirsute and hyper-eloquent Beast, who you’ll know as a founding X-man, who Brand is dating. They’re less Men in Black, more Contact/Special Circumstances from Iain M Banks’ The Culture (on a budget).

Here’s all the interviews I’ve done, which include a mass of information…

CBR interview
Newsarama
IGN
Marvel

…all of which made me sound like an over-excited gibbering loon.

Which is fair enough, because I am on this one. Of all the work I’ve done for Marvel, it feels most like me. It’s not just an ongoing - it’s an ongoing where I get to build most of the toys (i.e. S.W.O.R.D. doesn’t have a fossilized position in the universe) but still based on a solid core (the aforementioned Whedon concepts and characterization). It’s an ongoing, and I can’t help but see S.W.O.R.D. as a story-telling set-up with possibilities stretching out before it. It kind of sits exactly on the boundary between the two great spheres of the Marvel Universe - being Earth and the Cosmos - and there’s a lot there. I love Beast and Brand as a core duo. I love that I’m getting to both invent and repurpose a mass of stuff. I love that I get to use references like “His SpaceGirl Friday”. I love that I’m doing it with Sanders, who I’ve been talking about working with ever since we met and now we finally get a chance to do. I love it all and think you will too.

(If you’re at all interested in seeing how I’ve handled Brand before, she turns up in the first issue of Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter. Available now from all good comic shops, etc.)

14 Comments so far

I am very excited to see what you come up with in this concept. It’s great that Marvel tries things like this, let’s hope it lasts, not to jinx it, I’m sure it will. I’ll be buying it.

I have been discussing the announcement and further interesting things about S.W.O.R.D. on my blog:
http://www.stinkbrown.org/2009/08/09/sword-agency/
Feel free to have a look!

Have a great day and may the planning and writing be fruitful and plenty, and also manly!

Nice bolt pistol Brand’s got there.

Joking aside, I’m very pleased to see you hook an ongoing, Kieron! May it only be a few steps before you get X-Men / The Avengers.

Congrats on the ascension — I shall be picking this up.

…the interview was going so well until the last question…

But seriously though, congrats, it all sounds fantastic Mr Gillen, I love your ravings.

You had me at “Gillen writing S.W.O.R.D ongoing”– throw in Beast, Lockheed, Cassiday, and your Culture reference… Commence fanboy screaming in 3… 2…. 1…..

Hi Kieran,

can you tell us if the ‘ Skrull kill krew’ will be recruited by S.W.OR.D ?

I have jst read the Marvel.com interview, and all I can say is:

He’ll Be The Autobot-Sized Freelance Peacekeeping Agent, Yes?

//\Oo/\\

Congratulations on the ongoing book! I was even more impressed that you’ve decided to bring back the original Deaths Head. I’ll order the book from the boys at p45 right away!

Our little Gillen is all grown up now….sniff….Congrats matey! I shall DEFINATELY be getting this.
L

Awesome news, sir, hearty congratulations.
I’m giddily looking forward to this, and my geek heart soared at the mention of Death’s Head…
You do realise I’m going to swamp you with obscure ’80’s character suggestions at Brum?

Dude, I am actually looking forward to this, as I just finished Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men and wanted more of Brand/Beast chemistry. Congrats on the gig.

Also, have to say “sorry.” I was at Laurenn’s birthday gathering while you were staying with them in Vegas but entirely didn’t say “hello.” So here’s my belated “hello.”

Color me excited.

[…] Gillen is writing S.W.O.R.D., his first ongoing series for Marvel, which has caused him to become (more of) “an […]

[…] think I mentioned a couple of weeks back when Marvel announced my first ongoing for them, S.W.O.R.D. Well this week they followed that with the announcement that I’ll be taking over on Thor […]

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S.W.O.R.D. Announced

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