The rumor is going around that Marvel’s newest cosmic book, S.W.O.R.D., is going to be cancelled.
S.W.O.R.D. (an acronym for Sentient World Observation and Response Department) was first introduced in Joss Whedon’s and John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men run, making their debut in issue #3 back in 2005. S.W.O.R.D. is the equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division), only whereas S.H.I.E.L.D. deals with Earth born threats to society, S.W.O.R.D. deals with alien threats to Earth.
This new series, which began in November of 2008 is written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Steven Sanders. It follows the adventures of the sassy green haired Agent Brand (who was also introduced in Astonishing X-Men) and the mutant Beast (he recently left the X-Men to accompany Brand and become a temporary agent of S.W.O.R.D.) as they help keep the Earth safe from vicious alien beings from across the galaxy.
Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, here we are only 3 three issues into the run and sadly there has been rumor that the series will be sheathed by Marvel if sales don’t pick up. Without a doubt this is terrible news; quick, somebody call Agent Brand to bring some forces in to avert this crisis! What’s that you say? Agent Brand is unavailable because she’s been wrongfully imprisoned by that bastard Henry Gyrich? Oh. Well who do we turn to then in this time of desperate need?
How about this dude named Greg who writes over at NerderyBlog[dot]com.
Greg (I couldn’t find his last name) has started his own grass roots campaign petitioning Marvel to keep S.W.O.R.D. on the shelves for good! He requests that people print a S.W.O.R.D. themed PDF he created, write a brief personal message to Marvel about keeping S.W.O.R.D. alive on the front of it, fold the print out like an origami champ, and then slap a stamp on that sucker and toss it in the mail to let it work its magic! Check out the PDF:
Be sure to check out Greg’s article where you can print out a copy of the full-size image and properly make your stand in support of S.W.O.R.D.’s existence. He even includes folding instructions!
After mailing your request to Marvel, you would be well served by a visit to your LCS (local comic shop). There the purchase of a copy of S.W.O.R.D. (pick an issue, any issue!) may also help save its life too. Either way, just do something to keep this series in publication!
Andy Liegl
andy@comicattack.net
I don’t want to see it cancelled, but they have GOT to change the art. That is the worst-looking Beast ever drawn.
The art is pretty bad…I have people read mine to me so I don’t have to look at the interiors.
Amen to that Jeff. The only reason I thought it was Beast when I first saw it was because who else in the Marvel U is a furry blue cat-like guy. Even still, it’s the worst drawing of Beast I’ve ever seen.
I think the art is great; if the worst comment about this title is that Beast looks like a horse, than that’s a pretty good sign!
…and isn’t that more of a design issue as opposed to a problem with the art?
@Speech-LOL!
What about SpiderWoman? She works for S.W.O.R.D.? Wait that didn’t come out right…
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