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13th May '13 3:51:16 PM Tuckerscreator

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13th May '13 3:50:45 PM Tuckerscreator

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12th May '13 4:44:04 PM helterskelter

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[[redirect:Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse]]

[[quoteright:345:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The-Avengers-Agent-Coulson_4590.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:345:&#9834;[[Series/DangerMan There's a man who leads]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiXVATOCgp4 a life of danger...]]&#9834;]]
-->''"This isn't my first rodeo, [[ComicBook/IronMan Mr. Stark]]."''

'''Phil Coulson''' (or '''Agent Coulson''', or '''Son of Coul''' if you're feeling [[LargeHam hammy]]) is a Creator/MarvelComics character who originated in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, where he first appeared in ''Film/IronMan1'' as a side character played by Clark Gregg. Since then, Coulson has appeared in ''Film/IronMan2'', ''Film/{{Thor}}'', and ''Film/TheAvengers'', where his character arc culminated.

His popularity skyrocketed, and Coulson has appeared in his own short films and comic books, and is now a CanonImmigrant to the regular Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Coulson is also a recurring character in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}'' (where Gregg again reprises his role as Coulson), where he works not only as an Agent of SHIELD, but also undercover as the principal at Peter Parker's high school. He also appeared in the first two shorts ''The Consultant'' and ''A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Thor's Hammer'' of the Film/MarvelOneShots series.

[[spoiler:Coulson [[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/nycomicconnews.php?id=95880 will star in the live-action]] {{Series/SHIELD}} pilot, again played by Gregg]].
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!!Agent Coulson provides examples of the following tropes:

* AscendedExtra: Originally an [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]]-only side character, possibly for comic relief, [[CanonImmigrant now he's officially part of]] [[Franchise/MarvelUniverse the comics]].
* AscendedMeme: [[spoiler:"Coulson Lives" is sometimes seen hidden in episodes of ''WebAnimation/BadDays''. Then Coulson himself does in Episode 12.]]
* ActionSurvivor: Agent Coulson seems like an average government agent with no outstanding abilities shown so far beyond basic {{Badass Normal}}cy, yet he's managed to survive attacks from both [[Film/IronMan Iron Monger]] and [[{{Film/Thor}} The Destroyer]] practically unscathed. Also, [[IKnowKarate he knows kung fu]].
** [[spoiler:His luck apparently ran out in ''Film/TheAvengers'', when Loki stabs him]].
* {{Adorkable}}: Especially when it comes to his hero, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica.
* AffectionateNickname: Fury calls him "my good eye" [[spoiler:when lamenting his loss]].
** Son of Coul 
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit: The man can dress well as he can kick ass when needed.
** BadassNormal: In a world with demigods, super-soldiers, and green rage-monsters, Coulson can definitely hold his own.
** ImprovisedWeapon: [[http://erebusodora.tumblr.com/post/11533359126/ A master of this.]] (also see WithMyHandsTied, below)
* BreakoutCharacter
* {{BFG}}: He loves these, he uses one in ''Film/TheAvengers'' and several times in ''Ultimate Spider-Man''.
* CanonImmigrant: Not only as a recurring character in ''Ultimate Spider-Man'', but also as an official character in the regular Marvel Universe.
* TheChessmaster: Rewatch ''Iron Man 2'', ''Thor'', and the shorts starring him. It becomes apparent that he knows exactly how people are going to react, but feigns ignorance to confirm it and make them think they had a choice. Nick Fury is the same, but Coulson augments it by managing to seem remarkably inoffensive to those who don't know any better.
* CloudcuckoolandersMinder: Though he was joking when he said it, "Super Nanny" is an apt description of his relationship with the Avengers, or at least, with Stark.
* TheComicallySerious: He's quite snarky and sarcastic, but you'd ''never'' pick up on that from his demeanor.
* [[spoiler:DefiantToTheEnd: Even when mortally wounded by Loki, Coulson refuses to let the demigod talk him down.]]
* DeadpanSnarker
** SilentSnarker: He doesn't even have to ''say'' anything (which delighted Joss Whedon to no end), just his reactions are pure gold.
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: [[spoiler:What he did to Loki in ''The Avengers'', see below.]]
* DorkKnight: Phil is what would happen if your rigid old high-school maths teacher decided to go out and be Film/JamesBond, and failed adorably at being anywhere near as witty and suave as him, particularly when it comes to dealing with [[CaptainAmerica those he looks up to]].
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: His death in ''The Avengers'', where he's still strong enough to tell Loki off, and blast him with the reverse-engineered Destroyer BFG.]]
** [[spoiler: NotQuiteDead: Clark Gregg maintains that Agent Coulson is still alive, stating that [[http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/173736-clark-gregg-on-the-avengers-marvel-one-shots-iron-man-3-and-more Whedon told him beforehand that Coulson would survive the events of the film]], and is trying to be cast as Coulson in ''Film/IronMan3'' and ''Thor: The Dark World''.]]
*** [[spoiler: The fact that ''{{Series/SHIELD}}'' is set AFTER ''Film/TheAvengers'' and that he is the lead make him actually Not Dead.]]
* {{Fanboy}}: Of CaptainAmerica, oh so very much.
* GenreSavvy: His reaction to an unidentified mecha opening its face and bellowing a flame up from within? "[[ThisIsGonnaSuck Oh, here we go...]]"
* GoodIsOldFashioned: This is exactly what Coulson believes that the world needs right now in ''Avengers''.
* TheHeart: [[spoiler: Coulson becomes a posthumous example in ''The Avengers'', with his death becoming a major motivator for the Avengers to finally work together as a team.]]
** Appears to be this to Fury Jr. in Marvel NOW Point One. The person they're interrogating asks why Coulson is there when he asked for Fury Jr. to be there alone.
--->'''Fury Jr.''': Coulson? He keeps me sane.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler: Coulson's choice in facing Loki alone could be interpreted as one, especially given the fact that he thought his death would get the Avengers to stop bickering with one another to avenge him, as it were.]]
* [[spoiler:InTheBack]]: [[spoiler: Courtesy of Loki in the Hulk cell room.]]
* TheKnightsWhoSaySquee: He's very much a Captain America fanboy. By the time of [[{{Film/TheAvengers}} "The Avengers"]], he even had the trading cards in mint condition (though the movie raises the question if they still are, unfortunately.)
* LastNameBasis: In ''The Avengers'', Tony Stark snarks that Coulson's first name is "Agent", as opposed to "Phil".
** Subsequently [[BrickJoke referred to]] after [[spoiler: his death]]; when Tony is [[BadassBoast boasting to Loki]] about the various Avengers who are going to be coming for him, he finishes with [[spoiler: "Oh, and there was one other person you pissed off. [[AndThisIsFor His name is Phil]]. ''(blasts Loki with his repulsors)''"]]
* OnlySaneMan: Trapped among prima donna superheroes and morally ambiguous world security leaders.
* NiceGuy: Coulson is arguably the nicest S.H.I.E.L.D. agent there is.
* PerpetualSmiler: A part of his persona he uses to help guide conversations - he is almost never seen without his serene, calm smile on his face, even during otherwise morose or trying situations. Since he never loses his cool, he never drops the smile.
* PromotedToOpeningTitles: In ''Iron Man'', Coulson was simply just a bit character. His role greatly expanded in subsequent appearances, culminating with his appearance in ''The Avengers'', where he had plenty to do.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler:Coulson's final act involved him giving Loki one, as well as blasting him with a BFG.]] 
* TheReveal: ''Battle Scars'' #6 reveals that "Cheese", Marcus Johnson's soldier friend, is actually the 616 counterpart of Agent Coulson.
* [[spoiler:SacrificialLion]]: [[spoiler: Though Maria Hill implies that [[GuileHero Nick Fury]] might have been lying afterwards, ''Item 47'' indicates Coulson may really be dead.]]
* SeenItAll: Hints of Type 1, as is typical of [[TheMenInBlack MIB]]. He also has a bit of Type 2's Genre Savviness as he orders his men to let Thor try and lift his hammer, and realized just in time that Destroyer's head opening and glowing is a very bad thing. When he calls ComicBook/BlackWidow, who's been captured but then subsequently beats the tar out of her captors, his expression is of complete boredom as he listens to [[CurbStompBattle the resulting scuffle]] as if it were ''hold music''.
* SkewedPriorities: In ''Ultimate Spider-Man'', he's gotten too into the role of school principal as opposed his actual job as secret agent.
-->'''Coulson''': I need the full power of SHIELD's legal team STAT. We need to limit how much actual meat you need to legally call something "meatloaf". We could save the [school] budget, man!
-->'''NickFury''': Coulson, we need to talk priorities.
* ThatCameOutWrong: Phil's fanboy love of Cap intersects with some unintentional awkwardness when talking to the man himself.
-->'''Coulson''': I watched you while you were sleeping. (Awkward silence). I-I mean... I was present when you were unconscious from the ice. 
* ToylessToylineCharacter: Was the only major character from ''The Avengers'' not to get a Hasbro action figure (even Maria Hill), a fact that [[http://www.examiner.com/article/avengers-star-where-s-my-action-figure made Gregg sad]].
** Then again, Hot Toys gave him [[http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/agent-coulson-hot-toys-01.jpg this]].
** Plus, he's also got a [[http://www.minimatedatabase.com/figure.php?i=1147&n=Agent+Coulson Minimates figurine]] that was released around the time of the ''Thor'' movie.
* UnfazedEveryman: Nothing can surprise him: not a rich jerk with a suit of armor, a Norse god of thunder, or a green-rage monster.
* WideEyedIdealist: His belief that the Avengers can rise above their egos or mutual dislike and can work together is an idealistic notion, as is his belief in old-fashion heroism which even Steve Rogers (one of those old fashioned heroes) wasn't sure about. 
* WithMyHandsTied: [[spoiler:Rather than use his pistol against ''two robbers with shotguns'', he kindly slides it over to them before defeating them with [[ImprovisedWeapon a sack of flour]] and martial arts skills]].
* WolverinePublicity: ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has a story in [[ComicBook/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes the comic series]] in which Maria Hill recaps the first season, with help from NickFury's records. Coulson joins her in examining the records, despite the fact he never shows up in either season of the cartoon.

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12th May '13 4:40:52 PM helterskelter

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