Line #21 ComicBook/SWORDMarvelComics


1	S.W.O.R.D., the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, is a GovernmentAgencyOfFiction appearing in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse comics published by Creator/MarvelComics.
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3	Originally introduced by Creator/JossWhedon as part of his run on ''ComicBook/AstonishingXMen'', S.W.O.R.D. is a sister agency and offshoot of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}, focusing on interstellar relations and possible threats to Earth. It's headquartered in an orbital space station known as the Peak.
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5	Unfortunately, this role often means that S.W.O.R.D. and its agents are simply first in line to be overpowered and slaughtered by any new alien threat before Earth's superheroes unite to defeat it. It was finally replaced with the [[ComicBook/AlphaFlight Alpha Flight]] space defense program headed by [[ComicBook/CaptainMarvelMarvelComics Carol Danvers]].
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7	For most of its existence, S.W.O.R.D.'s director has been Abigail Brand, a half-mutant, half-alien cynic with strong views on Earth's place in interstellar society.
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9	In its first incarnation, S.W.O.R.D.'s staff were drawn from diverse backgrounds, included both humans and aliens, and were answerable to the governments of Earth.
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11	S.W.O.R.D.'s second incarnation was as a mutant space programme, answerable only to the new [[ComicBook/XMenTheKrakoanAge mutant nation of Krakoa]], and staffed solely by mutants.
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14	[[AC:Comics]]
15	* ''ComicBook/SWORD2009''
16	* ''ComicBook/SWORD2020''
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18	If you see a link to this page that only applies to one of these works, please direct it to the series it belongs to.
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21	!!S.W.O.R.D.'s appearances contain examples of:
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23	[[foldercontrol]]
24	[[folder:Tropes not specific to one S.W.O.R.D. series]]
25	* FunWithAcronyms: S.W.O.R.D., the '''S'''entient '''W'''orld '''O'''bservation and '''R'''esponse '''D'''epartment. A similar approach is used to name the other linked agencies, e.g. ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}, A.R.M.O.R. and W.A.N.D.
26	* GovernmentAgencyOfFiction: In its first incarnation, S.W.O.R.D. begins as a subdivision of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}, before growing into an independent space agency when S.H.I.E.L.D. is disbanded. In its second incarnation, it's only answerable to the government of Krakoa.
27	* InitialismTitle: Both series were called simply S.W.O.R.D., with no explanation or other words in the title.
28	* TheWorfEffect: As with its sister agencies, S.W.O.R.D. has a history of being defeated and shattered to show how dangerous a new alien threat is. This doesn't happen so much when it's the star of its own series, but when it's appearing in other books some very bad things have happened.
29	** A Skrull infiltrator destroys the Peak during ''Secret Invasion''
30	** The Peak is badly damaged by the Apocalypse Twins during ''ComicBook/UncannyAvengers''.
31	** The Peak is infested with the alien Brood, who kill its staff, in ''Spider-Man and the X-Men''
32	** In ''ComicBook/Cable2020'', the entire crew of the Peak is slaughtered by the other-dimensional alien Vescora.
33	[[/folder]]
34	[[folder:''S.W.O.R.D.'' (2009)]]
35	See [[ComicBook/SWORD2009 here]] for tropes.
36	[[/folder]]
37	[[folder:''S.W.O.R.D.'' (2020)]]
38	See [[ComicBook/SWORD2020 here]] for tropes.
39	[[/folder]]

Context ComicBook / SWORDMarvelComics