| Abigail Brand | |
|---|---|
 Agent Brand withBeast (left),Sydren (right), andLockheed (above) in the background. Art byJohn Cassaday. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Cameo: Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #3 (September 2004) Full appearance: Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 (December 2004) |
| Created by | Joss Whedon John Cassaday |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Abigail Thanriaguiaxus |
| Species | Human mutant /Alien hybrid |
| Team affiliations | Alpha Flight S.W.O.R.D. X-Men |
| Partnerships | Beast |
| Notable aliases | Commander Brand Agent Brand |
| Abilities |
|
Abigail Brand (Abigail Thanriaguiaxus) is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerJoss Whedon and artistJohn Cassaday, the character first appeared inAstonishing X-Men vol. 3 #3 (September 2004).[1][2] Abigail Brand belongs to the subspecies of humans calledmutants, who are born with superhuman abilities.[3] She is the Commander ofcounterterrorism andintelligence agencyS.W.O.R.D.[4][5]
Abigail Brand debuted inAstonishing X-Men vol. 3 #3 (September 2004), created by writerJoss Whedon and artistJohn Cassaday.[6][7] She appeared in the 2020Empyre: Avengers Aftermath series.[8][9] She appeared in the 2022X-Men Red series, by writerAl Ewing and artist Stefano Caselli.[10][11][12]
Abigail Brand is the commanding officer ofS.W.O.R.D., an offshoot ofS.H.I.E.L.D. that defends Earth from extraterrestrial threats. Almost no details about her personal life have been revealed, but she is known to be 28 years old as of theSkrulls' "Secret Invasion".[13]
When the alienOrd comes to Earth due to being convinced that amutant was destined to destroy his planet, Brand intervenes to avert interplanetary war. Brand acquiesces to Ord's plan to avert Earth's destruction by allowing Ord to create a 'cure' for the mutant 'condition'. It is later revealed that the mutant prophesied to destroy Breakworld wasColossus.
After her involvement in this plan is made known to theX-Men and S.H.I.E.L.D. directorNick Fury, Brand faces a board of inquiry to answer charges against her conduct. She defends her actions on the grounds that averting interplanetary warfare was a responsibility so great as to justify courses of action that would otherwise be considered immoral or illegal. This defense seems to have convinced the board, as Brand remains in command of S.W.O.R.D.
In a final attempt to draw Breakworld's forces away from Earth, Brand has the X-Men (including Colossus), Ord, andDanger teleport aboard a starship of S.W.O.R.D. and travel to Breakworld itself. Despite their past differences and Brand's continuing high-handed attitude, she attempts to work with the X-Men to find a solution to the crisis. After arriving on Breakworld, Brand andBeast become separated from the other X-Men, at which point they are forced to take shelter in a small cave to avoid a device that was altering weather to subfreezing temperatures. To Beast's astonishment, Brand demonstrates the ability to generate heat, allowing her to keep them both alive.
After meeting back up with the rest of the X-Men, Brand participates in an assault on Breakworld'sdoomsday device to stop it from destroying Earth. During the battle, Brand saves Beast from being hit by a laser and is severely wounded. While recovering, Brand admits to Beast that she is in love with him. It is also revealed that Brand is not her surname, but asobriquet referencing her powers. Additionally, her father was an alien with a green, furry appearance similar to that of Beast.
Brand is present at the Peak, the headquarters of S.W.O.R.D., when it is destroyed by aSkrull posing asDum Dum Dugan. Due to an emergency suit, she and a few other S.W.O.R.D. agents survive in space long enough to witness the arrival of the Skrull armada in Earth space. After boarding a Skrull ship, Brand witnesses the destruction the Skrulls are causing around Earth, which makes her shed a tear.[13][14][15] Brand outsmarts the guards and kills every Skrull on board before freeing a captiveMister Fantastic, who returns her to Earth.[16]
Beta Ray Bill visits Agent Brand aboard the rebuilt Peak seeking information on the whereabouts ofGalactus. Brand confirms that S.W.O.R.D., as well as similar agencies of other species, share sightings of Galactus among themselves. Brand gives Bill the information but stressed that the world eater must never find out who gave him the information lest Galactus seek revenge on Earth. She also approachesSpider-Woman to recruit into S.W.O.R.D., which she accepts.[17]
Brand, along with Beast andLockheed, starred in a 2009 five-issueS.W.O.R.D. series written byKieron Gillen and drawn by Steven Sanders.
In the volume,Henry Peter Gyrich takes Brand and Lockheed, among other aliens, into custody as part of an effort to remove aliens from Earth. When the alien Drenx attack S.W.O.R.D., Brand, Beast, Lockheed, andDeath's Head manage to defeat them, reversing Gyrich's actions and getting Gyrich dismissed from the organization.[18]
Brand is seen helpingMagneto to hide in the aftermath of theAvengers vs. X-Men event. She is also revealed to be a mutant as well having inherited her human mother's X-gene. Brand is later murdered by one ofLegion's multiple personalities while saving fellow S.W.O.R.D. teammateSydren.[19] Brand is restored to life when Legion alters reality.[20]
Brand develops a friendly relationship withBroo, an intelligent, friendlyBrood who attends the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. She attends as his 'parent' for graduation ceremonies.[21]
Beginning in January 2016, Brand is a supporting character in the ninth volume ofCaptain Marvel, written byAgent Carter showrunners Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas with artwork byKris Anka, as part of theAll-New, All-Different Marvel initiative. The series, set eight months afterSecret Wars, features Brand as the Lieutenant Commander of theAlpha Flight Space Station. She works directly underCarol Danvers (Captain Marvel), who she is openly hostile towards.[22]
In the aftermath of "Empyre", Brand attends the wedding reception ofHulkling andWiccan. She also states that the Alpha Flight Space Program cannot function as a team if they are "caught in the loop." As Hulkling tries to break up the discussion, Brand announces her resignation from Alpha Flight. In a flashforward, Brand is seen leading her own team.[23]
Brand possesses the power of pyrokinesis.[24][25] She has exhibited the ability to coat at least her hands in flame that is potent enough to burn through most metals. This flame has been shown colored both blue and red, though it is unknown whether the colors have any specific significance.[26] Although it was originally believed that this ability stems from her half-alien heritage, Brand herself revealed that her power is the result of her half-human heritage and is mutant in nature.[27]
Due to her tongue being able to make shapes that humans cannot, Abigail Brand is multilingual and is able to speak in several alien languages that others are unable to.[28] For example, she was able to fluently communicate withLockheed in his native tongue, which surprised her crew.[29]
Abigail Brand's green hair is a trait that has long been associated with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s enemyHydra. Wolverine disparagingly refers to her as "Hydra-hair" at their first meeting.[30] She reveals that this is her natural color, the unusual color inherited from her father's race.[29][31][32] Abigail Brand has atattoo on each bicep, respectively reading "Grace" and "Anna." The significance of these tattoos has yet to be revealed.[33]
Deirdre Kaye ofScary Mommy called Abigail Brand a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[34] Francesco Cacciatore ofScreen Rant called Abigail Brand Marvel's "Best Villain in Decades,"[35] while Stacie Rook included her in their "10 Female Marvel Heroes That Should Come To The MCU" list,[36] and Alex Capriati included her in their "MCU: 10 Most Desired Fan Favorite Debuts Expected In The Multiverse Saga" list.[37] Sarah Brown ofCollider included Abigail Brand in their "30 Marvel Superheroes That Need to Join the MCU" list.[38] Thayer Preece Parker ofComic Book Resources ranked Abigail Brand 8th in their "10 Greatest Marvel Villains Of 2022" list.[39]
An alternate universe version of Abigail Brand from Earth-1610 appears in theUltimate Marvel imprint. This version is a member ofNick Fury'sHowling Commandos and a former member of Hydra.[40][41]
An alternate universe variant of Abigail Brand fromEarth-6160 appears inUltimate Wolverine. This version is a member of the Opposition that opposes the Eurasian Republic. Brand takes part in a mission to free mutant prisoners from a facility in theBlack Sea, only to be killed by theAngel Specimen.[42]