Marvel, $3.99|
Story: Kieron Gillen
Art: Steven Sanders, Craig Yeung, John Cassaday, Laura Martin

From the pages of Astonishing X-Men, S.W.O.R.D. is essentially a S.H.I.E.L.D. for extraterrestrial threats. Jointly headed by the green-haired alien hybrid Abigail Brand and shady nerd Henry Peter Gyrich, it looks to be a fun little series that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This issue offered nothing spectacular, but Kieron Gillen (Beta Ray Bill) maintains such a relentless pace that it really doesn’t matter. The riposte between Brand and her boyfriend Beast is brilliant, and overall this series feels as though it fills a gap in Marvel’s current output… which is more than can be said about many of the publisher’s new titles.

Oh, and this issue does indeed feature what appears to be the original Death’s Head. About bloody time, yes?

7/10