Abigail Brand
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Special Agent Abigail Brand is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics' universe. Her first appearance was a cameo in Astonishing X-Men #3 (2004), and she was introduced fully in Astonishing X-Men #6 (2004). She was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Abigail Brand is a Special Agent of the United States Government and the head of S.W.O.R.D., a subdivision of S.H.I.E.L.D., charged with defending the Earth from extra-terrestrial threats. It was in this capacity that Brand encountered the alien Ord, who was convinced that a mutant from Earth was destined to destroy his planet. In order to avoid an interplanetary war, Brand acquiesced to Ord's plan to avert the destruction of his world by creating a cure for the mutant condition. It has since been learned the mutant prophesized to destroy Breakworld is Colossus; furthermore, statements made by Ord suggest that neutralizing Earth's mutant population is just one step in an as-yet unrevealed plan.
After her involvement in this plan became known to the X-Men Brand faced a board of inquiry to face charges against her conduct. She defended 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 defence seems to have convinced the board as she was subsequently seen still in command of S.W.O.R.D.
Despite the antagonistic relationship she and Nick Fury demonstrated toward each other, she is considered a Nick Fury loyalist by new S.H.I.E.L.D. director Maria Hill. Brand has made no effort to hide her dislike for Hill, and no further contact between the two has been shown.
[edit] Physical appearance
Brand has a tattoo on each arm; one reads "Grace" the other "Anna" as seen in Astonishing X-Men #8 (2005). Brand's green hair is a trait normally associated with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s enemy HYDRA, and Wolverine referred to her as "Hydra-hair" in Astonishing X-Men #6 (2004).
