The action of this volume is during the Dark Reign (Norman Osborn took power paramilitary organizations in the Marvel Universe and in particular it dismantled the SHIELD to replace it by a new organization called HAMMER. Nick Fury is alone and isolated, there is no agent at all (hence the title "Nick Fury: Agent of nothing"). Nevertheless, he began to prepare for his return by calling on potential superheroes spotted when he was still director of SHIELD and he has kept the existence hidden from everyone. This team consists of Daisy Johnson (Quake), Phobos (the son of Ares), Sebastian Druid (son of Doctor Druid), Yo-yo Rodriguez (Slingshot Griffin's daughter), JT James (Hellfire, grand son of the first Ghost Rider) and Jerry Sledge (Stonewall). And along the way, they recruit a last member who is simply a protected Gateway (Aboriginal well experienced adventures of the X-Men in the 1990s).
Nick Fury told the team in the care of Daisy Johnson is responsible for train and command them in battle. Their missions are related to the HYDRA activity upsurge. Nick Fury advantage of this free time to investigate HYDRA and to set up a second response team composed of former SHIELD agents (such as Dum Dum Dugan, Jasper Sitwell, Gabriel Jones and the incomparable Contessa Valentina Allegra of Fontaine). For his part, HYDRA is under the domination of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, which is also surrounded by beautiful people: Ms. Hydra, Viper, Gorgon (survivor of a Wolverine: Enemy of the State: Ultimate Collection), Kraken and The Hive ( a new kid very successful).
The illustrations are provided by Stefano Caselli, an Italian who has worked on various Marvel projects (eg The Avengers Initiative 1: Basic Training). He has a way of making men in a very manly and tough appearance that is well suited to Nick Fury. His action scenes are sometimes a bit sloppy which results in difficult to read drawings. He managed to make quite alive the many dialogue scenes. The Countess de la Fontaine has proportions that make it less sexy than usual (a real shame). The special effects describing the powers of The Hive manage to bring out their grotesque character, both in the sense and ridicule both in the sense horrific. The sets are of a good standard and very well presented (or completed) by the color layout Daniele Rudoni.
This volume includes episodes 1-6 of the monthly series and 8 pages of the special episode "Dark reign: new nation." The scenarios were written by Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman. To be frank, I have several problems with this series. Bendis and Hickman have chosen to change the positioning of HYDRA on the chessboard of power in a large retro-continuous movement difficult to swallow (even the Countess observed that this turnaround is not credible). This bombshell looks like Bendis coasting wanting absolutely shocked at the cost of credibility. Second concern, the writers prefer the clashes and a plethora of characters, which leaves little room to develop anyone. In fact, the history of the apparitions aligns each other without really deepen anyone. And suddenly, as a reader, I find it very hard to tie me to the vicissitudes that align long dialogue scenes exposing the complex situation, rapid and confused battles (and not credible in terms of recovery helicarriers).
The title of spying me had put the mouth water, but to want to put too many things in (superhero spy + + return of many characters) writers fail to develop anything (which embraces too, hugged evil).
