The sins of Nick Fury are heavily implied in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The idea that the leadership of a bureaucratic spy organization is not as pure of heart as they portray isn’t original but the MCU has an amazing character through which to ask such important questions. Why is the power given to those prone to corruption, or does the answer ultimately lie in the nature of power itself?
At his hands, Nick Fury possesses vast resources comparable to the superheroic teams of his universe, and he has deployed said resources against the good guys several times throughout the Marvel canon. The character would declare his reasons for said actions and proclaim some of the worst acts in comics necessary. However, he’s found himself on the wrong side of history regardless of his intentions. Nick Fury does not trust others, and it’s this base instinct that has driven him to commit some truly horrific crimes in a plea for “safety.”
10 Fury Intercepts The Avengers
A crossover with a personal edge, 1993’s “Bloodties” event spans five issues over four comics, including Avengers, X-Men, and Avengers: West Coast. The conflict centers around a civil war erupting on the island of Genosha between the government, mutants, and a homegrown resistance.
Things escalate immensely when the instigator of said civil war, Fabian Cortez, kidnaps the daughter of Crystal and Quicksilver while the X-Men are there trying to broker peace. Recounted in Avengers #368 by Bob Harras and Steve Epting, the titular heroes move to intervene but are intercepted by Nick Fury. He orders them to stand down, but they refuse, resulting in a brief scuffle before Fury is subdued by Dane Whitman, a.k.a. the Black Knight.
9 Fury Chooses A Side
“Civil War” touched every corner of the Marvel Universe and forced heroes of every shade to pick between the opposing sides. As depicted in the eponymous 2016, those agreeing with the government act to track superhumans are led by Iron Man while Captain America fronts those against the registration act.
It proves a dramatic chapter in the history of superheroes on Earth, and Fury lends his resources to the fight. Primarily assisting the Winter Soldier, Fury allows the Secret Avengers to use various S.H.I.E.L.D. hideouts and intel. Fury’s addition to Cap’s side also parallels Tony Stark’s alliance with the official S.H.I.E.L.D. forces led by Maria Hill.
8 Fury Opens His Eyes
Fury plays a major role in Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato, Jr.’s Original Sin as he pursues multiversal criminals and carves a chillingly bloody path along the way. Provoked by the character’s obsession with being aware of every threat to his home, the story portrays Fury’s murder of Uatu the Watcher, his manipulation of the Avengers with a Life Model Decoy of himself, and his eventual ascension to the role of the Unseen.
A twisted irony of fate befalls Fury by bestowing upon him this role: the Unseen is forbidden to interfere in the events that he observes, much like the Watcher. The blood Fury spills to protect Earth leads to him being unable to do so.
7 Fury Flees To The New World (Earth-311)
Neil Gaiman’s Marvel 1602 is exactly what the name implies: set in the era of colonists and the New World, the characters of the Marvel Universe are interpreted through this 17th-century lens. Sir Nicholas Fury has a nuanced journey throughout the miniseries and finds himself at odds with several different heroes as the tumultuous historical period wears on.
Per King James’ directive, Fury overtakes Master Carlos Javier’s Select College for the Sons of Gentlefolk and imprisons the eponymous headmaster and his students in the Tower of London. Fury later betrays James I and escapes to the New World with his former captives. The king sends Peter Parquagh and David Banner to rectify this treachery, but Fury slaughters their crew. However, Banner disappears while Paequagh is spared by his former mentor.
6 Fury Exterminates Heroes And Mutants (Earth-1298)
The universe of Mutant X, first shown in Howard Mackie and Tom Raney’s run, is a gnarled world where S.H.I.E.L.D. is an anti-mutant/superhuman terrorist organization. Conforming to this harrowing bend of reality is the group’s dedicated leader, a variant of Nicholas Fury.
Fury sees to the indoctrination of recruits into the hatred of mutants and personally executes Elektra, the nanny of Alex Summers and Madelyne Pryor’s child Scotty. The character is even promoted once an anti-mutant candidate wins the presidential election and names him General. It’s a hateful world that emphasizes the depth of human animosity.
5 Fury Feuds With Spider-Man (Earth-1610)
The Nick Fury of the Ultimate universe should appear familiar to readers most acquainted with his portrayal in the MCU. As is the case with the cinematic iteration, the creators base the likeness of Fury on legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson. What is strikingly different from Jackson’s portrayal is this Fury’s proclivities for tense confrontations with the good guys.
The first episode comes via Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley’s Ultimate Spider-Man #77 when the titular hero lays Fury out for refusing to answer the former’s questions. Tensions had been boiling for a while between them, but this proves the final nail in their relationship’s coffin, and Fury resolves to take Peter Parker’s powers from him by the end of the issue.
4 Fury Keeps Things Need-To-Know
Fury once again holds his cards close to his vest in the Ultimate universe, this time not just with Spider-Man. An interdimensional threat materializes, the Ultimates, X-Men, and Fantastic Four respond, and Fury remains committed to achieving his goals regardless of the cost.
Jeph Loeb and Greg Land’s Ultimate Power #7 has Spider-Man confront Fury about his ulterior motives: instead of working with the heroes, he had conspired with Doctor Doom to see the information first. However, Fury’s woes do not end there, as he is imprisoned for his crimes on Earth-31916, the other reality affected by his actions.
3 Fury Instigates Conflict
The Red Skull is the son of Captain America; whereas this may cause horror in most people, the Ultimate Fury is only enticed by its potential as a weapon. Undoubtedly a time of emotional turmoil for Steven Rogers, it’s ultimately revealed that Fury set in motion the entire episode by hiring the Red Skull to come out of his retirement.
As always, the spy’s aim is to consolidate power and regain his old role as Director. By permitting the Skull back out on the streets, Fury is forced to reactivate the Avengers, allowing his tenure at S.H.I.E.L.D. to continue. While not traditionally battling his more heroic compatriots, Fury’s willingness to utilize pressure points in their psyches marks him a perpetual threat.
2 Fury Nearly Pays For His Deceit
Ultimate Avengers vs New Ultimates, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Allred, is a comic that splits fan loyalties between the titular teams as they duke it out, chasing illegal Super-Soldier prototypes. A mix of confusion and irrationality leads to Fury’s Avengers colliding with the New Ultimates.
Fury plans on having Frank Castle assassinate Rogers, but Castle is thwarted by Spider-Man, leaving Fury to receive a brutal beatdown from Cap. The conflict expands to include the likes of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Gregory Stark, but Fury tops it all with a stunning transformation using the Super-Solider serum. It proves a massive threat to his health, and adding further insult to injury, doesn’t lead to the heroes’ victory in the final hour.
1 Fury Chooses His Earth Over Another
The Incursion, also known as Time Runs Out, is the impending invasion of the mainline Earth-616 reality onto that of the Ultimate Earth-1610. A vast number of creators, including Jonathan Hickman and Jim Cheung, are responsible for this massive story that recounts the final moments of two significant Marvel universes.
Fury is initially warned about the coming Incursion by the Maximus and Thanos of Earth-616 and takes the scoop to S.H.I.E.L.D. As a result, Fury demonstrates astonishing resolve by preparing to destroy the heroes of Earth-616 to save his own reality. A battle commences above Manhattan in pursuit of this goal, painting Fury as a cold alternative to the individual warmth of the superheroes he butts heads with.
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