Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.

Today we look at the group that keeps Earth safe from the rest of the universe (as much as it can): S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department)

Appearances in Heroclix: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD, The Invincible Iron Man, Wolverine and the X-Men, Giant-Size X-Men, Mutations and Monsters

First Appearance: Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) #3

Notable Members: Beast, Abigail Brand, Lockheed, Spider-Woman

Created by: Joss Whedon and John Cassaday

SWORD is the extraterrestrial answer to SHIELD. Without Nick Fury leading SHIELD, communications with SWORD have fallen into disarray. Abigail Brand is the head of SWORD and helps maintain its headquarters aboard the space station named the Peak.

Lockheed is an agent of SWORD and has been working with the X-Men for years as an undercover operation. Just before Lockheed is outed as an agent, the X-Men as well as Ord of Breakworld and Danger are transported to Breakworld by Brand and SWORD. Soon after they arrive in Breakworld’s orbit, they are attacked by the planet’s defenses. The agents and X-Men land on the planet’s surface and attempt to stop a missile aimed at the Earth. This plot is ultimatley thwarted by Kitty Pryde when she is able to temporarily phase the missile right through the Earth, though it took such a tremendous effort that she was lost at space for quite some time.

During the Secret Invasion, a Skrull posing as Dum Dum Dugan destroys the Peak. SWORD remains unaffiliated and is able to rebuild the Peak during SHIELD’s temporary reformation as HAMMER under Norman Osborn.

Henry Peter Gyrich is later assigned as SWORD co-commander with Brand and is able to temporarily deport all aliens living on Earth while Brand is distracted. The Apocalypse Twins later damage the Peak. The Peak is later overtaken by symbiote possessed Brood before being used as a research station to teach the Brood compassion.

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