Well, like everyone else in Geekdom, I went ahead and watched "Agents of SHIELD" last night. I've managed to stop reading Marvel's comics, but I still watch most of the movies sooner or later, and I'm gonna go ahead and watch this new show for awhile. I feel kinda dirty about it.
Having said that, I would like to point out that Jack Kirby actually got a credit, in the opening credits, in big bold letters where everyone could see it. And considering Agent Coulson's hovercar was plucked DIRECTLY from Kirby's first issue of "Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD", they damn well better have given him a credit. Unsurprisingly, Stan Lee got top billing, but considering that "The Man" was also listed as an Executive Producer, well, again, it's a small miracle Kirby even got a mention.
Speaking of Agent Phil Coulson, say what you will about his "resurrection" (I think we all have about the same theory on that one, right?), the entire show pivots on his character, so it's a good thing they brought him back. The other characters are all pretty basic: Young James Bondesque tough guy, bad @$$ Asian chick, eccentric science people, and a mouthy hacker. Nothing you can't see on a dozen different shows or movies or comics or whatever.
Coulson on the other hand feels like one of those rarities you get on TeeVee every now and again, a really original character cut from whole cloth. Maybe it's just the actor playing the role, maybe it's how he's written, maybe it's both, but Agent Phil Coulson IS THE SHOW. Without him, SHIELD would feel generic. With him its got a beating heart.
Other than that, it's pretty much your standard Whedon fare (which isn't a bad thing at all): Snappy Dialogue, Lotsa Characterization and Character Moments, and an entire season's worth of intrigue. It's good stuff, even if you've got a chip on your shoulder for Marvel a mile wide. (Again, I can't stress enough how the credit for Kirby made the show far more palatable)
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