As Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. gears up for its return, social media has become the friend of Marvel once again. Using Twitter, the AoS official account tweeted out a small clip of Agent Phil Coulson in the Framework. If you forgot what the Framework was, it’s that creepy thing built by Dr. Radcliffe and Aida which places people in a simulated reality that no longer requires their human body to be alive or working to keep them alive. Now we get our first look at how that will impact those trapped in the Framework, notably Coulson.
Will the simple life really be so simple in the Framework? #AgentsofSHIELD pic.twitter.com/t1Ah9uytrK
— Agents of SHIELD (@AgentsofSHIELD) March 27, 2017
I’m with Mack and Yo-Yo on this one, haven’t these people — I’m looking at you, Stark — watched a movie? No good can come of artificial intelligence in an enhanced cybernetic body. Alas, our heroes (villains?) face a world unlike anything they’ve ever seen before when Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns on April 4th and this is what we’re given as a synopsis for what fans will affectionately call the “What If? pod.
Hail the New World Order! Daisy and Simmons uncover secrets and lies in a world gone mad. With Hydra in control, they are our only hope to save everyone.
Marvel is using the upcoming Agents of Hydra arc along with Secret Empire to create an industry-wide Hydra takeover event, which I wrote about for TMR earlier. This will include appearances on the ABC family of networks, daytime television, ads, and promotion on social media like we see below.
Cut off one head…well, you know the rest. #AgentsofSHIELD pic.twitter.com/7Wq0KmrL5L
— Agents of SHIELD (@AgentsofSHIELD) March 24, 2017
ABC is pulling out all of the stops to ensure that the Hydra event is a smashing success. This is the first year that Marvel is churning out three movies and three featured titles on Netflix, so securing a successful release for the first of a couple major Summer 2017 events is a high priority. All told, the “What If” pod has a chance to be one of Marvel greatest television successes and that will lead fans directly into the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in May.
It’s really not a bad time to be a Marvel fan, it doesn’t matter the preferred medium.