Marvel’s Sword is taking the fight to the King in Black, and Director Abigail Brand is making preparations for the mysterious “Protocol V.”
Warning! Spoilers ahead for SWORD #2 from Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti
In the latest issue of Marvel’s new SWORD series, the X-Men’s newly commissioned space program is taking the fight to Knull, the Symbiote god, otherwise known as the King in Black. Knull has taken over nearly the entire globe with his symbiote forces, and it seem as though a complete takeover of the planet is certain. However, that’s only because SWORD director Abigail Brand has yet to enact the highly classified and presumably dangerous “Protocol V.” What is this mysterious contingency plan, and what does it have to do with some of the most valuable mutants on the the island nation of Krakoa?
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This new iteration of SWORD came about in the aftermath of Marvel’s Empyre event over the summer, which saw the heroes of the world joining forces with the Kree and Skrull empires to fight back against the invading forces of the planet-based Cotati. However, Abigail Brand’s space defense program Alpha Flight wasn’t brought into the loop, which angered her greatly. In the wake of Empyre, Brand quit Alpha Flight, choosing instead to work with Krakoa to initiate a new version of SWORD, one that wouldn’t be beholden to the rest of the world in order to better fulfill its mission of protecting it.
Now, SWORD #2, from writer Al Ewing with art by Valleiro Schiti, sees Brand and her team of mutants working alongside Krakoa, looking to find a way to ward off the attacks of Knull’s fearsome symbiote dragons. The entire globe has been covered by a huge symbiote shell that’s blocking out the sun, which has lead to extreme weather changes. Not only that, but several heroes have already become overwhelmed by the sheer number of symbiotes under the King in Black’s command, becoming assimilated into his seemingly infinite army. As a result, Brand determines to set Protocol V in motion, apparently meant to be enacted for such a time as this: when the superheroes of Earth have begun to fail.
Whatever Protocol V is, it’s going to be highly dangerous and controversial. It also makes perfect sense, seeing as how Abigail Brand is the one who’s come up with whatever it may be. The director of SWORD has long been characterized as the one capable of making the hard choices in the name of the greater good. Thanks to Mentallo’s help and his literal rolling and armored “Think-Tank,” the first phase of Protocol V is underway by the issue’s end, seeing him securing The Five. The Five are some of the most powerful and valuable mutants on Krakoa, as they’re responsible for the resurrections of mutants if and when they fall in battle. Subsequently, it’s quite concerning that Brand would want them for her plans.
If Brand is planning to use The Five, it probably means she wants someone resurrected; but who? On an even grander and darker scale, could Protocol V be a massive attack that won’t discriminate between symbiotes and innocents? If any innocents do die, The Five would theoretically be able to resurrect them so long as the dead have psychological backups downloaded to Cerebro, though that would be extremely morally questionable. However, that’s only conjecture. Whatever Protocol V ends up being, it’s sure to be risky and can’t be good. Here’s hoping SWORD and Abigail Brand won’t have to resort to any extreme measures such as this new protocol as King in Black continues.
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