For all its macho superheroes, when Marvel does girl power — it does it right. If you have been paying attention to the Marvel world, particularly watching Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then you know Marvel is taking on a new female character, Agent Peggy Carter. Not just showcasing her in a TV show, but creating a TV show all about a new leading lady.
Introducing Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).
Marvel has always believed in strong heroes, it doesn’t matter whether they are men or women, young or old, black or white. A hero comes from within. ~ Jeph Loeb
For those who need a Marvel refresher course, let’s run down some Agent Carter history.
Agent Peggy Carter
Agent Peggy Carter first appeared on the Marvel scene in the 1940s as the love interest of Steve Rogers AKA Captain America. That was Peggy Carter who tragically said her goodbyes to Captain America as he plummeted to his “death” in the freezing water. (Of course, we know he didn’t die, but Peggy didn’t know.)
After that brief introduction to Agent Carter, Marvel released a one-shot (a short film) on the Iron Man 3 Blu-ray featuring Agent Peggy Carter. In the one-shot, we find Agent Carter a member of the Strategic Scientific Reserve (the precursor to S.H.I.E.L.D.). She is an agent but in a man’s world, and she is stuck compiling data instead of working field cases. Stuck filing paperwork alone one late night, the phone rings. It is a tip with details of the location of the mysterious Zodiac.
With no time to waste, Agent Carter takes it upon herself to tackle to Zodiac single-handedly (with grace and flare I might add). This does not sit well with her boss, Agent Flynn, who reprimands her for not going through the proper procedures to complete the mission. (AKA not letting the men handle the dirty work.) Then Howard Stark calls. He is impressed by Agent Peggy Carter and orders Flynn to inform Carter that she will co-head the newly created S.H.I.E.L.D. (Sorry fellows.)
All of these little teases have led to a new series — Agent Carter — premiering January 6, 2015 during the mid-season break of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. So not only will fans get a new series (and new heroine) to fall in love with, but we get to enjoy new Marvel episodes while S.H.I.E.L.D. is on break.
The 2014 season of S.H.I.E.L.D. opened with Agent Coulson trying to figure out how to make shield work again. How much fun could it be after watching someone in the present try to figure it out to go back the beginning to the end of the SSR trying to figure out what is S.H.I.E.L.D. and what S.H.I.E.L.D. should be.
Last fall I saw a few sneak peeks of the new show, and I can’t wait to dive right into the new series. In case you need me tonight, call after the two-hour season premiere of Agent Carter, I won’t be taking calls from 8 – 10 pm EST.
Oh, and just one more tease. After meeting with the executive producers of Agent Cater, I went on set with Hayley Atwell. We chatted with the star between takes, toured the set, met with the costume designer and even posed for pictures on set. Seriously, it was amazing! I will share details from the set of Agent Carter next week.