New York Comic-Con: Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Spies a Few New Secrets Ahead

Though ‘The Walking Dead’ may have stolen the show as the panel to see from New York Comic-Con, you didn’t think Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ would stay away from the action, did you? Save any groundbreaking announcements this year, Marvel honcho Jeph Loeb showed up with series stars Elizabeth Henstridge and Ian de Caestecker in tow to preview new Marvel secrets for the series, and preview Tuesday’s episode “Eye Spy” early!

Much of the panel came to be dominated by the running time for “Eye Spy,” whose title proves far more grossly literal than we had prepared for. We won’t give away the details of the episode, but suffice to say, ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ has pulled off its first ‘Mission Impossible’-like spy mission, with a few surprising twists, and plenty of humor throughout. A bit light on action, but we need a bit of variety once in a while, right?

Given Loeb’s notorious cageyness with spoilers, and the presence of only Fitz and Simmons on the panel, details were light. All told, here were the best moments from the panel and latest ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ installment:

• Curiously repeated throughout the episode was that no scientific cases of ESP or psychic powers have apparently emerged within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something we’re sure to have challenged over the coming years.
• True to getting in on the combat action, Melinda May gets some seriously impressive fight sequences with our subject of the week, Akela, a former agent trained by Coulson himself.
• Thankfully less obvious Ward and Skye 'shipping this week, though an uncomfortable task given to Ward gets one of the biggest laughs of the series so far.
• No more clues into Coulson’s resurrection, only that Akela definitively notices a difference in his behavior than in past, believing someone must have done something to him.
• In response to questions about 'shipping Coulson and Melinda May, especially with Coulson’s “cellist” lurking in the background, Loeb would only cryptically offer that Joss Whedon doesn’t introduce anything without plans to mine it later.
• Loeb continually responded “wouldn’t that be great?” to questions of future cameos on the series, or the potential for the TV agents to pop up in future Marvel films. No dice, inquisitive fans.
• We’d better get Fitz that monkey by season’s end!
• Asked for their favorite superheroes, Henstridge gave Loki as her answer, clarifying that she’d want to have tea and a hug with him, to ask him what’s really going on with all his mischief. Caestecker wanted only for the superpower of Brett Dalton’s handsomeness. Who wouldn’t?
• Loeb would be game to give ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ its own comic in the offseason, if fans make the desire known to Marvel. Get on it, folks!

We’ll have more from Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ as it comes in, but in the meantime, what say you? Are you excited to check out what the series has to offer next week after the full-season pickup?