S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) is a fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Its purpose is to deal with extraterrestrial threats to world security and is the space-based counterpart of S.H.I.E.L.D., which deals with local threats to the world.

The organization appears in several forms of media, such as The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) / Disney+ miniseries WandaVision.

S.W.O.R.D. was first introduced in Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 and was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday.^[1]

In the comics, S.W.O.R.D. was originally an offshoot of S.H.I.E.L.D., but since the departure of Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D., relations between the two organizations have become strained. The head of S.W.O.R.D. is Special Agent Abigail Brand. Its primary command-and-control headquarters are aboard the orbital space station known as the Peak.

S.W.O.R.D. had an undercover operative in the X-Mansion. In Astonishing X-Men vol. 3, #17, the identity of this undercover operative was revealed to be Lockheed.

During the 2009 Chicago Comic Con, it was announced that Kieron Gillen will collaborate with Steven Sanders on a S.W.O.R.D. ongoing series that began in November 2009.^[2][3] The new series starts with Henry Peter Gyrich being assigned as S.W.O.R.D. co-commander alongside Abigail Brand.

In the first arc, Gyrich is able to persuade the heads of S.W.O.R.D. to pass legislation to have all aliens currently living on Earth deported from the planet while Brand was distracted with another mission. He manages to take several notable aliens into custody including Noh-Varr, Adam X, Beta Ray Bill, Jazinda, Karolina Dean, and Hepzibah.^[4]

The series was cancelled with issue #5. The first issue started with estimated direct sales of 21,988,^[5] but that had dropped to 15,113 by the second issue.^[6]

The Peak is later evacuated after it is damaged by the Apocalypse Twins.^[7] The debris from the station nearly destroys Rio de Janeiro, but is safely vaporized by Sunfire.^[8]

The organization is shown as working smoothly and functioning when it sends a capture team to take custody of alien refugees and a paramedic assistance team to the Jean Grey School. Unfortunately, both teams are murdered by the same Brood-based threat.^[9]

The rebuilt station is overtaken by alien symbiotes and Brood warriors. The station's personnel are taken for hosts.^[10]

S.W.O.R.D. was relaunched in December 2020 as part of "Reign of X". Written by Al Ewing and drawn by Valerio Schiti, the initial team consisted of Abigail Brand, Cable, Frenzy, Fabian Cortez, Magneto, Manifold and Wiz Kid.^[11]

S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Directorate) was restored when Abigail Brand resigned from Alpha Flight after the Alliance-Cotati conflict feeling that the space program wasn't properly utilized and when the mutant nation repowered the abandoned Peak space station. In cooperation with the Quiet Council of Krakoa, it became the mutant nation's representative to the outer universe.

With Abigail Brand as the Station Commander, S.W.O.R.D functions with a six-tier organizational structure:

• Technology/Engineering
  • Station Technologist – Wiz Kid (Takeshi Matsuya)
• Logistics
  • Quintician – Manifold (Eden Fesi)
  • Teleport Team
    • Blink (Clarice Ferguson)
    • Lila Cheney
    • Gateway
    • Vanisher (Telford Porter)
    • Voght (Amelia Voght)
• Medical/Energy Resources
  • Executive Producer – Khora of the Burning Heart; Fabian Cortez (formerly)
• Diplomacy/Negotiation
  • Amabassador Extraordinary – Frenzy (Joanna Cargill)
  • Ambassador In Training – Armor (Hisako Ikichi)
  • Galactic Ambassador – Paibok (from the Kree/Skrull Alliance)
• Security
  • Security Director – Cable (Nathan Summers)
  • Security Team
    • Random (Marshall Stone III)
    • Risque (Gloria Muñoz)
    • Forearm (Michael McCain)
    • Slab (Christopher Anderson)
    • Ruckus (Clement Wilson)
    • Thumbelina (Kristina Anderson)
• Observation/Analysis
  • Psionic Analyst – Mentallo (Marvin Flumm)
  • Analysis Team
    • Peeper (Peter Quinn)

S.W.O.R.D. also formed The Six, a multiversal far-retrieval circuit, utilizing mutant technology. There are two stages require for a full retrieval:

1. First Stage – Translocation: a circuit of five mid-to-long range teleporters which acts as the anchor for translocation. [Back-up: Nightcrawler and Magik]
2. Second Stage – Retrieval: a circuit of six mutants with combining their protection and augmentation powers to reach different points in space.
   • The Control – Wiz Kid: unify the first stage circuit of teleporters and adjust the mutant circuits in operation. [Back-up: Forge]
   • The Power – Khora the Burning Heart; Fabian Cortez (formerly): provide the boost required for the circuit operation.
   • The Shield – Armor: generate a protective exoskeleton that extends to the entire circuit. [Back-up: Skids]
   • The Guide – Manifold: trans-locate the entirety of the second stage circuit while saving his energies for the retrieval.
   • The Eye – Peeper: spot specific particles of their target. [Back-up: Doc]
   • The Foundry – Risque: create a small field around their target condensing and containing it to help bring it back to Earth. [Back-up: Zorn]

• S.W.O.R.D. (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
• List of government agencies in Marvel Comics