Alexander Goodwin Pierce is a fictional character appearing in

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

s published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

, usually as a supporting character in stories featuring the espionage agency

S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism government agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, this agency first appeared in ''Strange Tal ...

as an agent. A re-imagining of the character was portrayed by

Robert Redford Charles Robert Redford Jr. (born August 18, 1936) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received numerous accolades such as an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994, the ...

in the

Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...

films '' Captain America: The Winter Soldier'' (2014) and '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019).

Publication history

The character, created by

Bob Harras Robert Harras (born January 11, 1959''Comics Buyer's Guide'' #1650; February 2009; page 107) is an American comics writer and editor, who was editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics from 1995 to 2000 and editor-in-chief of DC Comics from 2010 to 2020. ...

and

Paul Neary Paul Neary (18 December 1949 – 10 February 2024) was a British comic book artist, writer and editor. His first work was for Warren Publishing in the 1970s before working with Dez Skinn at Marvel UK as well as work for '' 2000 AD''. He later ...

, first appeared in ''

Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. ''Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.'' is a six-issue comic book miniseries published by Marvel Comics in 1988. It was written by Bob Harras and drawn by Paul Neary. Each issue is 48 pages long and they are referred to as books. The series was the first t ...

'' #3 (August 1988).

Fictional character biography

Alexander Pierce was born on

Long Island, New York Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

, and majored at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy in civilian surveillance, and serves in the

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Accounting Department before becoming a

sleeper agent A sleeper agent is a spy or operative who is placed in a target country or organization, not to undertake an immediate mission, but instead to act as a potential asset on short notice if activated in the future. Even if not activated, the "sle ...

working in decoding dispatches from HYDRA. After escaping death in an ambush at HYDRA's

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

base, Pierce accompanied

Nick Fury Colonel (United States), Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury Sr. is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, he first appeared in ''Sgt. Fury and ...

to the Himalayas, along with their prisoner

Madame Hydra Madame Hydra is the name of several different fictional supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is a name given to a top female operative of Hydra (comics), Hydra. Fictional character biography Ophelia Sark ...

. Unable to withstand the bitter cold, they were seized by robotic duplicates called "Deltites" and brought to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s orbiting satellite. Aided by Madame Hydra, Pierce and a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents escaped and took part in the battle that led to the Deltites' destruction. Following the subsequent disbanding of S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce served as caretaker of the S.H.I.E.L.D. skyscraper that once served as its headquarters. He was then contacted for help by Nick Fury aid him and his allies in vanquishing the Death's Head Squad. He has since joined the new version of S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury has organized. Pierce later appears as the Secret Warriors' leader following Secret War. Pierce was given command of Team Black, consisting of the most dangerous and unruly recruits on the Caterpillar list of young super-humans. The team was ordered to gather intelligence on Hydra. Pierce brought his team in for a joint attack with the

Howling Commandos The Howling Commandos is the name of several fictional groups appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team also appears in the franchises developed for other media. Fictional team history Original Incarnation (1963) T ...

on Hell's Heaven, stronghold deep within China. The mission was successful, but after Pierce pulled Team Black out, additional Hydra forces attacked and wiped out the Commandos. Pierce and his team survived and was all folded into a new United Nations sanctioned S.H.I.E.L.D. created by Fury and run by Daisy Johnson/Quake.

Other versions

Mutant X

In the '' Mutant X'' reality, Alexander Pierce along other S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents fought Havok and The Six (

X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...

) atop the

Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty (''Liberty Enlightening the World''; ) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, within New York City. The copper-clad statue, a gift to the United States from the people of French Thir ...

where S.H.I.E.L.D. planned to release the

Legacy Virus The Legacy Virus is a fictional plague appearing in American comic books featuring the X-Men published by Marvel Comics. It first appeared in an eponymous storyline in Marvel Comics titles, from 1993 to 2001, during which it swept through the mut ...

to kill all super-human life.

In other media

Television

Alexander Pierce appears in '' Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'', portrayed by Neil Roberts. This version is a British recruit assigned to the eponymous character following their exile from

under Jack Pincer.

Film

portrays Alexander Pierce in films set in the

. This version is the secretary of the World Security Council,

's close friend, director of a Hydra cell within

, and the Winter Soldier's handler (a role originally filled by

Aleksander Lukin Aleksander Lukin () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Publication history The character first appeared in ''Captain America'' vol. 5 #1 (January 2005), and was created by Ed Brubaker and St ...

). * Pierce is introduced in '' Captain America: The Winter Soldier'' (2014). He masterminds Project Insight ostensibly to recognize and apprehend criminals and terrorists using

Helicarrier The Helicarrier is a fictional airborne aircraft carrier appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the aircraft First appearance, first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #135 (August 1965). The ...

s, but in actuality plans to kill citizens whom

Arnim Zola Arnim Zola is a supervillain appearing in American comic books by Marvel Comics. He is a master of biochemistry and a recurring enemy of Captain America and the Avengers. The character first appeared in ''Captain America and the Falcon'' #208 (A ...

recognizes as a threat to Hydra to force the world into submission. When Pierce learns of Fury's investigation into Project Insight's confidential files, he dispatches the Winter Soldier to eliminate Fury and Steve Rogers. However, he is foiled by Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson, Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D. loyalists before Fury kills him. * An alternate timeline version of Pierce makes a cameo appearance in '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019).

References

External links

Alexander Goodwin Pierce
at Marvel Wiki {{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Alexander Characters created by Bob Harras Characters created by Paul Neary Comics characters introduced in 1988 Fictional American spies Fictional bodyguards Fictional characters from New York (state) Fictional politicians Fictional special forces personnel Fictional spymasters Fictional United States secretaries of defense S.H.I.E.L.D. agents