Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Coulson Protocols Review

Finished reading Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Coulson Protocols, beginning a new series for the main Marvel universe version of Marvel's cinematic S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as writer Marc Guggenheim blends together elements of the TV show within the context of the main Marvel universe. The book opens with agent Phil Coulson in the disguise of Batroc to infiltrate an auction between a few villains where the highest bidder will gain the location of a new biological weapon, while the rest of the team are trying to keep the real Batroc. The book then continues with its main story as an Iron Man impostor breaks into the Pentagon which causes Tony Stark to try to make contact with Coulson about the situation. After finishing up a mission with a group of former A.I.M. agents Coulson debriefs his team of the Iron Man imposter as he goes to meet with his ex girlfriend and government official, Lola while the rest of the team track the imposter. After being unable to find the imposter the team get news of a different auction that has an item that the imposter Iron Man stole from the Pentagon on show, while agent Simmons, Deathlok and Quake have been reassigned to apprehend Rick Jones after being discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. during the events of Standoff, only to find themselves face to face with the New Avengers. Overall this was a good book as it delves more into Phil Coulson's past which brings the great introductions of Coulson's ex girlfriend Lola and the first appearance of Grant Ward within the main Marvel universe leads to some great character growth for Coulson. However the rest of the cast feels short changed in places with the book's prime focus being on Coulson leads to some secondary storylines being left open with little development and simply set up, like how Simmons is dealing with being exposed to A.I.M.'s DNA bomb which only comes to the attention of Deathlok during the fight with the New Avengers. The art by Germán Peralta is great as the action sect prices and even the more quiet undercover scenes are drawn greatly, along with the addition of colourist Rachelle Rosenberg helps to bring to life the full story and differentiate the scenes set in the past to those set in the present thanks to a more monotone colour of the flashbacks. 7/10.