Nick Fury: The Implanted Identity Conspiracy
Nick Fury is a character every Marvel fan should be familiar with. But do the comic fans know him as well as they think they do? In the beginning of Irredeemable Ant-Man and implied behind the scenes in Nextwave there's a rumor about him. It is said that Fury is an urban myth. Now comic fans familiar with the original Agent of SHIELD and Fury Jr. know that this isn't the case. Or is it? Recalling a story Grant Morrison changes into The Filth, Nick Fury is said to be an identity SHIELD brainwashes individuals into becoming. Is that still the case?
Nick Fury Introduction
The original Nicholas Joesph Fury debuts in Marvel's early days as a US army sergeant in WWII. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as Marvel gets itself off the ground, he brings a sense of reality to an otherwise extravagant world. Together with the classic Howling Commandos they tackle many war stories from WWII to Vietnam. Two years after his debut, Fury returns in the present barely older than from his war days; with only some graying streaks and an eyepatch to show the difference.
Unlike the soldier this super-spy takes a James Bond-like approach to the world of superheroes. Accompanying this change are gadgets like the Helicarrier and the Life Model Decoys. But perhaps the most extravagant comes from the Infinity Formula, a lesser super soldier serum. One that he has to take annually in order to retain his prime physique. But the psychedelic artwork by Jim Steranko bring up some serious questions with some of these events.
Fury vs Retcons
In the comics after the finale to the Howling Commandoes, Fury's backstory seems to shift around. If anyone asks how Fury lost his left eye it involves two things. The sergeant lost it through grenade shrapnel while the super spy says he was blown "into a jigsaw puzzle". This is where the Infinity Formula comes in to restore Fury from his accidents. Yet this seems sketchy.
Not helping is that subsequent series feature ongoing secret wars with HYDRA. Only for those series to actually be a plot by HYDRA's commander Baron Von Strucker in his attempts to take over SHIELD. Which really brings up something to ask, if a retcon exists to mess with events is this guy even the real Nick Fury?
The Nick Fury Program
With few people ever seeing Nick Fury, it stands to reason there is skepticism surrounding him. Especially when more recent comics bring up some implications. Original Sin for example shows that the Infinity Formula really didn't do all that much for him. He's just a really old man who uses LMDs of himself to operate. One of the most prevailing theories however is that every Nick Fury after the Sergeant is actually someone else taking the mantle. Even the first appearance of Fury in the Ultimate Comics implies that when his next appearance is of a different race.
This naturally would not be by choice. If a Game Theory video implies a similar event taking place within Metal Gear, these soldiers are conditioned. And that some of them probably are inactive or left with some very serious mental scars. One example is Dirk Anger from Nextwave, who Warren Ellis says is "most definitely Nick Fury. At all". Hey he had to get around the mandate somehow. Then there's Marcus Johnson a.k.a. Nick Fury Jr. Who only exists to make Fury in the main Marvel comics match the Samuel L. Jackson depiction. His activation is mainly because "Sr." went AWOL.
The Fury LMDs meanwhile are either backups or a less controversial means of this program. Because if subjects like Dirk are anything to go by, the less mental issues the better. At least until the LMDs form a destructive hive mind and everyone decides it's not worth the trouble.
What Gives Fury?
With all of this in mind it seems Grant Morrison is leaving some infectious ideas around. Marcus is probably going to need a lot of therapy at some point or another. Mockingbird and Winter Soldier are also gonna need to check herself to see if the Infinity Formula actually leaves anything. Otherwise if they lose an eye, they won't be just wearing the eye patch they'll be total control freaks. Fury, SHIELD, Hydra, whoever's responsible better have the means to counter this.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.