Nick Fury

"There was an idea called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people so they could become something more. See if they could work together when we needed them to to fight the battles we never could."

- Nick Fury

Nicholas "Nick" Fury is an officer of the US Army and espionage veteran of the Cold War who now leads S.H.I.E.L.D., a covert international peacekeeping organization which operates as humanity's first line of defense against Earth's most dangerous enemies. His job as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. led him to all sorts of unusual adventures, including dealing with superhumans and extraterrestrials.

Fury's youth and first actions
Nick Fury's past is shrouded in a mystery, but it is only known that he was capable enough to obtain the rank of Colonel in the United States Armed Forces.

During the Cold War, Fury was sent on a mission to Russia. He encountered a person named Vinorovsky, who was deported some months ago when he tried to sell bad info. Fury's partner Escobar asked what Verliecki has that its so valuable, and Fury says full dossiers of 12 undercover CIA operatives in Soviet territories. If the OP dies the Cold War will heat up real fast.

Fury goes to meet up with Comrade Verliecki. Inside the apartment, Fury was attacked, but Verliecki was quickly defeated. Suddenly, Escobar points his gun at Fury and orders him to hand over the case they found in the apartment. He tells Fury to not take it personally, as its nothing to do with him, but for the end of the Cold War, but Fury attacks and defeats him, then Verliecki knocks Escobar. Verliecki tells Fury to take the case as he filled it with cigars for him, as it been a long time since they sparred. Verliecki asks Fury if he's okay, and Fury simply says he couldn't hurt him if he tried, but Verliecki says that he tried. Fury leaves and calls Timothy Dugan who ask how's Escobar, and Fury states he flipped. With him gone Dugan states its time to celebrate, and Fury tells him to not start without him, as he's bringing cigars.

Director Fury
"One thing I know for sure: Nobody is better suited to protect this world than me and my people."

- Nick Fury to the World Security Council

Fury's extraordinary military and espionage skills won him the position of the executive head of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, an international peacekeeping organization. Fury is also credited as a possible co-creator/designer of the Avengers Initiative as well as the special operations commander.

Hawkeye and Black Widow
Fury found the most talented archer in the world, Clinton "Clint" Barton, who has nearly never missed. Fury hired him into S.H.I.E.L.D. when Clint was young. When Clint was 27, Fury sent him to eliminate a young Russian protege in espionage, named Natasha Romanoff, given the alias Black Widow. Hawkeye managed to capture Natasha, but he decided to give her a choice to either join S.H.I.E.L.D. or be killed. She chose to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and train under Hawkeye.

Meeting Bruce Banner
11 years later, Fury was trying to find Bruce Banner and learn what Thaddeus Ross' "Super-Soldier Program" did to him. He tried to earn Bruce's trust by buying him a beer but he refused, saying "I'm sort of a mean drunk."

Fury continues to try to earn his trust, until he eventually tries to test his abilities by making two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, named Johnson and Peterson, appear to be dating and one is cheating on the other with Bruce which makes Bruce confused about the situation. The other starts to fight Bruce, but Fury tries to act like he's going to help him, but Peterson unintentionally punches him in the face.

This turns Bruce into the Hulk and he goes on a rampage. Fury and everyone else in the bar is surprised by his transformation. Fury tries to calm him down, but Hulk yells at him causing nearly all the glass in the room to shatter. Fury keeps a straight face and doesn't move at all. Hulk then runs out through the wall.

Two days later, Fury calls a meeting for S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives, including Phil Coulson. He tells them that the Hulk is only a secondary matter.

The Birth of Iron Man
""I am Iron Man". You think you're the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet." "Who the hell are you?" "Nick Fury. Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." "Ah." "I'm here to talk to you about the Avenger Initiative."

- Nick Fury and Tony Stark

After Tony Stark publicly announced his identity as Iron Man, Fury went to Stark's home in Malibu, California to talk to him about the Avenger Initiative. Stark initially did not want anything to do with Fury, and ordered him to leave. As Fury drove away, he ordered Agent Coulson to contact Agent Romanoff, saying that they would need her help. Some time later, he personally ordered Romanoff to infiltrate Stark's company under the guise of Natalie Rushman.

The week starts
"We keep doing what we're doing and tell them that we're doing what they want us to be doing." "How?" "Hell, I dunno. Get creative. Cook the books. Whatever it takes to let us do this job right."

- Nick Fury and Phil Coulson

Soon, Fury led an expedition to Greenland in hopes of finding Steve Rogers, the American war hero from World War II. Fury didn't find Rogers, but he found one of the disabled flying bombs from HYDRA's super bomber, the Valkyrie. He wanted to continue the search but the World Security Council ordered his team to shut down the operation and return to New York City. Twelve hours later, the Council ordered Fury to stop wasting time on what they called "wasteful programs" and focus on reigniting the Tesseract, naming that operation "Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.". Despite the direct order, Fury decided to continue with his usual activities.

When the Council officially approved the activation of the Avengers Initiative, they ordered Fury to recruit Emil Blonsky. Unhappy with the Council's order, Fury put Agent Coulson on the case, who in turn scuttled the plan of recruiting Blonsky by sending Stark as an intermediary instead.

Shortly after Stark's out-of-control behavior resulted in the Mark II Iron Man armor falling into the hands of the U.S. military, Fury was informed by Coulson about the wormhole appearing near the planet. Fury immediately sent Coulson to New Mexico to make contact with Erik Selvig and Jane Foster.

A lot of problems
"What do you want from me?" "What do we want from you? Uh-uh. What do you want from me? You have become a problem, a problem I have to deal with. Contrary to your belief, you are not the center of my universe. I have bigger problems in the southwest region to deal with."

- Tony Stark and Nick Fury

Shortly after, Fury confronted Stark for becoming a problem that he had to deal with. As well as providing information on the background of Ivan Vanko, Fury and Romanoff provided Stark with information and materials from his father, which proved instrumental in finding a replacement power source for his personal Arc Reactor.

As things in New Mexico became more complicated with the arrival of Mjølnir, Fury sent Agent Barton to join Coulson at the site. He also assigned Agent Romanoff to keep track on Bruce Banner at Culver University.

Fury met with Stark once again after Stark had defeated Ivan Vanko's attack on the Stark Expo. Stark had proven himself unsuitable for the Avenger Initiative, but after informing him of this, Fury offered to recruit his services as a consultant. A moment later, Agent Romanoff gave him her report about Banner's transformation into the Hulk and his fight against Emil Blonsky, who was enhanced by the modified version of the Super Soldier Serum. At the same time, Agent Coulson called to inform him about the Destroyer's attack on Puente Antiguo.

After Thor's victory over the Destroyer, Fury was informed that General Thaddeus Ross hacked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s computers. Fury confronted Ross, who replied that he wasn't going to leave the safety of the world in his hands. Fury also discovered that the World Security Council gave Ross permission to extract the informations he needed from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s computers. Worried, Fury wanted to prevent Ross from capturing Banner, but it was too late, because Banner was already captured by Ross' soldiers in New York City. Despite this, Fury sent Agent Romanoff to the laboratory of Dr. Samuel Sterns, Banner's colleague, to take any papers Banner might left behind. Romanoff witnessed Hulk's fight against the Abomination and Sterns' transformation into the Leader. Before Sterns could do any damage, Romanoff shot him through the leg and called her colleagues to take custody of him.

End of the week
"I not only saved Tony Stark's life, but I also provided the guidance he needed to finish his father's work. The result of that being the creation of a new element, which might be extremely useful in reigniting the Tesseract."

- Nick Fury to the World Security Council

Fury's recruitment drive turned to people who had been involved in a destructive incident in Puente Antiguo, New Mexico. He summoned Culver University astrophysics professor Erik Selvig, who had been closely associated with the incident, to an underground S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, and then drew the scientist's attention to a secure, portable storage case. Fury revealed a glowing cube within the case and suggested that it was a source of immense power, although nobody had been able to determine a means of tapping that power. Selvig accepted the challenge to investigate the object further.

A day later, Fury gave his report to the World Security Council. Finally satisfied with his work, the Council decided to increase the funding for the agency, expand jurisdictions for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents, and augment Fury's strategic authority.

Steve Rogers
"At ease, soldier! Look, I'm sorry about that little show back there, but we thought it best to break it to you slowly." "Break what?" "You've been asleep, Cap. For almost 70 years."

- Nick Fury and Steve Rogers

A year after the "big week", the Avengers Initiative was slowly losing traction by the time another potential recruit was found. Steven Rogers (Captain America), the world's first "superhero" had been frozen in Arctic ice since World War II, and had miraculously survived his entombment. Fury oversaw his recovery and rehabilitation, personally intercepting him when the man awoke and escaped into the heart of New York City.

Destruction of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.
"We have no quarrel with your people." "An ant has no quarrel with a boot."

- Nick Fury and Loki

With little to show for his efforts in bringing together a group of extraordinary people, Fury shelved his plan and began focusing on weaponry instead. "Phase 2", as the offshoot idea came to be called, involved re-engineering weapons technology that had emerged in the hands of HYDRA years earlier, as well as other cutting edge, or alien, technology. The Tesseract, that he'd assigned Professor Selvig to investigate, formed a significant part of this puzzle. When the Tesseract began emitting unexpected levels of gamma radiation, Fury was quick to personally take charge of the operation. The emissions proved to be a prelude to the appearance of Loki on Earth, and neither Fury, nor his personnel had the power to stop Loki escaping with the cube.

Reactivation of the Avengers Initiative
"Doctor, thank you for coming." "Thanks for asking nicely. So, uh... how long am I staying?" "Once we get our hands on the Tesseract, you're in the clear."

- Nick Fury and Bruce Banner

Desperate for a solution to the problem of Loki's possession of apparently limitless power, Fury reactivated the Avengers Initiative. He effortlessly brought Steven Rogers in and dispatched agents to call in the help of Tony Stark and Dr. Bruce Banner. In short order, Loki made his first public appearance, and was apprehended, heralding an unexpected further addition to the collection of extraordinary people when Loki's brother Thor arrived, making demands of his own for Loki's extradition.

Attack on the Helicarrier
"How desperate am I? You threaten my world with war, you steal a force you can't hope to control, you talk about peace, and you kill 'cause it's fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did."

- Nick Fury to Loki

Fury could do little to quell the rising tensions in a ship now packed with egos, and problems only escalated when some of these people uncovered his deceptions surrounding the Phase 2 project. With arguments boiling over, Loki played his hand, and Fury and the others were caught completely off guard when the Helicarrier came under attack in a daring commando raid by Loki's mind-controlled soldiers led by Hawkeye. Fury returned to his post on the bridge to take command of the situation and was instrumental in warding off an assault there.

In the wake of the battle, Fury found agent Coulson severely wounded by Loki's hand. Coulson's wounds were serious, but not deadly, and though he was going to survive, Fury hid that fact from the Avengers and told them that Coulson is dead, believing that Coulson's "death" would be a trigger that would finally unite the Avengers. Despite the ethically questionable nature of the plan, it proved to be effective, as the Avengers set off in pursuit of Loki shortly thereafter.

Battle of New York
"Director Fury, the council has made a decision." "I recognise the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-ass decision, I've elected to ignore it."

- World Security Council and Nick Fury

The Avengers Initiative may have finally come to fruition, but Fury's role in their battle was not yet done. The World Security Council issued orders to send a nuclear missile into the vicinity of Manhattan, which Fury refused, but then overriding orders saw one fighter jet escape him after he knocked another out of action with a rocket launcher.

The Avengers Initiative ultimately won out. Fury's defiance of the World Security Council may not have been forgotten, but his methods and actions had saved the world. He resolved to call upon the Avengers should they be needed again, and made further assurances that they would come.

New actions
After the battle of New York, with the entire planet being aware of the existence of extraterestrials and demigods, many criminals and terrorist organizations wanted to obtain some of the new technologies and weapons left by the Chitauri. Fury knew that he has to do something about that, so he instructed Coulson to organize a team that would prevent the worst from happening. After Coulson's mission in Peru, Fury scolds Coulson for damaging the plane and warns him that Skye is a risk.

Friends and Allies

 * Phil Coulson - Right-hand man and subordinate
 * Maria Hill - Subordinate
 * Alexander Pierce - Confidante
 * Avengers
 * Captain America - Adviser for S.H.I.E.L.D.
 * Iron Man - Consultant
 * Thor
 * Hulk
 * Black Widow - Subordinate
 * Hawkeye - Subordinate
 * Jasper Sitwell - Subordinate
 * Erik Selvig - Subordinate
 * Blake - Subordinate

Enemies

 * Loki
 * Chitauri
 * Ivan Vanko

Video game only

 * A.I.M.
 * Kearson DeWitt
 * Crimson Dynamo

Abilities
Nick Fury is a master strategist and an astute judge of character. He uses these talents to great effect in his leadership of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury has done what would be called questionable tactics over his years but nonetheless, he will ultimately do what is right. Point in case, when the Council ordered him to strike the city with a nuke, but he wouldn't; even going as far as disabling one of the planes ordered to strike the city with a rocket launcher and warning Stark about it. At this time, it is unknown but more than likely, he does have a fairly extensive military background but it is not revealed in full at the moment. Nonetheless, he is a seasoned unarmed- and armed-combat veteran expert as he was able to take down two brainwashed agents with ease. He is also trained to use U.S. military firearms (standard and automatic).

Equipment
S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform: made from 9-ply Kevlar (able to withstand ballistic impact up to .45 caliber bullets) and a fire-resistant material whose kindling temperature is 1,700 °F (930 °C). Numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. paraphernalia including a radio-link tie.

Fury carries a government issue USP pistol. Also, an array of S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons, conventional and otherwise. In addition, due to him being the leader of a secret but covert/military organization, he has access to the most cutting-edge technology S.H.I.E.L.D. has to offer.

Trivia

 * Although most of the heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are based off of their mainstream counterparts, this Nick Fury is modeled after his Ultimate version, who is himself modeled after Samuel L. Jackson. The mainstream version of Nick Fury is an Italian American veteran of World War II.
 * Coincidentally, in the Ultimate comics, Nick Fury said that if he could choose any actor to portray him on film, he'd choose Samuel L. Jackson.
 * Unlike the Ultimate Nick Fury who is a general in the United States Armed Forces, the MCU version of the character is a colonel, just like his mainstream counterpart.