- "S.H.I.E.L.D. is just as guilty of the same thing – experimentation without thought of consequence! Your search for an unlimited power source brought an alien invasion."
- ―Franklin Hall to Phil Coulson[src]
Franklin Hall was a S.H.I.E.L.D. asset and a Canadian scientist who became famous for his work and theories on the extremely rare element known as Gravitonium. Desiring to escape S.H.I.E.L.D., he leaked his location to his former friend Ian Quinn who freed him hoping that Hall could find a way to weaponize Gravitonium. Hall disagreed with Quinn and sought a way to destroy the Gravitonium, but before he could, he was caught up in a fight with Coulson's Team who had been called in by S.H.I.E.L.D. to rescue him. During the fight, he was dropped into the Gravitonium by Agent Phil Coulson.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Franklin Hall was a brilliant scientist from Canada who went to University of Cambridge with Ian Quinn. The two became friends as they shared the belief that all information should be free to whomever can use it. Hall also developed his theories about the rare and mysterious element known as Gravitonium during this time. Hall recognized the danger of his theoretical element, whereas Quinn thought only of how to exploit it.
Later in life, Hall became an instructor for S.H.I.E.L.D. where, as a chemical kinetics advisor, he taught such promising young cadets as Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons.[1]
Plans with the Gravitonium[]
Working with Ian Quinn[]
Hall is found while transported by S.H.I.E.L.D.
- "We can't let Quinn have control of this. It’s too dangerous."
"We can't let anyone have control of this. That's why I'm here, to bury it at the bottom of the ocean, with him." - ―Phil Coulson and Franklin Hall[src]
Hall discovered that Ian Quinn had discovered a large quantity of Gravitonium and feared what Quinn would do with such power, so Hall arranged to have himself kidnapped by Quinn and brought to Malta, where Hall pretended to work with Quinn towards his goals. In truth, Hall was determined to destroy the Gravitonium, along with Quinn and himself, in order to keep the world safe.[1]
Infiltration into Ian Quinn's Mansion[]
Hall is consumed by the Gravitonium
- "My team's here. Good people."
"Sworn to protect all mankind? That's what I'm doing, I promise. Making things right." - ―Phil Coulson and Franklin Hall[src]
Phil Coulson and his team attempted to rescue Hall. Coulson found Hall and determined that Hall's plan would harm much of the local population, so he disrupted Hall's plan and shut down the gravitational generator. The gravitational after-effect from the generator drew Hall into the mass of Gravitonium, enveloping him inside.[1]
Post-Mortem[]
- "It consumed them. Franklin wanted revenge, but now he's stuck with him, forever."
"They're inside the Gravitonium."
"Their minds. Their rage." - ―Carl Creel and Hale[src]
Coulson ordered the mass of Gravitonium be secured in an unmarked vault at The Fridge, a S.H.I.E.L.D. storage facility. Unknown to Phil Coulson, Hall still lived within the mass of the Gravitonium and sought to escape.[1]
Hall is permanently enveloped in Gravitonium
Grant Ward discussed with Coulson the different assets on board, believing that the Gravitonium was one of them. Coulson corrected him, revealing its location.[2] Ward later used this information when raiding the Fridge. He and John Garrett gifted it to Ian Quinn in exchange for his intel.[3]
Victoria Hand blamed Coulson for the death of Franklin Hall, which she used as an excuse to believe Coulson was a member of HYDRA.[2]
Quinn and Raina escaped Garrett's facility with the element, where Raina informed Quinn that Hall's consciousness within the element "wanted" Quinn. Raina then opened up the container, allowing the Gravitonium to suck Quinn into it, trapping his consciousness within it along with Hall's.[4]
For years, Hall and Quinn were trapped in the Gravitonium, arguing constantly. Carl Creel attempted to absorb the Gravitonium to replicate its properties, causing him to be haunted by the voices of both Hall and Quinn.[5] Glenn Talbot later absorbed the Gravitonium himself and was able to silence out Hall and Quinn. At the climax of the Battle of Chicago, Hall, Quinn and Creel were all killed when Talbot and the Gravitonium were ejected into space by Quake.[6]
Personality[]
- "I am doing the right thing, a completely selfless act. I know that history never celebrates what didn't happen. They'll call this a... a tragedy. They won't understand the good I did here."
"Killing innocent people?"
"Saving millions. We have to live with the choices we make, but sometimes, we have to die with them, too." - ―Franklin Hall and Phil Coulson[src]
Hall was a very smart man, being one of the higher minds in S.H.I.E.L.D. as a teacher to Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz. He believed that what he was doing with the Gravitonium was a selfless act without seeing the precautions of everyone around him. This fault caused his downfall and death where Phil Coulson had to make his own decision and kill Hall instead.
Abilities[]
- "Guess which genius published every theory about gravitonium and possible applications, years ago."
- ―Leo Fitz[src]
- Genius-Level Intellect: Hall was a very intelligent man who worked as a professor for S.H.I.E.L.D.. He taught two of what would become some of the smartest minds in the world, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons.
- Master Scientist: Though others told him otherwise, Hall predicted the existence of Gravitonium. With this knowledge he was able to study it and found out how to make the gravity inside his room go crazy, allowing him to walk on walls and ceilings.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
- Smith & Wesson M&P: Hall stole Phil Coulson's sidearm and used it to hold the agent at gunpoint while attempting to destroy the Gravitonium. However, Coulson soon reacquired and used the pistol to shatter the glass floor, plunging Hall to his death.[1]
Other Equipment[]
- Gravity Field Generator: Franklin Hall designed a machine theoretically capable of harnessing the power of Gravitonium to create artificial gravity fields. Hall hijacked Ian Quinn's prototype of this machine in order to destroy the Gravitonium, but was stopped by Phil Coulson.[1]
Facilities[]
- Cambridge University: Hall attended the university before joining S.H.I.E.L.D.
- S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy of Science and Technology: Hall was a teacher at the academy where he taught Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons among others.
- Ian Quinn's Mansion: Hall worked with Ian Quinn in the basement of his mansion. The Gravitonium manipulated the gravity which allowed him to stand on the walls and ceiling. Eventually, Phil Coulson came to save him, only to realize he needs to stop him. The two had a brief scuffle until Coulson was forced to shoot the glass from under Hall, causing him to fall into the Gravitonium.
Relationships[]
Enemies[]
- Quinn Worldwide
- Ian Quinn † - Former Friend
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (First Incarnation) - Former Allies
- Coulson's Team
- Phil Coulson † - First Killer
- Leo Fitz - Former Student
- Jemma Simmons - Former Student
- Quake - Final Killer
- Coulson's Team
Appearances[]
In chronological order:
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 1.03: The Asset
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 5.16: Inside Voices (flashbacks)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 5.18: All Roads Lead... (flashbacks)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 1.17: Turn, Turn, Turn (mentioned)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 5.14: The Devil Complex (mentioned)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 1.18: Providence (mentioned)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 1.20: Nothing Personal (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- In the comics, Dr. Franklin Hall becomes the super-powered villain Graviton in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. His S.H.I.E.L.D. transport being labeled with "Rocky Mountain Office Supply" is a reference to this fact.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Franklin Hall was originally intended to be a recurring character in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before his role was reduced to a single episode, which angered Ian Hart.[7]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.03: The Asset
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.17: Turn, Turn, Turn
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.18: Providence
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 5.16: Inside Voices
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 5.18: All Roads Lead...
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 5.22: The End
- ↑ Ian Hart interview: The Driver, British film, Harry Potter
