Victoria Hand | |
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Victoria Hand.
Art by Oliver Coipel. |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | The Invincible Iron Man #8 (December 2008) |
Created by |
Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Mike Deodato (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Victoria Hand |
Species | Human |
Team affiliations |
S.H.I.E.L.D. Dark Avengers H.A.M.M.E.R. New Avengers |
Partnerships | Norman Osborn |
Abilities | Highly skilled in information gathering, logistics, strategic management and espionage. |
Victoria Hand is a fictional supporting character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those featuring the American espionage organization S.H.I.E.L.D. of which Hand is a member.
Victoria Hand was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Her first appearance was in The Invincible Iron Man #8 by the creative team of Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca, although her subsequent appearance in Dark Avengers #1, by Bendis and Deodato, predates this in continuity.
Hand appeared as a supporting character throughout the 2010-2013 New Avengers series from issue #1 (August 2010) through the character's death in issue #32 (December 2012).
Hand was initially introduced as a S.H.I.E.L.D. accountant, dating a fellow agent named Isabelle - a partner with different beliefs about the war on terror. Three years before the Secret Invasion storyline, Victoria sent a letter to S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury about his war on terrorism and her concerns that he was doing a poor job. Isabelle implored Victoria not to send the letter. The result was Hand's transferral to a S.H.I.E.L.D. Base in Portland, Oregon. Hand's relationship broke down due to Isabelle's anger over her advice being ignored.
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Norman Osborn was promoted from director of Thunderbolt Initiative to the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. upon which he dismantled it and transformed it into the operation known as H.A.M.M.E.R. He appointed Victoria to the position of Deputy Director of this organization due to her vocal opposition of previous S.H.I.E.L.D. directors Nick Fury and Tony Stark. She willingly supported Osborn's agenda to subvert the heroes and place villains instead, believing that Osborn would bring peace to the world. Victoria also has a certain level of authority over Norman's Avengers despite the fact Norman gave Moonstone the position of his second-in-command. She was also given the task of finding an acronym for H.A.M.M.E.R.