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Some fans who only know the character from the show might not realize that Hunter has a long comic book history. He made his debut in Marvel comics nearly four decades before he became part of the Agents Of SHIELD cast. The character has gone through a few changes since then, and the live-action counterpart is a little different than his comic book inspiration as well.
Lance Hunter Debuted In 1977
When Lance Hunter made his comic book debut, it actually wasn't as part of SHIELD. Instead, it was part of a British spy organization called STRIKE.
Created by Gary Friedrich and Herb Trimpe, Hunter was England's answer to Nick Fury. He first appeared in Captain Britain #19, working alongside the titular hero just as Fury often worked with Captain America. He was a former soldier turned spy as well.
He Has A Master's Degree In Engineering
In the television series, a lot of the engineering and technological talk tends to go over Hunter's head. Leo Fitz often has to give him step by step instructions when he's assisting in mechanical issues. The Lance Hunter of the comics wouldn't need quite as much instruction.
That's because, according to the Captain Britain comics, he actually holds a Master's degree in Engineering. That still wouldn't put him on par with Fitz, who already had a Ph.D. at 17, but he would certainly have a better understanding of the mechanical concepts Fitz discusses.
When Hunter First Meets Fury, He Drugs Him
Though Nick Fury and Lance Hunter are very similar in the comics, they don't often see eye-to-eye. In fact, they both tend to want to keep each other's respective spy agencies out of the action.
That's exactly what Hunter attempts after initially meeting Fury early in his comic book appearances. When the Red Skull takes the Prime Minister of England hostage and demands a ransom, Fury wants to get SHIELD involved. Wanting to avoid an international incident, Hunter took it upon himself to drug Fury so he would be unconscious for the mission, keeping SHIELD out of the loop.
He Was In The Royal Navy
References are made in the series to Hunter previously having been in the military in England, but not many details are offered up. At some point in his history, he left the military to become a mercenary. In the comics, he stays in the military a little longer.
There, fans find out that he's a member of the Royal Navy. Not only that, but Hunter rises to the rank of Commodore before he becomes a part of the intelligence community.
Hunter's Alias Is Rifleman
Spies and superheroes alike use a lot of aliases and codenames in comics, movies, and television. Lance Hunter doesn't use too many in the series, but there is one in the comics.
In an alternate universe, he goes by the name of Rifleman. Rifleman wears a lot of body armor and carries a lot of guns. He also only appears in comics (so far) once. When Captain Britain of the primary universe had nightmares about of the Captain Britain Corps (a team of those with Captain Britain's same abilities and alternate universe versions of him across the multiverse) coming for him, Rifleman was one of the .
His Favorite Pizza Is Hawaiian
Pizza toppings are up for debate all over the world. Different cultures have their favorites, but it seems like one thing that always gets people going is whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
Hawaiian pizza is typically topped with cheese, pineapple, and ham (or Canadian bacon depending on the region). As Alphonso Mackenzie reveals in the second season of Agents Of SHIELD, Hunter is a fan of Hawaiian pizza - though it doesn't seem any other agents are.
Hunter Was Once Director Of STRIKE
STRIKE is the British equivalent of SHIELD, but it works against threats all over Europe. The acronym stands for Special Tactical Reserve for International Key Emergencies. Hunter is an agent for the group, but he eventually becomes director as a result of the same mission that sees him drugging Nick Fury.
Hunter thinks that the current director of STRIKE can be trusted to help the Prime Minister, but it turns out, the STRIKE director at the time is really in league with Red Skull. Once the director is exposed, Hunter takes over the position. It's hard to imagine the Lance Hunter of Agents Of SHIELD being able to balance the diplomacy and secrecy of leading an entire organization.
His Comic Book Look Was Altered After Nick Blood's Role
After Nick Blood began his role on Agents Of SHIELD, Lance Hunter made a few new appearances in the comics. He didn't look exactly the same as he did in the '70s. It's not just clothing and modern style that changed him.
Hunter appeared in the short Mockingbird series from Chelsea Kane and Kate Niemczyk. His look in the series will be familiar to Agents Of SHIELD fans as he's drawn more to resemble Nick Blood.
Hunter Didn't Originally Date Mockingbird
Comic book fans know that once upon a time Mockingbird was in a relationship with Hawkeye. That ex dynamic is recreated for Bobbi Morse appearing in Agents Of SHIELD, but not with the same character. Though Lance Hunter and Bobbi Morse are ex-spouses in the series, they weren't in the comics.
Much like Hunter's appearance is changed in the Mockingbird comic series, however, so is his past with Bobbi. The two are revealed to have a romantic history, and even get back together, just as they do in the television series.
He Sometimes Answers To Clint
Hawkeye isn't completely left out of the Mockingbird comic book series. In fact, the presence of Clint Barton hangs over Bobbi and Hunter's relationship quite a bit. The series even ends with all three of them spending time together after Hunter laments that he's never met the other man.
Before that happens, however, Bobbi slips up, not just referencing Clint in her mind, but out loud when she's talking to Hunter. She also does it after Hunter and Clint have met, much to the former's chagrin.