January 13^th saw the release of SWORD #3 and confirmed a suspicion of mine: SWORD is among the best titles of 2009. It's too bad this confirmation has arrived just in time for the series' cancellation.

Gillen and Sanders continue their outer-space romantic-action-comedy with a solid second issue.

The pace of the first chapter is maintained as Gyrich begins collecting Earth's known aliens. Among the captured are Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy), Jazinda (Skrull and partner to She-Hulk), Joe Ego (who?), Beta Ray Bill and fellow-Korbinite Ti Asha Ra, Adam X, Hepzibah, the S'Thalin family (Z'Nox defectors), and Karolina Dean (of the Runaways). Also detained are any supporters of Abigail Brand.

From the pages of Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men comes S.W.O.R.D. #1, as crafted by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Steven Sanders (and a one-off back-up story with art from Gillen’s Phonogram collaborator Jamie McKelvie). Continuing story threads begun in Astonishing and Secret Invasion, Gillen’s has promised to deliver a high-octane sci-fi space romance and comedy. How well, if at all, did it deliver? There might be spoilers ahead!