Nicholas Joseph Fury, known far and wide as Nick Fury, is the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a lifelong combatant in the wars against endless enemies. He lost his left eye in the Gulf War. Despite 'mere human' status, Fury has faced off against a rampaging Hulk, marauding extra-terrestrial armies, and self-proclaimed gods such as Loki. Phillip Coulson was for a time his second-in-command, and whatever was done to bring Agent Coulson back, Director Fury had a large hand in it. He has expressed 'concern' ("0-8-4") about Coulson's command style, and stated that Skye "is a risk".