Of all the Marvel books currently on the stands, there's only one packed with enough papa drama to be (ridiculously) compared to NBC's late '80s sitcom My Two Dads: Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver's S.H.I.E.L.D. Unlike Paul Reiser and Greg Evigan's characters, however, Michelangelo and Nikola Tesla may totally murder each other as they battle for the destiny of their "son" Leonid, whose mysterious powers may hold the key to unlocking mankind's final cosmic fate. Marvel has provided CA with an exclusive first look at art from S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 2 #2, which arrives in stores on August 3. See what you make of the paternal conflict after the jump.Much of the Marvel Universe's secret history was revealed in the first volume of S.H.I.E.L.D. -- namely that a blend of historical figures from both mainstream and Marvel history have formed a secret society over the years that protects Earth from extraterrestrial threats in order to allow mankind to fulfill its potential (like the Watcher if Uatu wore pants once in awhile). Unfortunately not everyone in the club gets along.

Resident S.H.I.E.L.D. expert David Uzumeri sums up the story thus far:

In the first volume of Hickman and Weaver's S.H.I.E.L.D., readers were introduced to Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci, leaders who would come to fight over free will versus fate when it comes to the end of mankind. While Newton believes the apocalypse is predictable and unavoidable and da Vinci believes all is within man's grasp, Newton's son Leonid, with the help of a Michelangelo unstuck in time, becomes the "dynamo" to create change for a mysterious "third way." Meanwhile, Reed Richards's father Nathaniel and Tony Stark's father Howard travel with Nikola Tesla to the far future and back in hopes of stopping the conflict.

See? Two dads. If only the two geniuses could get along without the aid of cool scientist dads from the 20th century. Leonid's Two Dads would be a great sitcom.

Here's Marvel's official synopsis for volume 2's second issue:

The battle between Leonardo Da Vinci and Issac Newton for the Immortal City comes to a climactic conclusion!

Leonid makes his choice between his two fathers, Michelangelo and Tesla kick their plan into high gear and Howard Stark lays the foundation for the organization you know as S.H.I.E.L.D.

See the cover and art from select pages of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 2 #2 below:

More From ComicsAlliance