Phil Coulson Explains Why He Doesn't Want a Superhero Persona, Despite New Infinity Stone Powers

Summary Phil Coulson enjoys anonymity for strategic advantage, avoiding superhero codenames in Black Widow: Venomous #1.

Coulson prefers blending in to strike unexpectedly, repeating successful tactics whether hero or villain.

Unassuming Phil Coulson's true power lies in surprising foes, a strategy that has proven fruitful in the past.

Warning: Spoilers for Black Widow: Venomous #1!Following his exploits in the comics, Phil Coulson has come a long way since his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Coulson was introduced as an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who easily gets lovestruck at the sight of the superheroes he works with. However, even as he's transitioning into becoming an official superhero, he's never had a superhero-esque codename.

A canonical reason is given for Phil Coulson's hesitance to adopt his own hero name in Black Widow: Venomous #1 by Erica Schultz, Luciano Vecchio, David Curiel, Rachelle Rosenberg, and VC's Ariana Maher. Apparently, Phil Coulson enjoys the underestimation that comes with anonymity, and he enjoys it far too much to draw attention to himself with a codename.

Coulson's reasoning is tactical, and it not only makes perfect sense, but it's worked as foolproof both in the comics and on the big screen.

Phil Coulson Doesn't Want a Codename

It's a Smart Strategy

Both Black Widow and Phil Coulson have been going through some extraordinary changes as of late. Natasha Romanoff has acquired her own symbiote, transforming into simply Widow, a fitting codename to match her new powers. Meanwhile, Coulson has returned from the dead as the keeper of the Death Stone, and thus, will lead the Infinity Watch as a result of the power he now holds. Yet, no matter how much power he has now, he has no new costume or codename to reflect his power. He still sports the same suit, tie, and collar combo with a combover.

Apparently, this is all by design, as Phil Coulson doesn't want the pomp and circumstance that comes with being a superpowered entity. In his eyes, such pomp and circumstance is what befell figures like James Bond. Rather than be flashy, he'd rather blend in and let his enemies underestimate him, allowing him to strike when his opponents least expect him. Then, he can showcase what he can do before anyone assumes he's capable of doing anything. That is where his true power comes from, as far as Coulson is concerned.

Coulson Repeats a Strategy That's Worked in the Past

As a Hero and a Villain

Playing the unassuming role has worked well for Phil Coulson on both sides of the fence already, not just as a skilled heroic agent, but during his villain run in Heroes Reborn. His villain days are long behind him, but his villain turn was a successful one for him because no one expected someone like him to go bad. If it has worked in the past, then playing unassuming will only continue to be all the more fruitful now that he has powers. Just like he caught Loki off guard and blasted him with a gun in the MCU's first Avengers movie, Phil Coulson's real power will allow him to unleash his superpowers when everyone least expects it.