Contributed by Mike McDermott
Isabelle (pictured on the left) is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and was the girlfriend of Victoria Hand (pictured on the right), back when Hand was just a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. accountant. Isabelle tried to discourage Victoria from sending a letter to Nick Fury criticizing his performance as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director. Isabelle tried to make Victoria understand that it was not her place, and that she was taking on a holier-than-thou attitude that would accomplish nothing.
Victoria sent the letter anyway, and ended up getting transferred to Portland, Oregon as a consequence of her insubordination. When Isabelle found out that Victoria had torn apart their life together by sending the letter after she repeatedly told Victoria not to, she was furious. Isabelle broke off their relationship and told Victoria not to ever call her again.
Isabelle’s current status is unknown.
Isabelle’s last name was never revealed in the comics; the surname “Hartley” comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the character on the AGENTS OF SHIELD television series.
Isabelle “Izzy” Hartley was intended to be based on the girlfriend of Victoria Hand in the comics, but the producers decided against exploring that relationship on the tv series due to the fates of both Hand and Hartley. They were worried about potential backlash of having both of the show’s first LGBT characters being killed off immediately after outing them. However, the show did make a vague reference to their relationship in a later, flashback episode where Hartley refers to Agent Hand as “Vic”, implying a close relationship between them.
Isabelle appeared in Dark Avengers #11 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Izzy Hartley was portrayed by Lucy Lawless in episodes “Shadows” and “One Door Closes” of AGENTS OF SHIELD season 2.
Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Art by Deodato and Rain Beredo.
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