Last Tuesday, television welcomed a new superhero show to its ranks – Marvel, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The show stars a cast of actors who are fresh to the superhero scene, with the exception of Clark Gregg, reprising his role from previous Marvel films as agent Phil Coulson.

The show is a look behind the front lines of the war on super villainy, at the men and women of the secret intelligence agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D – or, Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate. The first episode was focused on the tracking down of a rogue super powered individual, a story arc which, predictably, will be the main plot of most episodes.

The plot of the show is something of a mystery-thriller. The agents must figure out how to track down the rogue super, while uncovering pieces of a larger puzzle. All the while, the mystery of each character’s origin is present.

There is widespread curiosity among fans as to how Agent Coulson is alive, as he allegedly was killed in Marvel’s The Avengers. He claims to have lived through his fatal encounter with Loki, and spent a period of recovery time in Tahiti. The commentary of other characters in the show, however, casts a shadow of doubt over that claim.

The visuals in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D are quite pretty – making up for the bland and cheesy writing. Director Joss Whedon is no amateur when it comes to the use of a camera, but the otherwise spectacular experience is unfortunately marred by Whedon’s writing.

That writing is what made many scenes cringe-worthy in Whedon’s The Avengers. Some dismiss the simple and pun-filled writing as “comic book-like,” but  as a comic book reader myself,  I call it “mediocre.”

All things considered, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is good for  a new series. It’s quality will undoubtedly increase as time goes on, and more viewers tune in to ABC on Tuesdays, 8/7c.