After major success in the box office with “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Joss Whedon is back with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Clark Gregg is S.H.I.E.L.D.’s (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) Agent Coulson, one of the main links between the various Marvel movies — who is tasked with leading a new team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to handle the various odd occurrences that happen once aliens invade. Agent Coulson assembles a small team of agents to investigate a mysterious group called the Rising Tide. Agent Melinda May, who is an ace pilot and weapons expert, joins Coulson. Another member of the team is Agent Grant Ward, who is a black ops specialist. He is a gruff, asocial manly man in his early 30s who is great at his job but not so great at getting along with his coworkers. Ward has a strong moral foundation and is not without his charm.

Coulson’s return comes as a total surprise as he was actually killed by Loki in “The Avengers.” The pilot contains an explanation of how Coulson survived — at least, the explanation as far as Coulson knows. He was technically dead for eight seconds… eight seconds that Nick Fury quickly used to trick the disparate Avengers into working together. Then Coulson woke up on medical leave in Tahiti, recovering from his wounds with lots of drinks.

But just as Coulson leaves, Hill and a S.H.I.E.L.D. medic got incredibly cryptic, revealing messages that Coulson can never know how he was really resurrected. With that reveal, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” proved to excite die-hard fans and keep viewers watching. The show has created its own universe, but it’s built on what was already set up in the movies. Gamma radiation, Extremis and the super-soldier serum from “Captain America: The First Avenger” all are brought up, while Natasha Romanoff and Thor are mentioned as well.

Make sure to tune in next Tuesday and find out what’s next for Coulson and his team. Check it out Monday nights on ABC. Check local listings for times.