It's not a bad thing to be Joss Whedon's friend. Like, say, when your character is killed off in one of the summer's biggest films and he's resurrected in an ABC television series. Such is the case with Clark Gregg. Cue the comic book fans' tears of joy.

Marvel announced in a panel yesterday at New York Comic Con that the character of Agent Phil Coulson will be revived for the small screen series adaptation of S.H.I.E.L.D. Based on the Jack Kirby comics of the same name, the series will follow the adventures of the secretive military agency S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistic Directorate). Coulson will be brought back from his death in The Avengers, but there's no word yet as to exactly how that will be done...

Joss' brother Jed Whedon will join him in producing the show, along with Jed's wife Maurissa Tancharoen, Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb.

There's no word yet as to when the series is set to premiere.