Creation

The character originated in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series, and like the other characters, was not an existing comic character. After becoming a fan favorite, Melinda May was brought into the mainstream Earth-616 comic canon by writer Mark Waid.

The character was initially conceived as a white woman named Althea Rice, but was heavily rewritten on the strength of Ming-Na Wen's audition, and renamed not wanting an Asian woman to have the last name "Rice."

Major Story Arcs

The Cavalry

In The Cavalry One-Shot from 2015, Melinda's nickname origin is shown to be the same as it is in the MCU TV-show. Being an agent sent in to save agents from an unknown Inhuman, only for it be revealed to be a little girl, who she's forced to kill in order to save everyone from her rampage.

Joining Coulson's Team

Melinda May was recruited for Agent Coulson's team, due to be a well-known agent with strong fighting skills. She helped his team to rescue, Asgardian god, Heimdall. The team would later be assigned to protect the son of Scarlet Witch, Wiccan.

Ghost Rider

Melinda May and Phil Coulson assisted the newest Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes with a demonic ghost known as Eli Morrow. While S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't fully trust the hero, they would be impressed by his work.

F.B.I Agent

After S.H.I.E.L.D. disbanded, May not wanting to give up the good fight, joined the F.B.I., becoming a high level agent right off the bat. Even after S.H.I.E.L.D. was rebuilt, May would continue her new line of work.

Siancong War

Melinda is on site in Siancong's capital when Lady Lotus takes command of a dark energy to encase the entire country within a dome.

Stark Unlimited

When Tony Stark was ousted by Stark Unlimited by Feilong, May was appointed to the board of directors. She attempted to mitigate the damage Feilong committed when he used the company for Sentinel production. After regaining control of the company Tony was once more victim of a hostile takeover by A.I.M. and Roxxon, and he sought Melinda's aid to turn the board against them. Although Stark successfully stopped the merger, every member of the board had to step down which led to Melinda losing her job. May then assisted Stark and Ironheart in the field to take down an ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague, which leads them to a defunct Stark Industries factory in Chicago run by Lucia Von Bardas. May helps fight Von Bardas, The Heat and free the prisoners. In the aftermath Tony invites May back onto the Stark Unlimited board, but Melinda declines and offers an alternative: re-hire all the ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who have become Heat mercenaries under Stark's company with May acting as Head of Corporate Security.

Other Media

Live Action

Marvel's Agents of Shield

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Melinda May is introduced as a legendary S.H.I.E.L.D. agent recruited by Phil Coulson as part of his team. She has a dark and mysterious past, and was left traumatized after an experience where she was forced to kill a number of cultists during a mission. As a result, she is hesitant to get into field work again, and initially agrees to Coulson's offer on the condition that she only act as the team's pilot.

Melinda quickly moves back into active field work, and enters into a sexual relationship with Grant Ward. She also develops a mother/daughter relationship with Skye, whom she grows very protective of. In the season finale, she defeats Ward after he is revealed to be a double agent working for HYDRA.

In the series, she is portrayed by Ming-Na Wen.

Games

Marvel Future Fight

Melinda May is a non-playable character in the game.

Marvel Avengers Academy

Melinda May is a playable character. She was released during the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Event. She is voiced by Elissa Park.