NEW YORK (WABC) -- Marvel's show "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." is beginning its second season on ABC. It's got a new time slot but continues to be rich and full of references from some of Marvel's blockbuster successes.
The characters from Marvel comic books now move easily from feature films to network television, so it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise that stories which begun in one medium end in another. The star of Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." TV show is hoping for a big boost from recent movie blockbusters.
The network hopes the way the TV show ties to the films may lead to ratings gold on the small screen.
It was an unlikely group of not-so-super heroes, but "The Guardians of the Galaxy" was the summer's biggest hit, and the latest movie featuring "Captain America" grossed more than $710 million in the spring.
The superhero Captain America battled "Hydra," a dangerous extremist group that has now infiltrated "S.H.I.E.L.D." on television.
In the second season of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, must root out the evil moles from within his own organization, an agency the public no longer trusts.
Action that began in a blockbuster movie now reverberates on a TV series that needs higher ratings to be truly called a hit.
Head of ABC Entertainment Paul Lee told network advertisers in May that a bump from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. will help.
"It took a bit of time for us to find our sea legs with this show, but it's now a huge asset for us," Lee said.
In part, that's because Marvel and ABC owned by the same parent company Disney have built a bridge between small screen and big - one that will grow stronger in January.
"Agent Carter" is set for January after "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." go on winter break, but for now, the cast is looking to build on the excitement from knowing there are traitors in their midst.
The second season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. premiers Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.