This editorial paper reviews the state of the science about agent-based modeling (ABM), pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of ABM. This paper also highlights several impending tasks that warrant special attention in order to improve the science and application of ABM: Modeling human decisions, ABM transparency and reusability, validation of ABM, ABM software and big data ABM, and ABM theories. Six innovative papers that are included in the special issue are summarized, and their connections to the ABM impending tasks are brought to attention. The authors hope that this special issue will help prioritize specific resources and activities in relation to ABM advances, leading to coordinated, joint efforts and initiatives to advance the science and technology behind ABM.