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Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
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Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative #1 solicited cover
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication dateApril 2007 – July 2010
No. of issues35
Main character(s)Trainees:
Melee
Graduates:
3-D Man
Annex
Ant-Man
Cloud 9
Geiger
Gorilla Girl
Hardball
Komodo
Prodigy
Red Nine
Stature
Sunstreak
Thor Girl
Ultra Girl
Staff:
Diamondback
Gauntlet
Penance
Taskmaster
Trauma
Baron Von Blitzschlag
Creative team
Written byDan Slott
Christos Gage
Penciller(s)Stefano Caselli
Steve Uy
Harvey Tolibao

Avengers: The Initiative is a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao,[1][2] the series handles the aftermath of Marvel's "Civil War" storyline (however, it should not be confused with "The Initiative" a banner running across Marvel books from Feb. 2007 to May 2007, similar to Marvel's earlier "Decimation" banner after the "House of M" storyline, or the Civil War: The Initiative special by Brian Michael Bendis). A preview of the title was shown in Civil War: The Initiative.

Publication history

[edit]

The first issue of Avengers: The Initiative was released on 4 April 2007. The tagline initially used in solicitations was "Marvel's Army of Super Heroes just became a Super Hero Army".

The series was originally solicited as a six issue limited series, but prior to the publication of the first issue, Marvel announced that this had changed and that Avengers: The Initiative would become an ongoing series, the third regularly published 'Avengers' title from 2007 onwards, after New Avengers and The Mighty Avengers.[2]

Issues #20-22 handled "Dark Reign", the aftermath to Secret Invasion, and Christos Gage moved to full writing duties.[3]

The series was cancelled after Avengers: The Initiative #35 (April 2010), at the conclusion of the "Siege" storyline[4] and replaced by Avengers Academy.

Fictional history

[edit]

First recruit group

[edit]

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the pro-registration side stood victorious and launched the Fifty State Initiative, which called for one S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored superhero team for each state. The series focused on the training facility at Camp Hammond in Stamford, Connecticut.

The first group of young heroes has been sent to hero boot camp in Stamford, the site of the explosion that launched the whole Civil War. During the first day's training, Trauma, a shapeshifter, loses control of his power and causes Armory to have a panic attack. She accidentally shoots MVP, who was trying to save Cloud 9. Pym and Gyrich agree to conceal the death and expel Armory, but first, amputate her alien weaponry, since she will be an unregistered super. As the young heroes finish the obstacle course, Trauma loses control of his transformation again, first feeding off of Cloud 9's guilt at being responsible for MVP's death and then transforming into an image of Janet Van Dyne beaten and bloody when Hank Pym (Yellowjacket) attempts to intervene. As Justice and Gauntlet clean up the situation, Pym is called to the lab where Baron Von Blitzschlag informs him and Henry Peter Gyrich of MVP's anatomy; instead of being enhanced by the Super Soldier Serum as everyone believed, he is actually an "Übermensch", the ultimate human specimen. As Blitzschlag and Gyrich laud the benefits of such a test subject, Pym again has a crisis of conscience, only enhanced when the German scientist recounts his past "villainous" acts (such as the creation of Ultron) and remarks "I am your greatest fan."[5]

A crisis over Texas occurs involving the President and Hydra. Cloud 9, Komodo, Hardball, Gauntlet, War Machine, Justice, and Yellowjacket all arrive on the scene. Cloud 9 is revealed as the best marksman of the bunch when she receives a pulse rifle, but she feels guilty when she blows up a fighter jet and the pilot doesn't eject.

Hardball speaks to Komodo about Justice apparently having learned of MVP's fate. While he talks, he turns to see not Komodo but a strange girl sleeping next to him. Komodo is upset that her identity was revealed. Spider-Man battles the duo. He quickly incapacitates War Machine with a blast of webbing that shuts down his armor, but not before War Machine mysteriously states that even though Spider-Man will be stripped of his powers, another Spider-Man will exist. While Komodo fares much better, Spider-Man's wit, and a threat that her failure will cause her losing her powers, help him to defeat her and slip away easily. A mysterious third party, which War Machine calls "Red Team" and which has been cloaked during the fight, is revealed to be a group of people in duplicate versions of Tony Stark's Spider-Man armor. The story ends with Komodo's desperate plea not to be stripped of her powers, as she dislikes being normal and considers her other self to be a nobody.[6]

World War Hulk

[edit]
Main article: World War Hulk

The recruits are ordered to stay away from the fighting, but to still help with evacuation efforts. Rage and several other recruits disobey the direct order and go to help the Avengers. They are quickly dispatched by Hulk's Warbound and imprisoned in Madison Square Garden. Gyrich fears the political fallout, so he orders his Shadow Initiative to rescue only the six missing recruits. This team comprises Bengal, Trauma, Constrictor, Mutant Zero, and the Scarlet Spiders. Hulk eventually discovers the team and Trauma attempts to access Hulk's greatest fear, but Hulk tells him he fears nothing and nearly beats him to death.[7]

During these events, Hardball is secretly recruited by Hydra to steal nanotechnology. While in disguise, he sees MVP's body cryogenically frozen, but Justice and Cloud 9 claim to have seen him at his parents’ home. Sgt. Green is mysteriously attacked and can no longer train the recruits.[8]

Second recruit group

[edit]

Several new Initiative recruits arrive at Camp Hammond, including Ant-Man (Eric O'Grady), Crusader (Z'Reg), Melee, Geldoff, Dragon Lord (Tako Shamara), Geiger, Red Nine, and Diamondback. These recruits will mainly be trained by the instructor Taskmaster.[9]

The results of the previous cloning's of MVP impressed Initiative administrators enough to fill places within the Fifty State Initiative with further clones of MVP.[10]

Killed in Action

[edit]

A new clone of Michael Van Patrick is fitted with the Tactigon, Armory's former alien weapon, but goes on a rampage throughout the base under the new name "KIA", seeking revenge for MVP's death.[11] The KIA clone causes destruction, killing Dragon Lord (Tako Shamara), Trauma (who is later revealed to have survived) and Van (one of the Scarlet Spiders). KIA also caused injury to many initiative trainees and staff like Thor Girl, Gauntlet, Constrictor and Crusader. He also killed eight S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on his rampage. He is eventually subdued when Cloud 9 uses the knowledge of Michael Van Patrick's crush on her to kiss him and fill him with gas. The reformed New Warriors and New Avengers can subdue him and mind wipe him with a device from Baron Von Blitzschlag.[12]

First graduations

[edit]

Some of the first instalment trainees made it to graduation. The graduating class and their assignments were:

  • Cloud 9: Montana - Freedom Force
  • Hardball: Nevada - Heavy Hitters
  • Thor Girl: Georgia - The Cavalry
  • Komodo: Arizona - Desert Stars
  • Trauma: remains on base as a counselor
  • Triathlon (now going by 3-D Man and sporting the costume of his namesake): Hawaii -Point Men
  • Ultra Girl (now wearing Ms. Marvel's original costume): Georgia -The Cavalry

Justice, Debrii, Slapstick, Rage, MVP and the two remaining Scarlet Spiders left the Initiative to form Counter Force, described as a counter-initiative that will dedicate themselves to keeping the government program honest.

More recruits

[edit]

Starting with issue #13, the series features new recruits that will join the squad assembled before the coming of KIA. They are: Annex, Prodigy, Gorilla Girl, Sunstreak, Batwing, and Boulder.[13] Less enthusiastic than the first recruits, most of them with criminal records (except Butterball/Boulder who wanted to be there, and Batwing, who was just seeking a cure for his condition) they are there because their alternative to Camp Hammond is the Negative Zone prison (however, the criminal charges against all but Sunstreak appear to be limited to non-registration). Taskmaster quickly renames Boulder "Butterball" regarding his size. He has been challenged to make Butterball into a good soldier; but because of his invulnerability powers, his physical appearance could not be altered. The recruits break out of the camp because of boredom and decide to go to the beach where they drink and skinny dip, since they would be recognized anywhere else. Sunstreak attempts to have relations with Butterball, who refuses and takes their ride and heads back to the camp but encounters Constrictor, Taskmaster, War Machine and Yellowjacket. He lies, claiming to have gone AWOL alone. Although the recruits plan to use this distraction to sneak back on base, they instead help defeat Firebrand, King Cobra, Mister Hyde and Mauler, all of whom wanted revenge on the Taskmaster. Butterball washes out of the program when it is deemed he does not have the attitude to be a superhero. To ease his disappointment, Taskmaster and Constrictor allow him to take a picture that makes it look like he has defeated them.[14]

Secret Invasion

[edit]
Main article: Secret Invasion

The Revolutionary, a member of Pennsylvania's Liberteens, is actually a Skrull in disguise. He is part of a plot to put "a Skrull in every state" by infiltrating each superhero team of the Initiative.[15] During the "Secret Invasion" storyline, Crusader discovers that camp director Yellowjacket is a Skrull impostor; he almost tells Trauma, but changes his mind. When 3-D Man arrives in Camp Hammond to announce to everyone assembled that the Initiative has been infiltrated by Skrulls, Crusader fears he will be exposed as a Skrull despite his good intentions. Crusader uses the Freedom Ring to reverse the goggles' power so that they cause 3-D Man to see Crusader as human and all humans as Skrulls.[16]

'Yellowjacket-Skrull' later gives orders to Gauntlet to dispatch the cadets to help the Young Avengers fight the Skrulls, and Proton is killed during the battle. The Skrulls defeat the cadets and Young Avengers, but then Nick Fury arrives with his "commandos."[17][18] Meanwhile, Ant-Man, the only cadet still on Camp Hammond, witnessed how "Yellowjacket" welcomed a Skrull commander to the base and attempts to learn of their secret plans. During the big fight against the Skrull army, Crusader (a Skrull who lives on Earth and an Initiative cadet) fought for Earth. After defeating a Skrull imposter looking like She-Thing, 3-D Man joined up with the Skrull Kill Krew and discovered that in every Initiative state team is one Skrull-imposter and killed them all. Komodo joined the team as well,[19] and they then added her lover, Hardball. The Skrull Kill Crew thought they could not track through all the states on time, but then former Avenger Jocasta appeared with Devil-Slayer, who is a member of the Hawaiian Initiative team, the Point Men. Devil-Slayer's teleportation ability will aid them in killing all Skrull imposters within the Fifty State Initiative.[20]

The group move on to other Initiative bases, killing the Skrull imposters. Delroy Garrett's goggles also identify Equinox as a Skrull who is then killed by Cloud 9 who then joins their insurgency with Gravity. The Skrull then sends a broadcast throughout the world, telling their sleeper agents to activate themselves, which sows even more distrust among the remaining heroes. While in Philadelphia, the Revolutionary is revealed as a Skrull and defeated by Gravity and Hope. When they discover a fight between Thor Girl and Ultra Girl, Delroy's goggles identify Thor Girl as a Skrull. With help from Gravity, Delroy uses Thor Girl's own hammer to kill the Skrull imposter. Ant-Man escapes the Skrulls on the back of a Shock Trooper and reveals to the Kill Crew the Skrulls' last resort plan; to use all the Initiative bases to create a massive Negative Zone portal that will destroy the entire country. With six bases left, the Krew splits up, and uses the still-living heads of Moonstomp, Catwalk and Dice to help point out Skrulls. Devil-Slayer teleports them to the bases, but collapses under the strain.[21]

The Initiative members combat their Skrull opponents who have received their mission to activate themselves to start distrust among the teams. At the Battalion's HQ, Tigra, Ryder and Cloud 9 fight a Skrull posing as Razorback. Hardball and Moonstomp help Action Pack fight a Skrull posing as Frog-Man. Gravity and Catwalk help the Great Lakes Avengers fight a Skrull posing as Grasshopper. Komodo and Riot help the Command fight a Skrull posing as Conquistador (who assumed a Skrull/Devil Dinosaur-like form). Dice and Jocasta fight their way through activists to get to the Skrull posing as Skyhawk who succeeds in his part of the mission. Garrett and Ant-Man join the Rangers in fighting a Skrull that posed as Red Wolf's wolf companion Lobo. After it is shot by Shooting Star, a crowd uprising occurred when Delroy's goggles identify some of the crowd members as Skrulls. Delroy's goggles are hit by a thrown rock, giving Delroy's allies a complicated time understanding who's a Skrull and who is not. During the struggle, Delroy discovers he can see who is a Skrull without his goggles since the Tri-Force energy is inside him. This turns the tides against those Skrulls disguised as crowd members. During the fights across the USA, Spinner and Whiz-Kid both apparently die in various fights. At the final fight at Camp Hammond, Crusader kills Criti Noll, the Yellowjacket imposter, and then 3-D Man shoots Crusader (who hid his Skrull heritage from the others but was fighting for Earth). Before he disappeared, Crusader stated he wished "it could've ended differently".[22]

Dark Reign

[edit]
Main article: Dark Reign (comics)

Following the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, the Fifty-State Initiative is shut down and the Thunderbolts Initiative is established when Norman Osborn takes over.[23]

Those that had been replaced by Skrulls alongside Alicia Masters meet with Doc Samson at Camp Hammond as part of a support group. While noting the hostilities of Red Nine, Annex, Geiger, Batwing, and Prodigy over the shooting of Crusader, Delroy states he is leaving the Initiative and joining up with Ryder to hunt down any Skrulls still hiding out on Earth. Taskmaster confronts Mutant Zero and discovers that she is really Typhoid Mary. Gauntlet takes control as head of Camp Hammond because of his position as the highest-ranking officer left. Despite an offer by Gauntlet, Hank Pym leaves the camp because he "was never here".[24]

Next some of the latest recruits graduated and were assigned to different teams. Batwing became a member of the Shadow Initiative, Melee was assigned to additional training to become a Camp Hammond instructor for martial arts, Annex became a member of the Mavericks (New Mexico) and Red Nine of The Cavalry, Georgia. Geiger also graduated, but it was not mentioned where she was to be stationed. Camp Hammond instructor Stingray became the new leader of the Point Men (Hawaii). Because of their villainous past, Sunstreak and Prodigy were not assigned to an Initiative State Team yet, but have to remain under training at Camp Hammond. Since Gorilla Girl felt she was typical cannon fodder, she went home and was listed as a reserve member. Meanwhile, Baron von Blitzschlag encountered the Thor-clone (now dubbed Ragnarok), which was reactivated by a failsafe programmed by the Hank Pym Skrull, which required his access code to keep him contained. The clone apparently killed the Baron within a couple of minutes. Thereafter, Ragnarok was attacked by Thor-Girl who he beat after a long and heavy fight above Camp Hammond. Even a trick of Trauma (posing as the real Thor) was ineffective. Outside Gorilla Girl, on her way back home, escaped from her car and opposed Ragnarok. As she was about to lose the fight, a light appeared. The former New Warriors (now called Counter Force) appeared, ready to fight.[25]

The fight with the Thor clone rages on as Justice tells Ragnarok that he had worked with the REAL Thor and that Ragnarok is unworthy of that name. After Ragnarok knocks out Rage and Slapstick, Debrii has the Scarlet Spiders hack into Ragnarok. However, Ragnarok kills Michael the Scarlet Spider. Ragnarok is about to vanquish Von Blitzschlag with pure physical force when the crafty Baron dismisses the notion as futile. He states that while he could easily kill everyone here and everyone in the world, he would not change the fact he is, in fact, an android-clone based on the real Thor. Unconvinced, Ragnarok is shown proof that such methods are possible when one of the Scarlet Spiders reveals he and his "brothers" are all clones as well. Blitzschlag tells Ragnarok that the real Thor is living in Asgard, which is now physically in the realm of Earth (or Midgard) where it is floating above Oklahoma. Ragnarok resolves it matters not whether he is or isn't a clone, but that his warrior's resolve is true. He flies off to presumably confront Thor and his fellow Asgardians.[26]

Following Ragnarok's attack, Counter Force buries Michael Van Patrick's body and confesses to the world about Michael's death and the clones. This gives Norman Osborn the opportunity to shut down Camp Hammond.[27]

Following the Taskmaster's fight with Hardball's Hydra faction, Norman Osborn hires him to help run the camp.[28]

Norman Osborn announces to the media that he has reopened the Initiative training camp under the name Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. in New Mexico away from any populated areas. Osborn then moulds the Initiative to match his own vision. He transfers Gravity to the Great Lakes Avengers with Prodigy taking his place as leader of the Heavy Hitters. He assigns the Force of Nature to Oregon, the U-Foes to North Carolina, the Psionex to Maryland and the Women Warriors to Delaware. Penance, brainwashed at Osborn's command, is sent to Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. to assist Taskmaster. Gauntlet and Tigra leave their posts at the Initiative and join with the New Warriors to form the Avengers Resistance against Osborn's new regime.[29] Trauma is kept on as the Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. counselor, against his will with the promise that if he leaves, his mother will be killed, but if he stays, they will cure her insanity. It is later revealed that he is actually the son of Nightmare who corrupts his son's body and attacks the base. Most of the heroes are stunned by their fears, but Taskmaster revives the fallen Penance who has regained all his memories and no longer has any fears and regrets. Immune to Nightmare, he frees Trauma and Nightmare is banished.[30]

Osborn is pleased with Taskmaster and invites him to join the Cabal, while Constrictor is shocked to learn Diamondback is a double agent to the Avengers Resistance. He admits he does not care since he is in love with her. Osborn reveals to Taskmaster that the next mission will be to lay Siege on Asgard.[31] After Osborn's treachery is exposed, the Superhuman Registration Act has been abolished.[32]

During the "Fear Itself" storyline, the Initiative teams have gotten back together. Their representatives meet with Prodigy in Washington, DC to discuss the hammers that the Serpent has brought to Earth. The Initiative teams featured are Action Pack, Batwing and Butterball's unnamed team, the Cavalry, the Desert Stars, the Freedom Force, the Heavy Hitters, the Liberteens, the Order, and the Point Men.[33]

Characters

[edit]

Camp Hammond staff

[edit]
Name First Shown Notes
Henry Peter Gyrich Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007) Administrator; Secretary of Superhuman Armed Forces.[34] Forced to depart his position by Iron Man in Avengers: The Initiative #12.[35]
Baron Von Blitzschlag Head Scientist.[36]
War Machine Camp Director;[34] Field Commander.[37] Resigned his position in Avengers: The Initiative #16.[19]
Yellowjacket Chief Administrator.[34] Revealed to be a Skrull impostor named Criti Noll[38] who was later killed in Avengers: The Initiative #19.[22]
Gauntlet Drill Instructor.[34] Became Camp Director in Avengers: The Initiative #20.[24] Left to join the Avengers Resistance.[29]
She-Hulk Instructor.[34] Removed from her instructor position and as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent after a falling out with Tony Stark.[39]
Justice Youth Counselor.[5] Left to lead Counter Force.[40]
Triathlon Instructor-In-Training.[41] Assigned to the Hawaii Initiative team Point Men, as the new 3-D Man.[35] Left to work with the Skrull Kill Krew.[19]
Tigra Instructor.[34] Assigned to the Arkansas Initiative team.[42] Left to join the Avengers Resistance.[29]
Nighthawk Instructor.[34] Assigned to the New Jersey Initiative team, the Defenders.[43]
Hellcat Avengers: The Initiative #3 (Aug. 2007) Instructor: First aid.[44] Assigned to the Alaska Initiative team.[42]
Black Widow Instructor: Marksmanship.[44]
Stingray Instructor: Swimming.[44] Assigned to the Hawaii Initiative team Point Men.[42]
Thing Instructor: Tactics.[44]
Beast Consultant.[44]
Danielle Moonstar Consultant.[44]
Taskmaster Avengers: The Initiative #8 (Feb. 2008) Drill Instructor,[45] and Shadow Initiative field leader.[24] Originally replaced Gauntlet when he was in a coma.
Trauma Avengers: The Initiative #12 (June 2008) Counselor.[35]
Physique Infirmary department head.[35]

Other guest instructors and staff included: Ares, Ms. Marvel, and Wonder Man as part of the Mighty Avengers.[36] Batroc the Leaper previously worked out of the Virginia training facility, and was set to be moved to Camp Hammond as a Martial arts instructor.[36] He later returned to his life of crime as a mercenary.[46] Gargoyle served as an Initiative instructor before retiring.[42]

Camp Hammond recruits

[edit]

There were an undetermined number of recruits at Camp Hammond before it closed; according to Henry Peter Gyrich and War Machine, there are over sixty super humans at Camp Hammond including staff.[19] Recruits shown to be located at the camp include:

Name First Shown Notes
Cloud 9 Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007) Assigned to the Montana Initiative team, Freedom Force.[35]
Hardball Assigned to the Nevada Initiative team, the Heavy Hitters.[35] Left to join Hydra.[47] Subsequently rejoined
Komodo Assigned to the Arizona Initiative team, the Desert Stars.[35] Joined the Shadow Initiative in Avengers: The Initiative #20.[24]
Trauma Became a counselor following graduation.[35]
Armory Her Tactigon was confiscated and she was sent out of the Initiative after accidentally killing Michael Van Patrick.[34]
MVP (Michael Van Patrick) Accidentally killed by Armory.[34]
Thor Girl Assigned to the Georgia Initiative team.[35] Revealed to be a Skrull impostor.[21]
Bengal Assigned to the Shadow Initiative.[7]
Ultra Girl Director of the Junior Guardsmen. Left to join Counter Force.[40] Returned and assigned to the Georgia Initiative team.[35] Rejoined the New Warriors in Avengers: The Initiative #23.[27]
Rage Left to join Counter Force.[40]
Slapstick Left to join Counter Force.[40]
Debrii Avengers: The Initiative #6 (Nov. 2007) Left to join Counter Force.[40]
Ant-Man Avengers: The Initiative #8 (Feb. 2008) Assigned to the Thunderbolts.[24]
Crusader Revealed to be a Skrull, and shot through the head by 3-D Man.[22]
Dragon Lord Killed by KIA.[48]
Proton (Geldoff) Killed by Skrulls after being taken prisoner.[49]
Geiger Assigned to the New Mexico Initiative team.[42]
Red Nine Assigned to the Georgia Initiative team.[42]
Melee Trained to be an instructor following graduation.[42]
Diamondback Recruited by Norman Osborn after the closing of Camp Hammond.[29]
Prodigy Avengers: The Initiative #13 (July 2008)[50] Assigned to the Nevada Initiative team, the Heavy Hitters by Norman Osborn.[29]
Sunstreak Assigned to the Oregon Initiative team, The Force of Nature by Norman Osborn.[51]
Annex Assigned to the New Mexico Initiative team.[42]
Batwing Assigned to the Shadow Initiative.[42]
Gorilla Girl Left in Avengers: The Initiative #21.[42]
Butterball Not being cut out for the military applications of The Initiative, was sent home with a registration ID card.[14]

Other Initiative trainees

[edit]

Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. staff

[edit]
Main article: Camp H.A.M.M.E.R.
Name First Shown Notes
Norman Osborn Avengers: The Initiative #23 Chief Administrator;[27] Instructor: Public Relations.[51]
Taskmaster Avengers: The Initiative #24 Camp Director;[28] Senior Instructor.[51]
The Hood Avengers: The Initiative #25 Chief Operating Officer.[29]
Trauma Counselor.[29]

Other staff included Ares and Ms. Marvel (Moonstone) as part of the Dark Avengers.[29] Baron Von Blitzschlag and Physique also retained the positions they had at Camp Hammond under Osborn's administration.[54]

Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. recruits

[edit]

Recruits shown to be part of Norman Osborn's Initiative include:

Name First Shown Notes
Griffin Avengers: The Initiative #25 (Aug. 2009)
Living Laser
Razor Fist
Scorcher
Penance Former member of Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts.
Diamondback Assigned to the Delaware initiative team.[51] Double agent with the Avengers Resistance.[30]
Aqueduct Avengers: The Initiative #26 (Sept. 2009) Assigned to the Oregon Initiative team.[51]
Skybreaker
Terraformer
Ironclad Assigned to the North Carolina Initiative team.[51]
Vapor
Vector
X-Ray
Asylum Assigned to the Maryland Initiative team.[51]
Coronary
Impulse
Mathemanic
Pretty Persuasions
Asp Assigned to the Delaware initiative team.[51]
Black Mamba
Quicksand
Skein
Outback Avengers: The Initiative #28 (Nov. 2009) Assigned to the Nevada Initiative team, the Heavy Hitters.[55]

Other Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. trainees

[edit]

Avengers Resistance

[edit]
Main article: Counter Force (Marvel Comics)

After Camp Hammond was shut down,[27] Tigra and Gauntlet joined the New Warriors who had left the Initiative, and formed the Avengers Resistance, with the specific purpose of exposing the criminal deeds of Norman Osborn.[29] Following Norman Osborn's arrest in the aftermath of the Siege of Asgard, the team disbanded.

Character Joined in Notes
Justice Avengers: The Initiative #10 (Apr. 2008)
Night Thrasher
Rage
Scarlet Spider (Michael) Killed by Ragnarok.[26]
Scarlet Spider (Patrick)
Slapstick
Ultra Girl
Debrii Quit the team in Avengers: The Initiative #28.[55]
Tigra Avengers: The Initiative #25 (Aug. 2009)
Gauntlet
Komodo Avengers: The Initiative #29 (Dec. 2009) Joined after having her powers removed by Taskmaster.[54]
Diamondback Avengers: The Initiative #30 (Jan. 2010) Double agent with Norman Osborn's Initiative.[30]

List of teams by state

[edit]
State Team Name 1st Appearance Members
Alaska Unnamed Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1 Hellcat
Arizona Desert Stars Avengers: The Initiative #16 Two-Gun Kid (leader), Komodo, Johnny Cool, Supermax,[57] Blacksmith (secretly a Skrull infiltrator)[19]
Arkansas Battalion Avengers: The Initiative #19 Tigra, Razorback (was briefly replaced by a Skrull infiltrator)[58]
California The Order[59] Civil War #6 Member List
Colorado Thunderbolts[60] Thunderbolts #110 (as Initiative team) Member List
Connecticut Camp Hammond Staff & Trainees Avengers: The Initiative #1 Various
Delaware The Women Warriors Avengers: The Initiative #26 Asp, Black Mamba, Diamondback, Quicksand, Skein
Florida The Command Marvel Zombies vol. 3 #1 Jennifer Kale, Wundarr the Aquarian, Siege, Conquistador (was briefly replaced by a Skrull)
Georgia Cavalry Avengers: The Initiative #18 Stunt-Master, Crime-Buster, Red Nine, Thor Girl, Ultra Girl
Hawaii Point Men Avengers: The Initiative #14 Stingray, Devil-Slayer, Star Sign, Paydirt, Magnitude (revealed to be a Skrull infiltrator), Delroy Garrett (former)
Illinois Spaceknights Named in Civil War #6[59] Unknown
Iowa Force Works[61] Named in Civil War #6 Cybermancer
Kansas Harvesters Marvel Zombies Supreme #2 Pioneer, Grain Belt, Topeka, Meadowlark, Sunflower
Kentucky Action Pack Avengers: The Initiative #7 Vox (leader), Prima Donna, Frog-Man (briefly replaced by a Skrull)
Maryland Psionex Avengers: The Initiative #26 Member List
Montana Freedom Force Avengers: The Initiative #12 Member List
Nebraska Unnamed group The Invincible Iron Man vol. 4 #24 Captain Ultra (Leader), Gadget (Deceased), Paragon (Cooper Roth) (Deceased)[62]
Nevada Heavy Hitters Avengers: The Initiative #17 Hardball, Prodigy, Gravity, Nonstop, Telemetry, Outback
New Jersey Defenders[63] The Last Defenders #1 Member List
New Mexico The Mavericks Avengers: The Initiative #16 Annex, Geiger, Jocasta, She-Thing (was revealed to be a Skrull infiltrator)
New York Avengers (Initiative)[59] The Mighty Avengers #1 Member List
North Carolina Unnamed group (formerly the U-Foes) Avengers: The Initiative #35 Batwing, Butterball
Ohio Agents from A.R.M.O.R. Marvel Zombies 5 #2 Howard the Duck, Machine Man, Swift Cloud, Hurricane
Oregon Force of Nature Avengers: The Initiative #26 Member List
Pennsylvania The Liberteens[64][65] Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1 Member List
Texas Rangers Civil War #7 (as Initiative team) Member List
Utah The Called Civil War #6 Unnamed Mormon superheroes.
Vermont The Garrison Penance Relentless #3 Fin, Man-Eater
Washington Earth Force Civil War: Frontline #12 (as Initiative team) Earth Lord, Skyhawk, Wind Warrior
Wisconsin Great Lakes Initiative Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular (as Initiative team) Member List

Details

[edit]
  • Cadets are trained in combat, search and rescue, power control, first aid, and superhuman ethics.
  • The training that Initiative cadets undergo is structured like basic recruit training.
  • Cadets are issued uniforms comprising palm gloves, traction boots and military fatigue cargo pants. A t-shirt with some kind of logo (often with the first letter of the cadet's codename) on it is provided if the cadet does not already have a costume. If the cadet has a secret identity, they are required to somehow conceal their identity (i.e. a mask, goggles, a helmet, shape-changing or some form of concealment).
  • While the "Avengers Assemble!" battle cry is used by instructors and cadets in battle and many instructors and cadets are former or current members, being a recruit does not automatically award one membership in the Avengers. Use of the Avengers name is informal and meant to act as an inspirational tool.

Collected editions

[edit]
Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
Avengers: The Initiative Vol. 1: Basic Training Avengers: The Initiative #1-6 March 26, 2008 978-0785125167
Avengers: The Initiative Vol. 2: Killed In Action Avengers: The Initiative #7-13 and Annual #1 November 19, 2009 978-0785128618
Avengers: The Initiative, Vol. 3: Secret Invasion Avengers: The Initiative #14-19 May 27, 2009 978-0785131670
Avengers: The Initiative, Vol. 4: Disassembled Avengers: The Initiative #20-25, and Avengers: The Initiative Featuring Reptil December 9, 2009 978-0785131687
Avengers: The Initiative - Dreams & Nightmares Avengers: The Initiative #26-30 October 6, 2010 978-0785139058
Siege: Avengers - The Initiative Avengers: The Initiative #31-35 and Avengers: The Initiative Special December 15, 2010 978-0785148180
Avengers: The Initiative - The Complete Collection Vol. 1 Avengers: The Initiative #1-19 and Annual #1 March 28, 2017 978-1302904111
Avengers: The Initiative - The Complete Collection Vol. 2 Avengers: The Initiative #20-35; Avengers: The Initiative Special; Avengers: The Initiative Featuring Reptil August 29, 2017 978-1302906870

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Avengers: The Initiative

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is a series published by , spanning 35 issues from April 2007 to September 2010, with writing duties primarily handled by and and initial artwork by Stefano Caselli. The series depicts the implementation of the Fifty State Initiative, a U.S. government program mandated by the Superhuman Registration Act following the Civil War crossover event, which requires superhumans to register and trains recruits at Camp Hammond under the oversight of and other Avengers to form state-sponsored hero teams. Key elements include the development of young trainees such as Trauma, , and the cloned MVPs, exploring themes of militarized heroism, ethical dilemmas in power deployment, and interpersonal conflicts among powered individuals subjected to federal control. The narrative intersects with major Marvel events like and , highlighting the program's vulnerabilities and contributing to the evolution of the Marvel Universe's post-registration landscape. Reception among readers praises the series for its character-driven stories and examination of the consequences of superhero registration, positioning it as a notable exploration of the Initiative era despite the program's controversial in-universe mandate.

Publication History

Development and Launch

Avengers: The Initiative was conceived in the aftermath of the Civil War crossover event, which concluded in early 2007 and established a mandatory Superhuman Registration Act requiring all powered individuals to register with the government. The series expanded on the Initiative program introduced during Civil War, a U.S. government effort led by Iron Man (Tony Stark) to train and license superheroes at Camp Hammond in Stamford, Connecticut, transforming the facility formerly used for the failed New Warriors academy into a federal boot camp for recruits. This development addressed the narrative need to depict the pro-registration side's implementation of the law, focusing on the training of low-level heroes and reformed villains into state-sanctioned teams. Writer , known for his work on titles like Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, was selected to helm the series, bringing a focus on ensemble character dynamics and bureaucratic elements of superhero oversight. Artist Stefano Caselli provided the initial pencils, emphasizing the militaristic training sequences and diverse recruit roster including characters like Cloud 9, , and Trauma. The creative direction prioritized exploring ethical tensions within the program, such as mandatory service and surveillance, while tying into broader Marvel events. The series launched with Avengers: The Initiative #1, released on April 4, 2007, under Marvel's "Initiative" imprint, which coordinated multiple titles in the post-Civil War universe. Priced at $2.99 and rated T+, the debut issue introduced the core setup of classified training operations under directors like Henry Pym () and detailed the first class of 142 registered heroes vying for spots on the fifty-state team initiative. Initial reception highlighted its fresh take on superhero team-building, though sales and critical analysis later varied amid the event-driven landscape.

Creative Teams and Key Issues

The primary creative team for Avengers: The Initiative consisted of writer and artist Stefano Caselli, who launched the series with its debut issue on April 25, 2007, focusing on the establishment of the Superhuman Registration Act's training program at Camp Hammond in . Slott's run through the initial issues emphasized the interpersonal dynamics and ethical challenges faced by the young recruits, including the introduction of characters like Trauma, , and Cloud 9, while Caselli's artwork provided detailed depictions of the boot camp environment and action sequences. Christos Gage assumed writing duties starting with issue #11 in September 2008, co-writing some earlier installments with Slott, and continued through the series' conclusion in issue #35 in March 2010, incorporating crossover events such as World War Hulk and Secret Invasion. Artists during Gage's tenure included Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, whose contributions supported escalating narratives involving Skrull infiltrators and Norman Osborn's reorganization of the program under the Dark Reign era. The shift to Gage allowed for deeper exploration of recruit graduations, betrayals, and the program's vulnerabilities, with the series totaling 35 monthly issues plus an annual and specials. Key issues highlighted pivotal developments in the Initiative's fictional history, such as issue #1 ("Basic Training"), which set the premise by assembling the first cadet class amid post-Civil War tensions, and issues #8-10 ("Killed in Action" arc, November 2007-January 2008), where the death of star recruit MVP exposed internal flaws and led to revelations about hidden threats like Gauntlet. Issue #13 ("Washout," December 2008) under Gage marked early tests of loyalty during broader Marvel events, while issues #20-22 (2009) addressed the fallout from Secret Invasion, including Skrull impostors among trainees and the program's near-collapse. The final arc in issues #30-35 (2010) culminated in "Disassembled," detailing Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R. takeover and the Initiative's dismantling, emphasizing themes of governmental overreach and superhero accountability.

Cancellation and Aftermath

The series concluded with Avengers: The Initiative #35, cover-dated May 2010 and released on May 12, 2010, marking the end of its 35-issue run that began in April 2007. On January 16, 2010, Marvel announced the cancellation of multiple Avengers-related titles, including Avengers: The Initiative, alongside Dark Avengers #16, Mighty Avengers #36, New Avengers #64, and Uncanny X-Men #525, to facilitate a publishing relaunch under the "Heroic Age" banner. This decision aligned with Marvel's periodic restructuring of event-driven superhero lines to refresh creative directions and tie-ins following major crossovers like Siege. The final issue, written by Christos N. Gage and illustrated by Humberto Ramos, resolved ongoing arcs by depicting the dissolution of the Initiative program amid the Siege event, with surviving characters dispersing to other teams or roles. In the aftermath, Gage transitioned to Avengers Academy, a spiritual successor launched in August 2010 that shifted focus from state-mandated training to voluntary youth mentorship at a new West Coast facility, incorporating some Initiative alumni like Reptil and Finesse. The Initiative's concepts of superhero registration and regional teams influenced later Marvel storylines, such as the 50-State Initiative's echoes in Fear Itself and Avengers vs. X-Men, though the core program was not revived in subsequent publications.

Concept and Premise

Origins in Civil War Aftermath

Following the conclusion of the Civil War crossover event in January 2007, which ended with the pro-registration side's victory and Captain America's surrender, the U.S. government enforced the Superhuman Registration Act, mandating that all individuals with superhuman abilities register their identities and powers with federal authorities. This legislation, spurred by the Stamford disaster where an explosion killed hundreds during a clash involving the New Warriors and the villain Nitro, aimed to regulate superhuman activities amid public outcry over unchecked vigilantism. Tony Stark, as and newly appointed Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., proposed the Fifty-State Initiative as a cornerstone of post-Civil War reorganization, envisioning the deployment of government-sanctioned superhero teams to each of the 50 states to enhance and localized response capabilities. The program centralized recruitment and training at Camp Hammond, a facility constructed in —site of the inciting disaster—to symbolize redemption and structured oversight of superhumans. Launched in Avengers: The Initiative #1 (April 2007), the Initiative integrated registered heroes and novice powered individuals into a boot-camp regimen supervised by experienced Avengers like Henry Pym (Yellowjacket) and , emphasizing tactical discipline, legal compliance, and power mastery to prevent future unregistered threats. This structure reflected Stark's vision of professionalizing heroism under governmental purview, though it drew internal tensions from anti-registration holdouts and ethical debates over mandatory enlistment.

Program Structure and Objectives

The 50-State Initiative, enacted in the wake of the Superhuman Registration Act following the events of Civil War in 2006, sought to systematically register all individuals with superhuman abilities and deploy trained teams to each of the fifty U.S. states for localized crisis response and support. The program's core objectives centered on professionalizing superhero operations through mandatory registration, mitigating unregistered , and fostering ethical power usage to prevent tragedies like the Stamford that precipitated the Act. Proponents, including Tony Stark as director, argued it would enhance public safety by integrating superhumans into a coordinated national framework under the Commission on Superhuman Activities, with S.H.I.E.L.D. logistical backing. Centralized at Camp Hammond in —named for the original Human Torch, James Hammond—the structure emphasized a militarized boot camp model for recruits, combining physical conditioning with specialized instruction. Training encompassed combat simulations (often power-restricted to build baseline skills), power control exercises, protocols, search-and-rescue operations, and sessions on to instill and teamwork. Recruits underwent evaluation by instructors such as Gauntlet and , with successful graduates assigned to state teams like the Liberteens () or (), while failures faced detention or reassignment. The hierarchy placed oversight with a rotating Avengers-led command, initially under Stark, to ensure alignment with federal directives amid ongoing tensions over autonomy versus control. The Superhuman Registration Act (SHRA), codified as 6 U.S.C. § 558, formed the primary legal basis for the Avengers: The Initiative, requiring all individuals in the United States to disclose their civilian identities, powers, and origins to federal authorities under penalty of law. Enacted by Congress in the aftermath of the disaster on March 31, 2006—which killed over 600 civilians due to a clash involving unregistered superhumans—the SHRA authorized government oversight of superhuman activities to mitigate public safety risks and prevent unlicensed vigilantism. The Act empowered the Commission on Superhuman Activities (CSA) and S.H.I.E.L.D. to enforce compliance, including the creation of training facilities like Camp Hammond in for registered recruits. Under the SHRA's framework, the Fifty-State Initiative—encompassing the Avengers Initiative—aimed to deploy state-sponsored teams, with mandatory training for new or unregistered heroes transitioning to licensed status, effectively integrating superhumans into a quasi-military . Non-compliance was treated as a felony, leading to arrests and detentions, as seen with figures like the who initially resisted registration. The program's included background checks, power assessments, and assignment to regional teams, with oversight shifting from S.H.I.E.L.D. to H.A.M.M.E.R. under in 2008, expanding executive authority over superhuman deployment. Ethically, the Initiative provoked debates over conscription-like mandates, as the SHRA compelled participation in government-directed operations, stripping secret identities and exposing heroes to targeted threats, which critics likened to a draft infringing on First and Fourth Amendment equivalents in the . Proponents, including Tony Stark, justified it as a necessary response to unchecked , citing Stamford's 612 deaths as that unregulated powers endangered civilians, while mandating to standardize accountability and reduce accidents. Opponents, such as , argued it eroded personal freedoms and invited abuse, as evidenced by the program's recruitment of minors like Trauma (born 1991, trained from age 16) and reformed villains as instructors, raising consent issues for adolescents coerced into combat roles without parental override options. Further ethical tensions arose from power imbalances, where the wielded and against non-registrants, potentially violating , and the Initiative's evolution under Osborn highlighted risks of politicized control, including forced villain rehabilitation programs that blurred lines between heroism and penal servitude. The Act's rescission in 2010, post-Osborn's fall, underscored these flaws, with Steve Rogers negotiating its repeal after documenting systemic overreach, though data from the era showed a temporary drop in superhuman-related incidents during enforced registration.

Fictional History

Establishment and Initial Training

Following the Superhuman Civil War, the government, under the Superhuman Registration Act, launched the Fifty-State Initiative to ensure each state had a contingent of trained superheroes. Central to this program was Camp Hammond in , repurposed from the site of the Nitro explosion that killed hundreds and sparked the registration debate. The facility served as the primary boot camp for young, registered superhumans, emphasizing structured training to instill discipline and operational readiness. The inaugural training class at Camp Hammond comprised six recruits selected for their potential: Cloud 9 (Sarah Burke), who could disperse into a cloud form for flight and concealment; Trauma (Terrance Ward), a shapeshifter manifesting others' fears; MVP (Mason Fields), engineered with peak human abilities akin to a teenage ; (Jason Payne), generating explosive kinetic spheres; Komodo (Jared Morgan), granted reptilian physiology via a derivative of formula; and Armory (Violet Black), equipped with a symbiotic energy bow. These trainees underwent rigorous orientation upon arrival, including briefings on the Initiative's mandate to replace unregistered vigilantes with accountable teams. Oversight fell to a cadre of veteran Avengers and specialists: Drill Sergeant Joseph "Gauntlet" Green, a former Marine enforcing military protocol; (Henry Pym), providing scientific and tactical expertise; (James Rhodes), focusing on armored combat and strategy; and (Vance Astrovik), mentoring telekinetic applications and ethical heroism. Initial exercises involved physical conditioning, power synchronization drills, and simulated engagements, revealing strains such as Armory's unstable weapon dependency and inter-recruit rivalries. By the program's early phase, the setup aimed to forge a pipeline for state-assigned heroes, though underlying tensions foreshadowed operational challenges.

World War Hulk Integration

During the crossover event, which unfolded across titles from August to October 2007, the returned to with his Warbound allies to exact on the for exiling him, leading to a destructive invasion of . The Initiative's trainees at Camp Hammond were initially assigned non-combat roles, focusing on and civilian evacuation in amid the chaos, as senior registered heroes confronted the invaders directly. Despite explicit orders to avoid engagement, six young recruits—Cloud 9, Hardball, Rage, Slapstick, Thor Girl, and Ultragirl—defied directives and advanced toward the Hulk's position at Madison Square Garden after he and the Warbound had overwhelmed teams including the Mighty Avengers, She-Hulk, and New Avengers. Their unauthorized assault resulted in swift defeat and capture by the Warbound, who imprisoned them to prevent further interference and as leverage amid the escalating conflict. To avert a catastrophe involving the capture of underage trainees by the , Initiative overseer covertly activated the Shadow Initiative, a black-ops unit comprising pardoned supervillains such as , Constrictor, Mutant Zero, Scarlet Spiders, and Trauma. This deniable team infiltrated the 's base, successfully extracted the captives without official acknowledgment, underscoring the program's reliance on ethically ambiguous tactics during crises and exposing internal fractures, including She-Hulk's brief challenge to Iron Man's leadership amid the turmoil. The incident highlighted the trainees' inexperience against world-breaking threats, prompting stricter oversight while the broader events culminated in the 's temporary domination of the city before his eventual defeat.

Secret Invasion Disruptions

The Skrull infiltration compromised the Initiative's leadership when the impostor posing as Yellowjacket—revealed as a Skrull in the broader invasion—was confirmed to have directed training and operations at Camp Hammond, eroding trust among recruits and instructors. This exposure, occurring amid the initial waves of the invasion on June 25, 2008, in Avengers: The Initiative #14, prompted immediate scrutiny of all registered superhumans, as the program's centralized registration under the Superhuman Registration Act failed to prevent deep-cover agents from embedding within its structure. To counter the threat, Triathlon (Delroy Garrett), adopting the 3-D Man identity with enhanced trioptic vision capable of detecting Skrull physiology, was deployed to identify infiltrators across Initiative facilities and teams. In Avengers: The Initiative #15, released July 23, 2008, 3-D Man's abilities exposed further deceptions, including the Skrull Crusader's manipulation of perception-altering devices to evade detection, while the absence of major Avengers teams—trapped in the Savage Land—forced Initiative cadets to confront the first major Skrull assaults without veteran support. This reliance on unproven trainees amplified vulnerabilities, as Skrull forces targeted Camp Hammond directly, overwhelming defenses and seizing control temporarily through coordinated strikes. Casualties mounted rapidly, with recruits like Geldoff (Proton) executed by to demonstrate the invaders' ruthlessness toward human collaborators, underscoring the program's inadequate vetting processes despite mandatory power manifestation disclosures. State-level Initiative teams, such as the Fifty-State Initiative units, faced similar disruptions, with fracturing alliances and halting training exercises as members questioned peers' authenticity, effectively paralyzing expansion efforts. The invasion's chaos, peaking in issues like #18 where occupiers repelled counterattacks by the Shadow Initiative subgroup, highlighted systemic flaws: the program's emphasis on quantity over rigorous loyalty screening left it susceptible to subversion, resulting in operational breakdowns and a reevaluation of its foundational security protocols.

Dark Reign Reorganization

Following the Skrull invasion's resolution in 2008, Norman Osborn, leveraging his public image as the hero who killed the Skrull queen, was appointed America's top security official, dismantling S.H.I.E.L.D. and establishing H.A.M.M.E.R. as its replacement. Under Osborn's oversight, the 50-State Initiative—originally designed to train and register superhumans—was restructured to align with his authoritarian agenda, shifting from a rehabilitative program to one emphasizing control and covert operations. This reorganization integrated Initiative teams more directly into H.A.M.M.E.R.'s framework, with many state-level squads either disbanded, repurposed for black-ops missions, or pressured into loyalty oaths to Osborn's regime. Osborn appointed the Hood, a mystically empowered crime lord whose gang had previously clashed with Initiative forces, as the new executive director of Camp Hammond, the program's central training facility. Taskmaster, a with photographic reflexes, was installed as head instructor, enforcing rigorous and often brutal training regimens that prioritized obedience over heroism. These changes, detailed in Avengers: The Initiative issues commencing with #20 in January 2009, marked a departure from prior leadership under figures like and Henry Pym, introducing elements of intimidation and criminal influence into the program's core. The reorganization bred internal dissent, as holdover trainees and instructors viewed Osborn's appointees as unfit and his motives as self-serving. Heroes such as Tigra, Gauntlet, and surviving New Warriors members launched guerrilla efforts to undermine the corrupted structure, including attempts to publicize abuses like the exploitation of cloned super-soldier remains for experimental purposes. State teams faced heightened scrutiny, with non-compliant groups like the Pennsylvania-based Heavy Hitters resisting integration into Osborn's Thunderbolts Initiative—a rebranded subset focused on villain rehabilitation for elite strike teams—leading to forced dispersals and arrests. By mid-2009, these tensions escalated into open conflicts, foreshadowing the program's further destabilization amid broader superhero opposition to Dark Reign.

Final Conflicts and Dissolution

As Norman Osborn's regime consolidated power during the Dark Reign era, the Initiative underwent further transformation into H.A.M.M.E.R.-controlled operations, with Camp Hammond repurposed as Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. and many state teams aligned under Osborn's directives. This shift intensified internal fractures, as some trainees and instructors resisted Osborn's authoritarian oversight, setting the stage for climactic confrontations during the event in early 2010. The final conflicts erupted amid Osborn's assault on Asgard, where Initiative-affiliated figures like Taskmaster engaged Avengers leader in combat atop the besieged realm, only for Taskmaster to opportunistically seek extraction from Osborn as the tide turned against H.A.M.M.E.R. forces. Simultaneously, at Camp H.A.M.M.E.R., launched a vengeful assault on the Hood—the crime lord responsible for her earlier assault—forcing Night Thrasher into a coerced dilemma to kill her in exchange for his brother's safety, while Penance's loyalties wavered amid the chaos. These battles highlighted the program's erosion, with defectors and betrayals underscoring its vulnerability to Osborn's corruption. Following Osborn's defeat and imprisonment in April 2010, Steve Rogers, as head of U.S. security operations, negotiated the rescinding of the Superhuman Registration Act with the President, rendering the mandatory and state-team structure obsolete. Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. was dismantled, surviving trainees dispersed—some to new programs like —and the Fifty-State Initiative formally dissolved, marking the end of enforced government oversight on superhuman activity in favor of voluntary heroic coalitions during the ensuing Heroic Age. Daken's escape from custody amid the fallout symbolized lingering threats, but the program's infrastructure collapsed without the SHRA's legal backbone.

Characters

Leadership and Instructors

served as the initial executive director of the Avengers Initiative, appointed by the U.S. government to enforce the Superhuman Registration Act and oversee training at Camp Hammond following the events of Civil War in 2006. , a veteran S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with a history of bureaucratic rigor, managed program logistics, recruit assignments, and compliance until his removal amid security breaches during the in 2008. Joseph Green, known as Gauntlet, acted as the primary drill instructor, leveraging his enhanced strength and Marine background to instill discipline and physical endurance in trainees from the program's launch in Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007). Recruited directly by Gyrich, Gauntlet emphasized relentless training regimens, later ascending to interim camp director after issue #20 amid leadership vacuums. Combat instruction fell to Taskmaster (Anthony Masters), whose photographic reflexes enabled him to replicate and teach fighting styles from observed heroes, including Avengers techniques demonstrated in sessions detailed in Avengers: The Initiative #9 (2008). Taskmaster's role extended to specialized units like the Shadow Initiative, focusing on tactical versatility for recruits lacking innate skills. Supplementary faculty included Beast (Hank McCoy), who delivered lectures on science, ethics, and strategy starting in early issues, and rotating Avengers such as (James ) for advanced weaponry and flight training. Other periodic instructors encompassed for melee combat, Black Widow for espionage, and for power control, though their involvement waned post-Secret Invasion as the program restructured under Dark Reign. Guest sessions by and provided oversight but highlighted tensions over governmental control versus heroic independence.

Core Recruits and Trainees

The initial cohort of trainees at Camp Hammond, the primary training facility for the Avengers Initiative, consisted primarily of young superhumans selected for their potential and subjected to rigorous basic training in combat, ethics, and teamwork following the Superhuman Registration Act. This first class, introduced in Avengers: The Initiative #1 (March 2007), highlighted the program's focus on molding unregistered or novice heroes into disciplined operatives, with instructors including , , , , and Gauntlet overseeing their development. Key members of this core group included Michael Van Patrick, codenamed MVP, a genetically enhanced prodigy designed for heroism who demonstrated exceptional aptitude but perished during an early training mishap involving a HYDRA infiltration, underscoring the dangers inherent to the program. Trauma (Terrance Ward), a shapeshifter capable of assuming the forms of others' deepest fears to exploit psychological weaknesses, was paired with specialized training and integrated into squad exercises alongside peers. Cloud 9 (Abigail Boylen), proficient in generating vaporous clouds for flight, concealment, and marksmanship support, emerged as one of the class's top performers in precision-based drills. Hardball (Roger Brokeridge), wielding ferromagnetic kinetic energy manipulation to hurl spheres with devastating force, formed interpersonal bonds within the group, including a romantic interest with Komodo (Melati Kusuma), whose saurian physiology granted enhanced strength, agility, and regenerative abilities derived from experimental exposure. These trainees participated in joint operations, such as countering HYDRA threats, which tested their cohesion amid the program's high-stakes environment, where failure could result in expulsion or reassignment to state-level teams. Subsequent intakes, like Armory, expanded the roster but built upon the foundational dynamics established by this inaugural class.

Antagonists and External Figures

The Initiative encountered significant external threats during major crossover events. In the World War Hulk storyline, Hulk and his Warbound allies assaulted Camp Hammond on August 31, 2007 (in-universe timeline aligned with comic publication), resulting in the deaths of several trainees and staff, including Michael Van Patrick (MVP), highlighting the program's vulnerabilities to high-level powered assaults. This attack exposed logistical weaknesses, as the facility's defenses proved insufficient against 's rage-fueled rampage, which was precipitated by his exile and betrayal by members. The Secret Invasion event further disrupted operations, with infiltrators posing as key figures such as , leading to internal chaos and the assassination of supposed Initiative leaders; the ' shape-shifting enabled widespread sabotage, culminating in battles across U.S. soil from July to December 2008 (comic dates). These extraterrestrial antagonists exploited the program's expansion, targeting registration databases and training sites to undermine human superhuman coordination. Internal antagonists included HYDRA operatives embedded as instructors, notably Taskmaster, who feigned loyalty while executing espionage and assassination plots during the 2008-2009 arcs, revealing systemic vetting failures in recruiting former villains. Constrictor, another reformed villain turned instructor, occasionally reverted to self-interested actions, though less overtly antagonistic. External political figures reshaped the program adversarially. Norman Osborn, following his appointment as director post-Secret Invasion, reorganized the Initiative into H.A.M.M.E.R. in early 2009, purging pro-Stark elements and aligning it with his Dark Reign agenda, which prioritized authoritarian control over heroic autonomy. This shift introduced conflicts with residual loyalists and escalated tensions with unregistered heroes, framing Osborn as a bureaucratic antagonist who weaponized the program against perceived threats like the Avengers Resistance.

State-Level Initiatives

Program Expansion by State

The Fifty-State Initiative, formalized following the Superhuman Registration Act's passage in the aftermath of the 2006 Stamford disaster, aimed to deploy a government-sanctioned team in each of the 50 U.S. states to enhance localized response to threats. Central training occurred at Camp Hammond in , where recruits underwent rigorous preparation under instructors like before assignment. Expansion proceeded unevenly, prioritizing states with immediate needs or existing hero pools, though full nationwide rollout was disrupted by the 2008 , which revealed infiltrators in multiple teams. Initial deployments drew from reformed legacy groups and new formations. In California, The Order was activated as the state's team in early 2007, comprising members such as , Anthem, and Heavy, tasked with protecting under strict oversight. Texas established the Rangers around the same period, incorporating registered Western-themed heroes like Texas Twister, Shooting Star, and to cover regional threats. New York retained a high-profile Avengers roster including and , reflecting its status as a national hub, while Wisconsin's Great Lakes Initiative integrated quirky operatives like and , operational since prior to the program's formal launch but aligned under Initiative protocols. Further expansions targeted underrepresented areas, with forming the Heavy Hitters in mid-2007 (Avengers: The Initiative #12), featuring , , and Nonstop for desert and urban operations. Hawaii's Point Men, including 3-D Man and , were deployed to address Pacific insular vulnerabilities (Avengers: The Initiative #12, #14). activated Freedom Force with Cloud 9 and Komodo (Avengers: The Initiative #12), emphasizing rapid-response capabilities. Georgia's Cavalry, comprising Stuntmaster and , handled Southern logistics (Avengers: The Initiative #18). By late 2008, teams like Delaware's Women Warriors (Diamondback, Asp) and Maryland's Psionex (Asylum, Mathemanic) emerged, often repurposing former villains under parole conditions (Avengers: The Initiative #28).
StateTeam NameNotable Members/FeaturesKey Reference
Desert Stars, Komodo, Avengers: The Initiative #12
The Command, , Aquarian vol. 3 #1
Mavericks, , GeigerAvengers: The Initiative #16
Vector, Vapor, X-RayAvengers: The Initiative #28
PennsylvaniaLiberteensMs. America, Blue Eagle, Whiz KidAvengers: The Initiative Annual #1
The CalledUnnamed Mormon-affiliated heroesAvengers: The Initiative #17
Despite ambitions, many states like , , and lacked documented teams, with assignments limited to individual heroes such as Hellcat in . deceptions, including infiltrators in teams like the (Arkansas) and Action Pack (), eroded trust and stalled broader proliferation, culminating in revelations during Avengers: The Initiative #18-19. The program's state-level structure highlighted logistical strains, as teams operated semi-autonomously yet reported to federal overseers, fostering inefficiencies in coordination.

Notable Teams and Operations

The Order functioned as California's designated superhero team within the Fifty-State Initiative, established in the aftermath of the Stamford disaster by Tony Stark, Reed Richards, and Henry Pym. Volunteers underwent the SOMA Process, involving nanite administration followed by a viral genomech payload that granted abilities for one year, as part of an experimental approach to rapid team assembly. The group trained for one year at a classified facility in prior to their public activation, with members structured around an Olympian-themed of powers. Key personnel included as field leader, Aralune, Calamity, Corona, Heavy, Maul, Mulholland, Pierce, Supernaut, and Veda. Operations for The Order emphasized rapid response to regional threats, including the defeat of the Infernal Man in the and the containment of a 20-kiloton nuclear blast initiated by reactivated Soviet sleeper robots. The team also contributed to national defense efforts by safeguarding amid the Hulk's destructive incursion during the event. Subsequent missions exposed vulnerabilities, as Ezekiel Stane infiltrated and manipulated several members, resulting in Heavy's death, Mulholland's termination by to avert widespread riots, Corona's killing by the Black Dahlias cult, and Maul's defection to Stane's forces. The Rangers operated as Texas's state-sanctioned unit, drawing from pre-existing regional heroes and Initiative recruits to form a cohesive response force with a Southwestern thematic emphasis. Core members encompassed Texas Twister, , , Firebird, and Shooting Star, enabling localized enforcement against superhuman incursions. joined following his recapture by the , bolstering the team's physical capabilities for ground-level operations. Beyond standard state deployments, the Shadow Initiative served as the program's specialized black-ops detachment, bypassing overt state affiliations for deniable missions. Composed of operatives including Constrictor, , Trauma, Mutant Zero, , and cloned Scarlet Spiders engineered from MVP's genetic material, the unit focused on high-risk extractions and counterintelligence. A prominent operation involved the attempted abduction of from Hydra custody amid escalating defections during the Dark Reign period, highlighting the Initiative's shift toward covert containment of internal threats. The team later faced stranding in after Norman Osborn's restructuring of .

Themes and Analysis

Government Regulation of Superhumans

The Superhuman Registration Act (SHRA), enacted by the U.S. Congress in the aftermath of the Stamford disaster on December 16, 2005, which killed over 600 civilians due to a battle involving unregistered superhumans, required all individuals possessing superhuman abilities to register their civilian identities and powers with the federal government. This legislation, supported by pro-registration advocates like Tony Stark (), aimed to create a national database for oversight, enabling coordinated responses to threats while treating superhumans as potential national assets or liabilities subject to licensing and deployment protocols. Non-compliance was criminalized, leading to arrests and forced for violators, as exemplified by the of unregistered heroes at facilities like , where psychological conditioning was applied to enforce registration. In Avengers: The Initiative, this regulatory framework manifested through the 50-State Initiative, a program launched by Stark in 2007 to train registered superhumans at Camp Hammond in , and deploy state-specific teams across the U.S. Trainees underwent mandatory curricula in combat tactics, , ethics, and , structured akin to boot camp, with graduation tied to certification for sanctioned heroic operations. Heroes were restricted to operating within assigned jurisdictions, preventing freelance and ensuring federal coordination, though this imposed bureaucratic hurdles such as permission requirements for interstate activity. The series portrayed regulation as a double-edged mechanism, highlighting oversight benefits like standardized training to mitigate untrained risks—evident in simulated exercises addressing real-world scenarios—but also exposing vulnerabilities to abuse. Incidents at Camp Hammond, including unauthorized experiments, cover-ups of trainee deaths, and employment of ethically compromised instructors like the reformed Nazi Delroy Garrett Jr. (3-D Man), underscored how government control could foster internal corruption and moral compromises under the guise of . Co-writer noted Tony Stark's investigations into such "questionable activity," reflecting thematic concerns over unchecked authority enabling ex-villain rehabilitation programs that prioritized utility over accountability. During Norman Osborn's tenure post- (2008), regulation devolved into overt authoritarianism via H.A.M.M.E.R., where the Initiative enforced loyalty oaths and suppressed dissent, culminating in the SHRA's repeal after the 2010 event, which exposed systemic failures in balancing security with individual rights. This arc critiqued causal risks of centralized power, as initial pro-registration intentions—rooted in empirical responses to disasters like Stamford—enabled power consolidation by figures exploiting bureaucratic structures for personal agendas, without inherent safeguards against such shifts. The narrative thus emphasized that while data-driven registration could enhance preparedness, it inherently risked eroding heroic autonomy, a tension unresolved until legislative overturn.

Bureaucratic Inefficiencies and Heroic Autonomy

The Avengers: The Initiative series portrays the program's bureaucratic structure as a primary source of operational delays, with trainees and instructors at Camp Hammond required to navigate rigid protocols, including mandatory federal sanctioning for field deployments that often hindered rapid threat response. For instance, during simulated exercises and real crises, heroes like expressed frustration over administrative hurdles that prioritized paperwork over immediate action, underscoring the tension between structured oversight and the fluid demands of superheroics. The Fifty-State Initiative's ambition to station a superhero team in each amplified these inefficiencies, as struggles left numerous teams understaffed or uncoordinated, with federal oversight failing to prevent infiltration vulnerabilities exposed during the Skrull invasion in 2008. Internal mismanagement, including inconsistent vetting and loyalty enforcement, further eroded effectiveness, as seen in state-level teams grappling with unqualified recruits and jurisdictional overlaps that slowed inter-team collaboration. In response, the narrative emphasizes heroic autonomy as a counterforce, with trainees frequently rebelling against imposed controls to pursue independent initiatives; notable examples include and Firestar departing Camp Hammond to reform the outside government purview, prioritizing personal ethics over regimented duty. Under Norman Osborn's 2009 takeover during Dark Reign, such defiance escalated, culminating in widespread defections like the of California's team and uprisings by figures including Trauma and , who rejected coercive leadership in favor of self-directed heroism. These arcs highlight the program's ultimate vulnerability, as autonomous actors exposed its rigidities, contributing to its dissolution amid the Siege event in 2010.

Ethical Dilemmas in Training and Control

The Superhuman Registration Act, which underpinned the Fifty-State Initiative, compelled superhumans to register their identities and powers with the government, with non-compliance leading to arrest and mandatory training, thereby raising profound ethical questions about coercion over voluntary participation. This framework transformed Camp Hammond into a centralized boot camp for recruits, where failure to engage in structured programs equated to legal jeopardy, effectively undermining personal agency in favor of state-mandated compliance. Training protocols at Camp Hammond emphasized rigorous combat simulations, power suppression techniques, and ethical indoctrination tailored to operations, yet these often imposed severe psychological strains on participants, particularly younger or less experienced individuals navigating identity and control issues. Recruits faced surveillance and disciplinary measures designed to instill loyalty, creating conflicts between adherence to state directives and adherence to individual principles of justice. Government control extended to licensing and deployment restrictions, positioning superhumans as extensions of federal authority rather than independent actors, which fueled debates over whether such mechanisms prioritized public safety or enabled potential abuses like those later perpetrated under Norman Osborn's oversight. The program's structure highlighted tensions between regulatory oversight—intended to mitigate unchecked —and the erosion of , as trainees grappled with enforced conformity that could suppress dissenting heroism. These elements collectively portrayed a system where ethical training coexisted uneasily with mechanisms that prioritized bureaucratic control, often at the expense of trainees' autonomy and mental resilience.

Reception and Impact

Critical and Commercial Response

Avengers: The Initiative received generally positive , with an average score of 7.3 out of 10 across 129 reviews compiled by Comic Book Roundup. Critics praised the series for its strong character development, exploration of bureaucratic themes in training, and consistent artwork, particularly by Stefano Caselli in early issues. Reviews from outlets like AIPT Comics highlighted the "complex building" and slow-burn plot twists in collected editions, awarding volumes such as the second complete collection an 8.5 out of 10 for treating es with serious organizational depth. Some criticism focused on inconsistent pacing, overcrowded casts during tie-ins like , and weaker individual issues, with noting in a review of the 2008 special that the expanding roster diluted focus on core characters. Later issues, such as #31, averaged lower at 5.9 out of 10, reflecting perceived declines in narrative momentum. Despite these, the series was commended for its post-Civil War relevance and humor in depicting heroic versus oversight, with fan discussions on platforms like describing it as "fun, funny, and weird" in an era of overly serious comics. Commercially, the series launched strongly amid Civil War momentum, with issue #1 selling an estimated 127,668 copies to North American comic shops in April 2007, ranking it among Marvel's top performers that month. Sales for #2 followed at 103,156 copies in May 2007. By January 2008, issue #9 moved 55,225 units, and #21 in 2009 reached 48,900, indicating a typical decline for ongoing titles but sufficient to sustain 35 monthly issues from April 2007 to March 2010, plus specials and trade paperbacks. Trade paperback volume 1 sold 3,533 units in March 2008, reflecting steady collection interest without blockbuster reprint dominance.

Fan Debates and Interpretations

Fans have extensively debated the Avengers: The Initiative series' treatment of the Superhuman Registration Act (SHRA), interpreting it variably as either a validation of structured heroism or a critique of overreach. Many enthusiasts view the as exposing the SHRA's inherent flaws, such as vulnerability to infiltration—as demonstrated by agents posing as trainees during —and bureaucratic rigidities that hinder effective response to threats like the Hulk's rampage in . These elements, including fatal training accidents at Camp Hammond and ethical lapses like deploying underage recruits, lead some fans to argue the series substantiates anti-registration sentiments from Civil War by portraying the program as a pathway to authoritarian excess under figures like during Dark Reign. A recurring point of contention is the moral ambiguity of pro-registration protagonists, with critics among fans highlighting actions like Iron Man's oversight of teen weaponization and cloning experiments as evidence of the initiative's descent into "insane" practices that erode . Proponents counter that these depict realistic challenges in regulating powered individuals post-Stamford disaster, emphasizing the value of coordinated state teams over unregulated , though such defenses are less prevalent in online discourse. Interpretations often frame the series as a satirical examination of military-style , with characters like Gauntlet using psychological tactics reminiscent of boot camp to suppress individuality, raising questions about whether the SHRA prioritizes control over genuine heroism. Beyond policy themes, fans debate the series' execution and legacy, praising Dan Slott's early arcs for humorously juggling obscure characters like Trauma and Cloud 9 while developing their arcs amid larger events, yet criticizing later issues for pacing slowdowns and event tie-ins that dilute standalone stories. Many lament the post-cancellation obscurity of Initiative graduates, interpreting this as a missed opportunity to explore long-term SHRA consequences, with some seeing the program's dissolution in as narrative vindication of heroic independence over state dependency.

Influence on Broader Marvel Continuity

The Avengers: The Initiative series established the Fifty-State Initiative as a cornerstone of Marvel's post-Civil War continuity, mandating the training and registration of superhumans at Camp Hammond to form state-specific response teams, thereby decentralizing superhero operations across the and integrating unregistered or novice heroes into a structured federal framework. This program directly influenced hero deployment in subsequent narratives, such as during (2007), where the targeted the facility, exposing its operational vulnerabilities and prompting defensive mobilizations from trainees. The storyline's integration with Secret Invasion (2008) amplified its broader effects, as Skrull infiltrators posing as Initiative members— including figures like Yellowjacket—were unmasked, leading to widespread distrust, purges of trainees, and a reevaluation of the program's security protocols that reverberated through the Marvel Universe. This infiltration arc underscored the Initiative's role in highlighting systemic risks of centralized hero training, contributing to the collapse of Tony Stark's oversight and paving the way for Norman Osborn's Dark Reign era, where the program was repurposed under H.A.M.M.E.R. with reformed teams like the Thunderbolts assuming similar functions. Several characters originating or prominently featured in the series persisted in mainline continuity, such as (Irredeemable Ant-Man), who transitioned to roles in Thunderbolts (2006) and & The Wasp (2010), and , who appeared in Young Allies (2010) after his Initiative tenure. The Initiative's disbandment following (2010) directly inspired successor concepts like (2010), which repurposed Camp Hammond for voluntary youth training under new leadership, carrying forward themes of mentorship while characters like bridged both programs. Overall, the series expanded Marvel's ensemble of secondary heroes, with over 50 state teams conceptualized—though not all fully realized—affecting team compositions in events like the Skrull invasion, where Initiative forces allied with and Secret Warriors against overwhelming odds. This proliferation influenced ongoing depictions of bureaucratic oversight versus heroic independence, evident in later arcs where former trainees influenced Avengers rosters and ethical debates on registration lingered into the Heroic Age relaunch.

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