Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics than ran from April 2007 to June 2010. The series focused on the training facility located at Camp Hammond in Stamford, Connecticut, where pro-registration heroes were trained for the Fifty State Initiative. Following is a list of characters who were featured in the series.
Name | First Shown | Notes |
---|---|---|
Henry Peter Gyrich | Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007) | Administrator; Secretary of Superhuman Armed Forces. [1] Forced to depart his position by Iron Man in Avengers: The Initiative #12. [2] |
Baron Von Blitzschlag | Head Scientist. [3] | |
War Machine | Camp Director; [1] Field Commander. [4] Resigned his position in Avengers: The Initiative #16. [5] | |
Yellowjacket | Chief Administrator. [1] Revealed to be a Skrull impostor, [6] and killed in Avengers: The Initiative #19. [7] | |
Gauntlet | Drill Instructor. [1] Became Camp Director in Avengers: The Initiative #20. [8] Left to join the Avengers Resistance. [9] | |
She-Hulk | Instructor. [1] Removed from her instructor position and as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent after a falling out with Tony Stark. [10] | |
Justice | Youth Counselor. [11] Left to lead Counter Force. [12] | |
Triathlon | Instructor-In-Training. [13] Assigned to the Hawaii Initiative team Point Men, as the new 3-D Man. [2] Left to work with the Skrull Kill Krew. [5] | |
Tigra | Instructor. [1] Assigned to the Arkansas Initiative team. [14] Left to join the Avengers Resistance. [9] | |
Nighthawk | Instructor. [1] Assigned to the New Jersey Initiative team, the Defenders. [15] | |
Hellcat | Avengers: The Initiative #3 (Aug. 2007) | Instructor: First aid. [16] Assigned to the Alaska Initiative team. [14] |
Black Widow | Instructor: Marksmanship. [16] | |
Stingray | Instructor: Swimming. [16] Assigned to the Hawaii Initiative team Point Men. [14] | |
Thing | Instructor: Tactics. [16] | |
Beast | Consultant. [16] | |
Danielle Moonstar | Consultant. [16] | |
Taskmaster | Avengers: The Initiative #8 (Feb. 2008) | Drill Instructor, [17] and Shadow Initiative field leader. [8] Originally replaced Gauntlet when he was in a coma. |
Trauma | Avengers: The Initiative #12 (June 2008) | Counselor. [2] |
Physique | Infirmary department head. [2] | |
Other guest instructors and staff included: Ares, Ms. Marvel, and Wonder Man as part of the Mighty Avengers. [3] 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. [3] He later returned to his life of crime as a mercenary. [18] Gargoyle served as an Initiative instructor before retiring. [14]
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. [5] 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. [2] |
Hardball | Assigned to the Nevada Initiative team, the Heavy Hitters. [2] Left to join HYDRA. [19] Subsequently rejoined | |
Komodo | Assigned to the Arizona Initiative team, the Desert Stars. [2] Joined the Shadow Initiative in Avengers: The Initiative #20. [8] | |
Trauma | Became a counselor following graduation. [2] | |
Armory | Her Tactigon was confiscated and she was sent out of the Initiative after accidentally killing Michael Van Patrick. [1] | |
MVP (Michael Van Patrick) | Accidentally killed by Armory. [1] | |
Thor Girl | Assigned to the Georgia Initiative team. [2] Revealed to be a Skrull impostor. [20] | |
Bengal | Assigned to the Shadow Initiative. [21] | |
Ultra Girl | Director of the Junior Guardsmen. Left to join Counter Force. [12] Returned and assigned to the Georgia Initiative team. [2] Rejoined the New Warriors in Avengers: The Initiative #23. [22] | |
Rage | Left to join Counter Force. [12] | |
Slapstick | Left to join Counter Force. [12] | |
Debrii | Avengers: The Initiative #6 (Nov. 2007) | Left to join Counter Force. [12] |
Ant-Man | Avengers: The Initiative #8 (Feb. 2008) | Assigned to the Thunderbolts. [8] |
Crusader | Revealed to be a Skrull, and shot through the head by 3-D Man. [7] | |
Dragon Lord | Killed by KIA. [23] | |
Proton (Geldoff) | Killed by Skrulls after being taken prisoner. [24] | |
Geiger | Assigned to the New Mexico Initiative team. [14] | |
Red Nine | Assigned to the Georgia Initiative team. [14] | |
Melee | Trained to be an instructor following graduation. [14] | |
Diamondback | Recruited by Norman Osborn after the closing of Camp Hammond. [9] | |
Prodigy | Avengers: The Initiative #13 (July 2008) [25] | Assigned to the Nevada Initiative team, the Heavy Hitters by Norman Osborn. [9] |
Sunstreak | Assigned to the Oregon Initiative team, The Force of Nature by Norman Osborn. [26] | |
Annex | Assigned to the New Mexico Initiative team. [14] | |
Batwing | Assigned to the Shadow Initiative. [14] | |
Gorilla Girl | Left in Avengers: The Initiative #21. [14] | |
Butterball | Not being cut out for the military applications of The Initiative, was sent home with a registration ID card. [27] | |
Name | First Shown | Notes |
---|---|---|
Norman Osborn | Avengers: The Initiative #23 | Chief Administrator; [22] Instructor: Public Relations. [26] |
Taskmaster | Avengers: The Initiative #24 | Camp Director; [30] Senior Instructor. [26] |
The Hood | Avengers: The Initiative #25 | Chief Operating Officer. [9] |
Trauma | Counselor. [9] | |
Other staff included Ares and Ms. Marvel (Moonstone) as part of the Dark Avengers. [9] Baron Von Blitzschlag and Physique also retained the positions they had at Camp Hammond under Osborn's administration. [31]
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. [26] Double agent with the Avengers Resistance. [32] | |
Aqueduct | Avengers: The Initiative #26 (Sept. 2009) | Assigned to the Oregon Initiative team. [26] |
Skybreaker | ||
Terraformer | ||
Ironclad | Assigned to the North Carolina Initiative team. [26] | |
Vapor | ||
Vector | ||
X-Ray | ||
Asylum | Assigned to the Maryland Initiative team. [26] | |
Coronary | ||
Impulse | ||
Mathemanic | ||
Pretty Persuasions | ||
Asp | Assigned to the Delaware initiative team. [26] | |
Black Mamba | ||
Quicksand | ||
Skein | ||
Outback | Avengers: The Initiative #28 (Nov. 2009) | Assigned to the Nevada Initiative team, the Heavy Hitters. [33] |
The Shadow Initiative was created as a covert ops team, designed to handle unofficial field assignments. [21] After Norman Osborn took over the Initiative and shut down Camp Hammond, the team was reorganized into a first strike team, containing heroes that were considered expendable. [30]
Name | Joined in | Notes |
---|---|---|
Bengal | Avengers: The Initiative #5 (Oct. 2007) | Also part of Osborn's new Shadow Initiative. [26] Quit in Avengers: The Initiative #34. [35] |
Constrictor | Also an instructor at Camp Hammond. [27] | |
Mutant Zero | Revealed to be Typhoid Mary. [8] Not known by other cadets outside the Shadow Initiative. | |
Scarlet Spider (Michael) | Left to join Counter Force. [12] Killed by Ragnarok. [36] | |
Scarlet Spider (Van) [37] | Killed by KIA. [12] | |
Scarlet Spider (Patrick) | Left to join Counter Force. [12] | |
Trauma | Became a counselor at Camp Hammond. [2] | |
Taskmaster | Avengers: The Initiative #20 (Feb. 2009) | Shadow Initiative field leader. [8] |
Komodo | Also part of Osborn's new Shadow Initiative. [26] Left to join the Avengers Resistance. [31] | |
Batwing | Avengers: The Initiative #21 (Mar. 2009) | Also part of Osborn's new Shadow Initiative. [26] Quit in Avengers: The Initiative #34. [35] |
Butterball | Avengers: The Initiative #26 (Sept. 2009) | Quit in Avengers: The Initiative #34. [35] |
Badd Axe | ||
Ringer | ||
Barracuda | Former member of Heavy Mettle. | |
Riot | ||
Stronghold | ||
Warbow | Former member of Heavy Mettle. Killed during the Siege of Asgard. | |
Blackwing | Former member of Heavy Mettle. Killed during the assault on Prison 42. [38] | |
Firearms | Killed during the assault on Prison 42. [38] | |
Slaughter Boy | ||
Johnny Guitar | Avengers: The Initiative #27 (Oct. 2009) | Killed during the assault on Prison 42. [38] |
Doctor Sax | Expelled due to injury. [38] | |
After Camp Hammond was shut down, [22] 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. [9] Following Norman Osborne'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. [36] | |
Scarlet Spider (Patrick) | ||
Slapstick | ||
Ultra Girl | ||
Debrii | Quit the team in Avengers: The Initiative #28. [33] | |
Tigra | Avengers: The Initiative #25 (Aug. 2009) | |
Gauntlet | ||
Komodo | Avengers: The Initiative #29 (Dec. 2009) | Joined after having her powers removed by Taskmaster. [31] |
Diamondback | Avengers: The Initiative #30 (Jan. 2010) | Double agent with Norman Osborn's Initiative. [32] |
Freedom Force is the name of two fictional teams appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Vance Astrovik, also known as Justice and formerly known as Marvel Boy, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character possesses the superhuman power of telekinesis and has often been affiliated with the New Warriors and The Avengers. He appeared in Giant-Size Defenders #5 for the first time, which was created by Don Heck and Gerry Conway.
Gravity is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Sean McKeever and Mike Norton, who wanted to create their own character inspired by the college-aged Spider-Man from the 1980s they grew up with.
Constrictor is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version seen is Frank Payne. The second version is his unnamed son.
The U-Foes is a supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as enemies of the Hulk. The group consists of four members: Vector, the group's leader, who can repel matter telekinetically; Vapor, who can transform into any form of gaseous matter; X-Ray, who can generate and project radiation and fly; and Ironclad, who has a metallic body and can control his density.
Mandrill is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Equinox is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Thor Girl (Tarene) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Dan Jurgens and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in Thor vol. 2 #22. Tarene is the object of a prophecy stating that she will help life reach a new level of existence throughout the universe.
The Mighty Avengers is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics. Originally written by Brian Michael Bendis, also the writer of New Avengers, the title first featured an officially sanctioned Avengers team of registered superheroes, residing in New York City as part of the Fifty State Initiative, as opposed to the unlicensed team featured in The New Avengers. This first incarnation of the team is led by Iron Man and Ms. Marvel, with the second lineup featuring Hank Pym as the leader, and the third led by Luke Cage and Monica Rambeau.
The Scorcher is the name of two different fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.
H.A.M.M.E.R. is a fictional espionage and law enforcement agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The organisation is led by Norman Osborn and was formed in Secret Invasion #8 to replace S.H.I.E.L.D. The organisation plays a large part in Marvel's "Dark Reign" and Siege storylines that ran from 2008 to 2010.
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, the series handles the aftermath of Marvel's "Civil War" storyline. A preview of the title was shown in Civil War: The Initiative.
Bengal is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
The Gauntlet is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Komodo is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Komodo was created by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. The character's first appearance was in Avengers: The Initiative #1.
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Leinil Francis Yu, that ran through a self-titled eight-issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008. The story involves a subversive, long-term invasion of Earth by the Skrulls, a group of alien shapeshifters who have secretly replaced many superheroes in the Marvel Universe with impostors over a period of years, prior to the overt invasion. Marvel's promotional tagline for the event was "Who do you trust?".
Dark Reign is a 2008 to 2009 comic book branding used by Marvel Comics. It deals with the aftermath of the "Secret Invasion" storyline, which resulted in a shift of power in the Marvel Universe toward Norman Osborn. The title refers to Osborn's rise to national power and the ramifications thereof. Joe Quesada, then-editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, stated that "Dark Reign is not really an event, it's what's happening in the Marvel Universe." He believes that "Dark Reign leads to an interesting place in the Marvel Universe. I think you'll see a pulling back at the end of Dark Reign, but you'll understand at the end of it what we were trying to get to."
Dark Avengers is a 2009–2013 American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is part of a series of titles that features various iterations of the superhero team the Avengers, with this version of the team - unbeknownst to the public in its stories - having several members who are actually supervillains and anti-heroes disguised as the established superheroes.
Ragnarok is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A cyborg clone of the hero Thor, Ragnarok has a similar appearance and abilities but uses them in opposition to the established heroes that can win