Secret Empire

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The Secret Empire

Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Tales to Astonish #81 (Jul 1966)
Created by	Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

The Secret Empire is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.

This subversive organization has gone by a number of different leaders, always known as “Number One,” with each iteration’s goals following the desires of its current leader. The Secret Empire was originally founded by a scientist who felt like an anonymous nobody. The organization began as a criminal enterprise, subordinate to HYDRA, which provided it with financial support. The Secret Empire served to distract the attention of authorities such as S.H.I.E.L.D. from HYDRA’s activities, although the original Number One sought to break away from HYDRA. The Secret Empire hired the mercenary Boomerang on a mission to steal plans for the Air Force’s Orion Missile, but he was defeated by the Hulk. In attempting to blow up the Hulk, Number One instead killed himself.

Sometime later, the organization regrouped under a new Number One. This Secret Empire infiltrated Roxxon Oil’s Brand Corporation, tired to ruin Captain America’s reputation, and kidnapped several mutants to harness their energy to power a “flying saucer.” Number One landed the saucer on the White House lawn and demanded the government surrender control to him or he would detonate nukes in every major American city. The Secret Empire was defeated by Captain America, Cyclops, the Falcon, and Marvel Girl, and Captain America pursued Number One into the White House. To his shock, Number One unmasked and revealed himself to be a very high government official, and then committed suicide. This led to Captain America giving up his role for awhile and taking on the role of Nomad. (The implication was made at the time, and quite strongly, that "Number One" was actually President Richard Nixon, and that the Watergate affair was a cover-up for his death).

Later, Professor Power became the new Number One. He sought to trigger a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The Defenders defeated Professor Power and the Secret Empire, as well as their agents Mad Dog and Mutant Force.

The Secret Empire also sought to eliminate Moon Knight who they believed had disrupted some of their operations. Moon Knight vol 3 #19-21. The real guilty party was Moon Knight's sidekick Midnight. Captured by the Secret Empire, Midnight was transformed into a cyborg controlled by Number 7. During the Round Robin Story arc in the Amazing Spider-man, the cyborg Midnight took control of the Secret Empire only to be betrayed and seemingly killed by the story's end.