Avengers: The Initiative

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Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative #1 solicited cover
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Publication date	April 2007 - present
Main character(s)	Trainees: Annex Ant-Man Batwing Crusader Diamondback Geiger Gorilla Girl Melee Prodigy Red Nine Sunstreak Graduates: Cloud 9 Hardball Komodo Thor Girl 3-D Man Ultra Girl Staff: Gauntlet Taskmaster Trauma Baron Von Blitzschlag War Machine Yellowjacket
Creative team
Penciller(s)	Stefano Caselli Steve Uy

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

[edit] Publication history

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 instead be an ongoing series, becoming the third regularly published 'Avengers' title from 2007 onwards, after the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers.^[2]

[edit] Fictional biography

The plot summary in this article or section is too long or detailed compared to the rest of the article. Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot.

[edit] Start of The Initiative

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the pro-registration side stands victorious and has launched the 50 States Initiative which calls for one S.H.I.E.L.D. sponsored super team for each state. The series will focus on the training facility located at Camp Hammond, in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition the series will explore the people on those line ups and the unique situations that come with these new locations. Each issue will reveal more about the teams from each state. It will also show these teams adapting and growing through different situations.

The first group of young heroes that have been sent to 'Hero Boot Camp' in Stamford, Connecticut, the site of the explosion that launched the whole civil war. The issue largely follows the young heroes MVP, Cloud 9, Armory, and Trauma, as well as their drill-sergeant, Gauntlet. MVP is established as one of the most capable young heroes there, and begins to express some feelings for the shy and self-conscious Cloud 9. During a training exercise, however, Trauma's powers accidentally cause Armory to lose control of her powers, and MVP is apparently killed pushing Cloud 9 out of the way. In response, they get rid of Armory's powers, and kick her out of the camp. Henry Peter Gyrich, who is overseeing the entire project, informs everyone present that the mishap 'never happened.'^[3]

While the recruits struggle to deal with the aftermath of MVP's death and Armory's wash out, Justice continues to be unhappy with Gauntlet's constant use of "New Warriors" as an insulting term. As the kids finish the obstacle course, Trauma again loses control of his transformation, first feeding off of Cloud 9's guilt at being responsible for the death, and then transforming into an image of a beaten and bloody Janet Van Dyne when Yellowjacket attempts to intervene. As Justice and Gauntlet clean up the situation, Dr. Pym is called to the lab where Baron Von Blitzschlag informs him and 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 and remarks "I am your greatest fan."^[4]

When a crisis over Texas, where the President is visiting, involving the HYDRA Terrorcarrier requires that the recruits join the fray, Cloud 9, Komodo, Hardball, Gauntlet, War Machine, Justice and Yellowjacket all arrive on the scene (with Hardball, Gauntlet and Komodo donning jet packs and Cloud 9 being revealed as the best marksman of the bunch when she receives a pulse rifle). As the attack escalates, Yellowjacket deploys the secret weapon he developed to infiltrate the carrier's shields, a small vibranium capsule which he hides inside of. When he breaches the shields, he grows to enormous size and forcibly redirects the carrier to crash, purposely riding it out. Meanwhile, Trauma, who had wanted the program to strip him of his powers and become normal again, is instead escorted by Gyrich to a room holding Beast and an unseen mutant who is a "specialist" who can help Trauma learn to control his powers. The "specialist" in question is the former mutant, Danielle Moonstar, who possessed similar powers to Trauma.

After the events of the Terrorcarrier incident, with Hardball speaking 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. Meanwhile Trauma and Danielle Moonstar discuss what training he will receive. Though the locals give Hardball a decidedly cold reception, a mysterious individual takes him aside and asks for information on S.P.I.N. Tech which Komodo is currently being briefed on. As the most promising of the new recruits, she is being given an official assignment to take down Spider-Man^[5]

S.P.I.N. Tech, as it turns out, is a new type of nanotechnology that, when fired in projectile form, can cause a superhuman to lose access to his or her superpowers instantly. When one of the Scarlet Spiders spots Spider-Man fighting Hydro-Man, The Shocker, and Boomerang, War Machine and Komodo head to the scene of the battle. Though Peter has everything well in hand, Komodo and War Machine arrive and cause the Sinister Syndicate to flee, and Spider-Man is left to battle 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 Peter will be stripped of his powers, the world will not be left without a Spider-Man. While Komodo fares much better, Spider-Man's wit and a threat that her failure will result in her losing her powers causes a slip-up, which he uses to defeat her and slip away easily.^[5]

However, 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.^[5]

[edit] World War Hulk

Gyrich tries to persuade Trauma to join his Shadow Initiative, thinking he could be a powerful member. However, Trauma's trainer, the former mutant, Danielle Moonstar, objects to Gyrich's claims.

Shortly after the Hulk returns from space with his Warbound, Hardball becomes involved in a covert operation to steal a piece of the S.P.I.N. technology. Meanwhile, Justice takes Cloud 9 to the Van Patrick home as part of her therapy, after the death of MVP. Upon reaching the home, both are shocked to discover MVP answering the door; though Justice and Cloud 9 are dispatched to where the Hulk's battleship appeared before inquiry can be given. With the missing cartridge of S.P.I.N. technology going undiscovered by Tony Stark; Stark's attempt to remove Hulk's powers during their conflict fail and Hardball is directly responsible for the early failure to contain the Hulk and prevent massive amounts of damage and casualties. Initiative members are assigned to protect the crowd and refrain from engaging the Hulk, though after Iron Man's failure; Rage instructs the team to disregard orders and engage Hulk and his Warbound, while Henry Peter Gyrich orders his secret team containing Bengal, Trauma, Constrictor, an unknown female Initiative recruit called Mutant Zero and the Scarlet Spiders to the conflict to save the Initiative trainees.^[6]

The Shadow Initiative sneaks into Madison Square Garden, where the Hulk has built an arena to deliver captured heroes for their punishment. It is there where they are confronted by some of the Hulk's Death's Head guards, and Mutant Zero defeats them all. Across Manhattan, Hank Pym, along with Justice and O.N.E Sentinels, who left the X-Men^[7], were setting up the devices that is a part of Iron Man's plan to fully send all of Manhattan and those who live in it into the Negative Zone. Trauma then transforms himself into Thor, this was due to Korg's fear of the Thunder god. While Cloud 9 nearly kills Elloe by filling her lungs with smoke, however she is stopped by Trauma who sees this.

Soon the team is confronted by the Hulk, who then defeats almost all of the Shadow team members. Trauma tries to defeat the Hulk in various forms of the Hulk's enemies, but when the Hulk won't flinch at the sight of his old foes this leaves Trauma as a weak human. Later on in the hospital where Trauma is recovering, he makes amends to his former team mates, especially Hardball and Cloud 9. While Danielle Moonstar shows Gyrich of Trauma's failure. In that move Gyrich then demotes Trauma from an Omega threat, which Gyrich first saw him as, to a Class 50.

[edit] Post World War Hulk

After World War Hulk, the camp's drill-instructor, Gauntlet, was brutally attacked. His attacker left a mark on his body: 'NW'. Gauntlet had made several nasty remarks about the dead New Warriors, leading to speculation that the attacker was an Initiative recruit who was a former New Warrior. Justice, Debrii, Slapstick, Ultragirl and Rage were imprisoned and interrogated. When Gauntlet awoke he claimed he was attacked by the Ghost, so the suspects were released. However, in a flashback it was revealed the attacker was a former New Warrior: Slapstick.

Taskmaster is seen studying MVP's and Spider-Man's moves, in order to teach the MVP clones, in their role as Scarlet Spiders.^[8]

[edit] Second recruit group

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

Since the results of the previous clonings of MVP impressed Initiative administrators enough to attempt to fill places within the Fifty-State Initiative with further clones of MVP.^[10]

[edit] Killed in Action

In Avengers: The Initiative's first, and currently ongoing, multi-part story; Killed in Action (starting issue #8), a new Michael Van Patrick clone is fitted with the Tactigon, Armory's former alien weapon and sets forth, under the name "KIA", on a murderous rampage throughout Camp Hammond in an attempt to seek revenge for MVP's death.^[9] The KIA clone causes destruction killing Dragon Lord (Tako Shamara), Trauma and Van (one of the Scarlet Spiders). KIA also caused also injury to many initiative trainees and staff like Thor Girl, Gauntlet, Constrictor and Crusader. He also killed 8 SHIELD agents in his rampage.

[edit] First Graduations

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

• 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
• Thor Girl: Also went to Georgia
• Hard Ball: Nevada - Desert Stars
• Komodo: Arizona - Heavy Hitters
• Cloud 9: Montana - Freedom Force
• Trauma (who mysteriously came back from the dead after he was autopsied and enbalmed): Staying on base as grief counselor

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.

[edit] Second featured class

Starting with issue thirteen, the series will feature new recruits that will join the squad assembled before the coming of KIA. They are: Annex, Prodigy, Gorilla Girl, Sunstreak, Batwing and Boulder^[11] Less enthusiastic than the first recruits, most of them with criminal records (except Butterball/Boulder and Batwing, who was looking for a cure) they are there because it's either Camp Hammond or the Negative Zone prison. Taskmaster quickly renames Emery "Butterball" in reference to his size. He's 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 due to boredom and decided 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 right but encountered Taskmaster, War Machine and Yellowjacket; in which he lies about going AWOL on his own. The recruits were planning to use this distraction to sneak back in but instead help defeated the villians that wanted revenge on the Taskmaster. Butterball was washed out of the program when it is deemed he doesn't have what it takes to be a superhero. To ease his disappointment, Taskmaster and Constrictor allow him to take a picture that makes it look like he defeated them.

[edit] Secret Invasion

Main article: Secret Invasion

The Revolutionary, a member of Pennsylvania's Liberteens, is actually a Skrull in disguise. He's part of a plot to put "a Skrull in every state" by infiltrating each superhero team of the Initiative. ^[12] Camp Hammond administrator Hank Pym was also revealed to be a Skrull^[13]. He gives orders to Gauntlet to dispatch the cadets to help the Young Avengers fight the Skrulls. The Skrulls defeat the cadets and Young Avengers, but then Nick Fury arrives with his "commandos."^[14]

[edit] Shadow Initiative

Shadow Initiative
Cover art for Avengers: The Initiative #5 featuring the Shadow Initiative, and Hulk. Art by Jim Cheung.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Avengers: The Initiative #4
In story information
Base(s)	Camp Hammond
Member(s)	Bengal Constrictor Mutant Zero

It has been revealed that there is a special "black ops" team within the Initiative, answerable only to Gyrich and known as the Shadow Initiative. This team consists of Bengal, Trauma, Constrictor, an unknown female Initiative recruit called Mutant Zero and, for a time, the Scarlet Spiders^[15].

This Shadow Initiative was sent out by Henry Gyrich to free the Initiative members captured by the Hulk's Warbound; Rage, Cloud 9, Ultra Girl, Thorgirl, Slapstick and Hardball. On this assignment Bengal showed to be a perfect field leader of this Shadow Initiative.

The black ops group successfully rescues these captured trainees, while Trauma, their "secret weapon" tries to use his powers to scare the Hulk (becoming, in turn, the Abomination, Juggernaut, Brian Banner, and Bruce Banner). He fails to beat the Hulk, and the Hulk beats him into unconsciousness, leaving Terrance alive to pass the message on to the others. Trauma is later seen recuperating in the Initiative's medical bay.

It is later revealed that the Scarlet Spiders are clones of Michael Van Patrick (MVP),^[10] a deceased initiative recruit accidentally killed^[3]. The Scarlet Spiders are later taken off the Black Ops team after revealing themselves to the public and placed with the other trainees^[9].

Gyrich called them to protect him from K.I.A., but they lost and one of the Scarlet Spiders was killed, and Constrictor was badly maimed. Mutant Zero saved Gyrich and Scarlet Spiders continued the battle for their brother.^[17]

After KIA was defeated, the two remaining Scarlet Spiders left the Initiative to join Counter Force, a team of former New Warriors, MVP and these two, led by Justice, while Constrictor was healed with two bionic hands.

[edit] Characters

Main article: Fifty State Initiative

[edit] Details

• Trainees are taken through combat, power control, and superhuman ethics.
• This whole operation is treated like boot camp.
• They are all issued uniforms consisting of palm gloves, traction boots, military fatigue cargos, a T-shirt with a superhuman logo on it, and if the recipient has a secret identity and does not have another cover up method, they wear a bandito mask. If the trainee already has a costume, this does not apply.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Omega Flight
• Fifty State Initiative

[edit] External links

• The full list of Avengers: The Initiative
• Avengers: The Initiative #1 at Marvel.com
• Avengers: The Initiative #2 at Marvel.com
• Avengers: The Initiative #3 at Marvel.com