A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) is a terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe. The organization first appeared in Strange Tales #146 (July 1966) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
History[]
A.I.M.'s origins began late in World War II with Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's creation of his subversive organization HYDRA. Under the code name of T.H.E.M., he created two HYDRA branches called Advanced Idea Mechanics and Secret Empire. A.I.M.'s purpose was to develop advanced weaponry for HYDRA. They were close to developing and attaining nuclear weapons when HYDRA Island was invaded by American and Japanese troops. Although HYDRA suffered a major setback, it survived and grew in secret over the following decades.
A.I.M. has had numerous encounters with various superheroes and supervillains, and is the subject of ongoing undercover investigations by S.H.I.E.L.D.. It was responsible for reviving the Red Skull from suspended animation.[1] An A.I.M. android factory in a Florida swamp was once raided by S.H.I.E.L.D., which also involved Count Bornag Royale in a weapons deal negotiation with S.H.I.E.L.D.[2] A.I.M. then raided S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York City headquarters.[3] As a result of these events, Royale was discredited, and A.I.M.'s headquarters was destroyed.[4]
A.I.M. employed Batroc the Leaper to recover an explosive compound called Inferno 42[5] and dispatched a chemical android against Nick Fury and Captain America.[6] A.I.M. also dispatched their special agent the Cyborg against Captain America.[7] A.I.M. was involved in a skirmish with the Maggia and its "Big M".[8] A.I.M. has also captured Iron Man in an attempt to analyze and replicate his armor.[9] A.I.M. was responsible for transforming Betty Ross briefly into the gamma-irradiated Harpy.[10] A.I.M. dispatched their special agent the Destructor to capture Ms. Marvel.[11]
For a time, a schism developed within A.I.M., causing it to split into the Blue and Yellow factions. These factions battled each other, employing Deathbird as an operative.[12] A.I.M. captured the Thing and Namor to test the Virus X on them.[13] The Blue faction later made an attempt to recapture the Cosmic Cube.[14] A second battle occurred between the rival factions,[15] but factions no longer seem to be active within A.I.M.
A.I.M. eventually hired the Serpent Society to kill MODOK, which they did.[16] A.I.M. was responsible for a jet attack on the West Coast Avengers compound[17] and then took over Boca Caliente[18] and unleashed a microbe aboard the Stark space satellite.[19] A.I.M. also sent an agent to attempt to confiscate the quantum-bands given to Quasar.[20]
The organization was revealed to have become a 'techno-anarchist' group, with no connection to HYDRA, and even a hatred for fascism. With the introduction of the Death's Head 3.0 character, a pacifist future version of the organization is promised, with a surprise character as leader.[21]
It is later revealed that A.I.M. helped General Thunderbolt Ross and Doc Samson create the Red Hulk.[22]
After the Secret Avengers recruited Taskmaster after freeing him from Bagalia, they send him to infiltrate the new High Council of A.I.M. which consists of Andrew Forson, Graviton, Jude the Entropic Man, Mentallo, Superia, and Yelena Belova.[23] Andrew Forson then leads A.I.M. into attending a weapons expo which led to A.I.M. fighting against the Secret Avengers. During the battle, Andrew Forson takes the opportunity to steal the Iron Patriot armor.[24]
Daisy Johnson launched an unsanctioned operation to send the Secret Avengers to A.I.M. Island to assassinate Forson, and they seemingly killed him. Johnson ended up suspended for breaking protocol and Maria Hill is put in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. again. As Forson was revealed to be alive all along, the news of A.I.M. being a new permanent member of the Security Council is known.[25]
Using an as-yet-unidentified device in the pages of Avengers World, Andrew Forson and A.I.M. accelerate the flow of time in the limits of A.I.M. Island creating in a matter of hours for the real world year of progress and transforming A.I.M. into a technologically-advanced empire.[26]
References[]
- ↑ Strange Tales #79
- ↑ Strange Tales #146
- ↑ Strange Tales #147
- ↑ Strange Tales #149
- ↑ Tales of Suspense #75–76
- ↑ Tales of Suspense #78
- ↑ Captain America #124
- ↑ Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1
- ↑ Iron Man #1
- ↑ Hulk #167–168
- ↑ Ms. Marvel #2
- ↑ Ms. Marvel #7–10
- ↑ Marvel Two-In-One #81–82
- ↑ Captain America Annual #7
- ↑ Hulk #289
- ↑ Captain America #313
- ↑ Iron Man #201
- ↑ Iron Man #207–208
- ↑ Iron Man #215
- ↑ Quasar #1
- ↑ the Scorpion: Poison Tomorrow arc of Amazing Fantasy
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #600
- ↑ Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #2
- ↑ Secret Avengers #3
- ↑ Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #5
- ↑ Avengers World #1
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