Illuminati (comics)
| Illuminati | |
|---|---|
Promotional art for New Avengers: Illuminati #1, by Jim Cheung.
|
|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | New Avengers #7 |
| Created by |
Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Steve McNiven (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Mobile |
| Member(s) |
Current Roster: Black Ant Enchantress The Hood Mad Thinker Thunderball Titania Former Roster: Amadeus Cho Beast Black Bolt "Black Bolt" Black Panther Captain America Captain Britain Doc Green Doctor Strange Iron Man Medusa Mister Fantastic Namor the Sub-Mariner Professor X Yellowjacket |
The Illuminati are a fictional group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters joined forces and secretly work behind the scenes. The Illuminati were established to exist (via story retcon) in their first published appearance in New Avengers #7 (July 2005), written by Brian Michael Bendis. Their history was discussed in the special New Avengers: Illuminati (May 2006). The group was revealed to have been formed very shortly after the Kree-Skrull War, which was depicted in Avengers #89–97 (1971–1972).
Creator Bendis says of the group's members:
They each represent a certain something that is very special to the Marvel Universe:
They all bring with them a unique viewpoint and perspective that isn’t shared by the others.
The group forms at some time in the aftermath of the Kree-Skrull War, and probably after the Avengers/Defenders war. Iron Man realizes that each of the individual members had information about these alien races beforehand, and they could have collectively stopped it. He brings together the Illuminati with the Black Panther in Wakanda, and proposes that they form a government of superhumans. Namor refuses, on the grounds that too many superheroes are violent outsiders (such as Hawkeye and Quicksilver, both former criminals). Xavier refuses on the grounds that mutants are already feared and hated, and if Iron Man thinks he can fight this with iconic superheroes, it will result in heroes being feared and hated as much as mutants. Doctor Strange refuses on the grounds that too many heroes are anti-establishment and that the group Iron Man has assembled to form a governing body would not be 'anti-establishment', but rather a form of 'counter-establishment'. The group does, however, agree to meet to exchange information regularly. The only individual present who outright refuses to meet or even participate with the others is the Black Panther, who fears the association will end in less than altruistic actions.
...
Wikipedia